Curvex Box [message #8274] |
Thu, 27 July 2017 13:41  |
cmoy
Messages: 23 Registered: May 2013 Location: New York
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Gruen Apprentice |
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Hey guys,
Does anyone know from what era is the box from? It's seems like it's made out of cardboard with leather or fake leather finish. The silver trim is a metal rod wrapped around the edge of the box. I'm hoping it's from the 30's but think it might be 40's/50's. Thanks guys!

[Updated on: Thu, 27 July 2017 13:47] Report message to a moderator
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Re: Curvex Box [message #8276 is a reply to message #8275] |
Thu, 27 July 2017 14:18   |
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Barney Green
Messages: 1751 Registered: February 2014 Location: Wolfsburg, Germany
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Gruen Authority |
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That's a good one to ID, because it is patented.
Mr. Eugene Lux from Gruen filed for the patent on April 25, 1936 wich was granted as US patent no. 2,157,990 on May 9, 1939. So I think you are lucky and it is from the 30s.
Cool!
Barney
Gruen, Gruen, Gruen ist alles was ich habe... Gruen, Gruen, Gruen is all I have...(German folklore song)
[Updated on: Thu, 27 July 2017 20:43] Report message to a moderator
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Re: Curvex Box [message #8282 is a reply to message #8281] |
Thu, 27 July 2017 20:43   |
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Barney Green
Messages: 1751 Registered: February 2014 Location: Wolfsburg, Germany
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Gruen Authority |
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Exactly what I think...
Gruen, Gruen, Gruen ist alles was ich habe... Gruen, Gruen, Gruen is all I have...(German folklore song)
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Re: Curvex Box [message #8283 is a reply to message #8282] |
Thu, 27 July 2017 21:19   |
Timeticker
Messages: 568 Registered: June 2013 Location: Somewhere in the world
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Gruen Master |
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Afire..you are correct! However, the "Bakelite" stuff we have seen (vintage stuff) was created, if you will,by Leo Baekeland in Yonkers, New York, in 1907. His material started gaining popularity around the 1930s, and was used for toys, pipes, and all manner of other items. I am using very loose translations here. So, Bakelight was around during this era, but I still think that the leather covered cases were the preferred item, and later 30s and 40s in to the 50s, would usher in larger uses of this new style plastic. Just a thought............
People you thought were your best friends will stab you in the back to your face!
Love them anyway.
A "Paradoxical Commandment"
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Re: Curvex Box [message #8290 is a reply to message #8288] |
Fri, 28 July 2017 22:23   |
cmoy
Messages: 23 Registered: May 2013 Location: New York
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Gruen Apprentice |
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If you can check when you have time that would be GREAT! Thanks so much Thojil!
Thojil wrote on Fri, 28 July 2017 17:59I have seen some original ads showing this box from the late 30's. Maybe those are clear enough to identify if the bakelite type or leatherette type was used first used. Can't check at the moment as I have no access to my computer.
[Updated on: Fri, 28 July 2017 22:23] Report message to a moderator
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Re: Curvex Box [message #8291 is a reply to message #8290] |
Sun, 30 July 2017 20:48   |
C. Hurt
Messages: 243 Registered: May 2013
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Gruen Guildsman |
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As far as I know, the leather box was used for the first Curvex models beginning in late 1935. There is a round paper insert that was fitted into the right side cover which described "introducing the Curvex". Kyle Rogers has a complete set of men's and ladies with the paperwork.
The round blue plastic box was used for later (1937) models, including the Majesty and (with a different holder) the 330 Rist-sides. There were other versions of the blue plastic boxes used until around 1940, and the round plastic box makes a return (in gray and maroon) in the late 1940s for the 440 Rist-side models.
But, since we're talking about Gruen, it would not surprise me at all if there were early 330 models sold in the leather boxes and late 311 models sold in the blue plastic boxes.
[Updated on: Sun, 30 July 2017 21:01] Report message to a moderator
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Re: Curvex Box [message #8299 is a reply to message #8297] |
Fri, 04 August 2017 16:06   |
Timeticker
Messages: 568 Registered: June 2013 Location: Somewhere in the world
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Gruen Master |
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afire wrote on Wed, 02 August 2017 18:34Well, after all this, I think you have to put your Majesty in there and post a pic for us to drool over.
I agree with Afire! Let us look, and drool!!!
People you thought were your best friends will stab you in the back to your face!
Love them anyway.
A "Paradoxical Commandment"
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Re: Curvex Box [message #8317 is a reply to message #8316] |
Fri, 11 August 2017 19:51   |
Timeticker
Messages: 568 Registered: June 2013 Location: Somewhere in the world
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Gruen Master |
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Wow, I would love to find that under my Christmas tree!
People you thought were your best friends will stab you in the back to your face!
Love them anyway.
A "Paradoxical Commandment"
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Re: Curvex Box [message #12119 is a reply to message #8326] |
Fri, 07 February 2020 16:40   |
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DRGM
Messages: 18 Registered: January 2020
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Gruen Apprentice |
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These early Curvex boxes are just great! I wished I’d own the leatherette box for a 311 and the early blue plastic box for a 330…
I’m crazy when it comes to watch boxes. Often, I buy a box without owning the matching “filling”. Like in this case, when I saw the “gray egg” - I hadn’t seen such a Curvex box before:

Said box was protected for Gruen by two patents, i. e. by patent No 2,667,967 and by Design patent No 161,898:


Both patents were filed in USPTO on September 21, 1950. Inventors were Francis E. Blod and Alfred M. Blumenfeld. Shortly after application of the patents the box was put on the market - here’s an ad published in „The Ohio Daily Express“ on October 13, 1950, that means, roughly one months after the application date of the patents:

There, the box is shown with a Portrait - I assume, all other Curvex models were sold with this “gray egg” also. As I already mentioned: I bought the box, but a matching filling was missing. It surfaced some days later, i.e. a Captain, style number 370/750.



The Captain has an unostentatious design - contrary to some Curvex models of the late 40s/early 50s which are sometimes quite kitschy.



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Re: Curvex Box [message #15490 is a reply to message #15489] |
Tue, 14 September 2021 19:47   |
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Ephemerald
Messages: 1039 Registered: October 2018 Location: City of Lake Salt
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Gruen Authority |
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Jenneke wrote on Tue, 14 September 2021 13:37Quick google search, did not find info on this box maker. Seems it did not make it into the future. Do you have more info?
Yes for sure. They did make it into the future as here's an ad from 48 I found. We have seen one of their boxes before, yes. You're right that it's hard to find stuff on them. They started out in 1907 ish.
https://vintagegruen.org/vgforum/index.php?t=msg&th=1924 &start=0&
Matthias
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Re: Curvex Box [message #15528 is a reply to message #15511] |
Thu, 16 September 2021 17:32   |
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Barney Green
Messages: 1751 Registered: February 2014 Location: Wolfsburg, Germany
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Gruen Authority |
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Not quite right. Rathbun molded plastic for several case makers, also for the Star Case Co from NY. It looks like the Star Case Co was sole or at least main supplier of watch cases to Gruen in the 20s, probably even earlier, until about 1936.
Prior to the plastic ones which were first introduced 1931, Star made wooden and leather cases mainly and continued to work with leather and wood at least until late 30s. It is also likely that they made the nice parts cabinets.
Gruen, Gruen, Gruen ist alles was ich habe... Gruen, Gruen, Gruen is all I have...(German folklore song)
[Updated on: Thu, 16 September 2021 17:33] Report message to a moderator
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Re: Curvex Box [message #19248 is a reply to message #8312] |
Mon, 27 January 2025 14:24  |
Dave M
Messages: 4 Registered: May 2020
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Gruen Apprentice |
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Would you be able to post some additional shots of it? I'm continuing my search, but not certain what it looks like exactly. Thanks for posting these great shots!
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