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vintage
PostPosted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 5:12 pm 
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As my screen name would indicate, I like vintage pieces. I REALLY like vintage military pieces especially when they have some provenance. I thought maybe some of you might like to see this Universal Geneve I just acquired. The original owner of this watch was involved with the rescue of former President George HW Bush in Sep 1944 after he was shot down in the South Pacific. He got his own submarine to command in Oct 1944 so the crew of the USS Finback probably took up a collection and presented him this watch upon his departure. Pretty expensive 14K gold piece in 1944 dollars. Former President Bush invited all the living crew members of the USS Finback, that could be located, to his inaguration as President in Jan 1989.

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LR09WA
PostPosted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 6:45 pm 
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Wonderful piece!!

Did you know the history of the watch before acquiring or did you research after ?

What great history
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P51
PostPosted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 10:54 pm 
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That is absolutely wonderful history. Nice watch too.

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bozman52
PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 2:05 am 
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That's fantastic. Thanks for sharing the story. Wear it in good health.

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WatchFred
PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 2:21 am 
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nice piece of history, Paul !
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vintage
PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 4:45 am 
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LR09WA wrote:
Wonderful piece!!

Did you know the history of the watch before acquiring or did you research after ?

What great history


I did some research prior to the purchase and a little more in depth research this week. The person I bought it off got it from a local jeweler/watch tinkerer so he received no history with it. Upon doing some research on the watch I found the original owner had five sons and I think one of them might live fairly close to me so I'm going to try and contact him and see what they can tell me about the watch. Owner passed away in 2001 and it seems unusual to me that one of the five sons wouldn't have kept the watch if given the option. If the family lost track of it and want it back to keep in the family, I would have no problem with returning it.
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Roffensian
PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 5:19 am 
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Great piece Paul - and a great connection to an important piece of US history.
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jlee5050
PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 12:28 pm 
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Indeed that's some amazing provenance. Nice Paul.

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rplace
PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 5:37 pm 
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Very coo. Great find and nice story. Well done.
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LR09WA
PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 11:21 pm 
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vintage wrote:
LR09WA wrote:
Wonderful piece!!

Did you know the history of the watch before acquiring or did you research after ?

What great history


I did some research prior to the purchase and a little more in depth research this week. The person I bought it off got it from a local jeweler/watch tinkerer so he received no history with it. Upon doing some research on the watch I found the original owner had five sons and I think one of them might live fairly close to me so I'm going to try and contact him and see what they can tell me about the watch. Owner passed away in 2001 and it seems unusual to me that one of the five sons wouldn't have kept the watch if given the option. If the family lost track of it and want it back to keep in the family, I would have no problem with returning it.
You are a very honerable man, good work... :bow:
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rick
PostPosted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 3:36 am 
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Wonderful story and a beautiful watch!!!! Wear it well.

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vintage
PostPosted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 7:56 am 
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Update: After about two days of Googling, and quite a few phone calls, I found one of the sons in Atlanta and spoke with him this morning. He remembered the watch and had no idea what happened to it. The watch is on it's way back to it's original family today.

Paul
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WatchFred
PostPosted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 7:59 am 
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wonderful end to that interesting piece of history, Paul !
love it.
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mjfur
PostPosted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 8:31 am 
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An older thread, http://www.mwrforum.net/forums/showthread.php?t=44310

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Roffensian
PostPosted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 8:35 am 
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Paul, you are one classy guy!
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