Vintage Gruen: 1940's » The Veri-Thin 'Adams'

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The Veri-Thin 'Adams' [message #16658]

Tue, 31 May 2022 22:52

JackW
Messages: 2035
Registered: May 2013
Location: Denver

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Model name: 'Adams' with expansion band -or- Nimrod with leather strap
Type: Wristwatch Veri-Thin
Period/date: 1940-1944; the movement serial number is date estimated to early 1944.
Gender: mens'

Case Maker: Star Watch Case Company
Case Material: goldfill on silver and rhodum plated sterling case back*
Case Serial: 090790
Case Style no: 406-459

Caliber: 406
Movement Maker: Gruen
Movement Serial: A328801

Bracelet: In both ads it is shown with an expansion type band for the VT Adams. The leather band on the watch as purchased, is 1940s era but is marked 'Waltham'. An obvious replacement. The ads for the VT Nimrod show a leather strap.

Other info: Identified in Shawkey's book as strap 418. page 131. Strap 418 is shown with a presumably an expansion band.

I found this in a pawn shop in Chicago this past weekend (May 29, 2022). Was an inexpensive buy. The tarnish to the case made me suspect that it was a war era watch with the silver alloy basemetal for the goldfill. Otherwise it is not the typical type or style that I collect.

[Picture Front]
/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=9382&private=0

/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=9382&private=0

/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=9384&private=0

[Picture caseback inside]
/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=9383&private=0

[Picture movement]
/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=9385&private=0

[Picture ad]
Advertisment from December 1942 clipped from the Chicago Tribune
/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=9380&private=0

Although not named, it is the same model shown in this May 1944 advert from the LA Times.
/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=9381&private=0

Barnett's 1940s Decade book shows a very different 'Adams' in 1948. Could also be confused with the contemporaneous 'Stuart' but that has ridges that run onto the case sides.

*some debate below on my metal assessment of the back. There are certainly examples of this watch where the case back is marked as sterling. Other examples that are clearly stainless steel Guildite.

also... edits to reflect Barney's below addition of the VT Nimrod ID.

Attachment: 20Dec1942_Chicago Tribune.jpg
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Attachment: 31May1944_Los Angeles Times.jpg
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Attachment: Adams_bezel side.jpg
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Attachment: case_inside.jpg
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Attachment: dial.jpg
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Attachment: movement.jpg
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All I know is based on hard work & writing by others. I can only aspire to augment this body of knowledge. If I am wrong it is because of my own failings. -me

"If I have seen farther it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." - Newton

[Updated on: Fri, 03 June 2022 02:09]

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[Message index]

		The Veri-Thin 'Adams' By: JackW on Tue, 31 May 2022 22:52
		Re: The Veri-Thin 'Adams' By: Ephemerald on Wed, 01 June 2022 05:11
		Re: The Veri-Thin 'Adams' By: thesnark17 on Wed, 01 June 2022 19:19
		Re: The Veri-Thin 'Adams' By: timeliz on Wed, 01 June 2022 19:30
		Re: The Veri-Thin 'Adams' By: Gary on Wed, 01 June 2022 21:03
		Re: The Veri-Thin 'Adams' By: Ephemerald on Wed, 01 June 2022 21:26
		Re: The Veri-Thin 'Adams' By: JackW on Thu, 02 June 2022 02:22
		Re: The Veri-Thin 'Adams' By: Case on Thu, 02 June 2022 02:58
		Re: The Veri-Thin 'Adams' By: Case on Thu, 02 June 2022 03:15
		Re: The Veri-Thin 'Adams' By: timeliz on Thu, 02 June 2022 04:21
		Re: The Veri-Thin 'Adams' By: Barney Green on Thu, 02 June 2022 11:01
		Re: The Veri-Thin 'Adams' By: JackW on Fri, 03 June 2022 02:01
		Re: The Veri-Thin 'Adams' By: Gary on Fri, 03 June 2022 02:11
		Re: The Veri-Thin 'Adams' By: Case on Fri, 03 June 2022 03:35
		Re: The Veri-Thin 'Adams' By: Barney Green on Fri, 03 June 2022 06:18
		Re: The Veri-Thin 'Adams' By: afire on Thu, 02 June 2022 15:59
		Re: The Veri-Thin 'Adams' By: Ephemerald on Thu, 02 June 2022 17:05
		Re: The Veri-Thin 'Adams' By: Barney Green on Thu, 02 June 2022 17:18
		Re: The Veri-Thin 'Adams' By: thesnark17 on Thu, 02 June 2022 19:36

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