Waltham Canadian Issue Pocket Watch. Value?

[Gil Boyd]

Yep, thats why it always makes me smile, why the cleaning bottle and brush make more than a decent Waltham watch it makes NO sense

[lawrence_n]

The Waltham watch appears identical type to that shown in Steve Houghton's British Sniper book. Shown as part of WWII sniper kit!

Thank you. Considering that I'll probably take these to the upcoming militaria show, presupposing we're social distancing has been relaxed, I won't spend money on a book that I really don't need. I'm too old to enter into another field of collecting, and I'm actually divesting myself of things that I've acquired over the years. Research is proving to be challenging. I'm curious as to why the makers name was removed from the 3 areas on the white-faced one.

[browningautorifle]

I'm assuming a makers name has been carefully removed. By whom and why? I'm hoping someone can answer that.

I'm curious as to why the makers name was removed from the 3 areas on the white-faced one.

If I had to guess and after some considerable time spent in the military system watching these things...I'd guess that watch was stolen out of the system. The cover shows the beginning of a serial number, a "2", and the identifying marks... So the new owner could carry it with impunity. Watches were "C" class for us, expendable but controlled or they'd all be gone.

[lawrence_n]

Well, I've picked up a little more info on the Waltham. The "G.S.T.P." apparently stands for General Service Time Piece and there is speculation that it may have been part of a sniper's load-out. The white faced one may well be a Girard Perregaux. It may be, as browningautorifle suggests, that this was done to conceal the origins if it was purloined, illegally, from the military. Of curious interest, once I was put on the trail of the watchmaker a cursory search turned up another watch with the same type of makers name removal.

[lawrence_n]

If I had to guess and after some considerable time spent in the military system watching these things...I'd guess that watch was stolen out of the system. The cover shows the beginning of a serial number, a "2", and the identifying marks... So the new owner could carry it with impunity. Watches were "C" class for us, expendable but controlled or they'd all be gone.

Just an FYI, I received information from an old ex soldier. According to him, the "sterile" watch was for the No.19 wireless radio set, and others.

[Flying10uk]

The cover shows the beginning of a serial number, a "2",

Looks like a "2" and then feint numbers that are larger?

[browningautorifle]

Just an FYI, I received information from an old ex soldier.

I AM and old soldier...Ex would mean I'm back in. Ex soldier...no such thing, once in never out. Anyway, I would withdraw the idea of a pilfered watch if you can show several the same disfigurement.

Looks like a "2" and then feint numbers that are larger?

Here again at 400%...

[lawrence_n]

Finally, a light comes on! Here's what I've discovered thus far. I now understand why the watch was listed by the auctioneer as being "Sherman tank watch". Thanks to an old British soldier, I found out that some radio sets had the provision for mounting a pocket watch on the face. It was a 2 pc. black ring, the back of which was screwed to the face of the left of the radio set and the front piece threaded on to it. The watch would be wound, put in the holder, and then the face ring threaded on. Presumably, this watch came out of the estate of some veteran Armoured Corps radio operator (hence the Sherman tank attribution). From the pics I've managed to find, there were many different models of watch used and not all were "sterilized". I'm hoping that when I get full access to a military watch collectors site I joined, I'll get all the information I need. Here's a pic I managed to download.

[browningautorifle]

I found out that some radio sets had the provision for mounting a pocket watch on the face

That I would believe, so the operator had correct time for the radio log.

[matthanne1]

I am sure you are being careful when removing the back or otherwise exposing the faces of radium-painted dials and hands- although they do not glow anymore, they are still radioactive and leave radioactive dust that is freed upon opening them. Use ventilation and caution.