Admiral Dewey Engraving

[MikeB]

Hi -

The following engraving is on the back of an 18 size Hampden in a Philadelphia Silveroid case:
http://images.prosperpoint.com/images/477/24860-834.jpg

When I first saw a picture of this watch, I figured that the engraving was probably recent, but now that I have gotten the watch, I find that the engraving is evenly worn with the case and I suspect the engraving is indeed old. It has Admiral Dewey with "DEWEY" underneath (obscured by my camera flash - sorry).

Has anybody seen similar engravings, either in person or in catalogues? Might this have been some sort of commerative watch?

Thanks,
Mike.


[This message has been edited by MikeB (edited 12-24-2001).]

[MikeB]

Hi -

The following engraving is on the back of an 18 size Hampden in a Philadelphia Silveroid case:
http://images.prosperpoint.com/images/477/24860-834.jpg

When I first saw a picture of this watch, I figured that the engraving was probably recent, but now that I have gotten the watch, I find that the engraving is evenly worn with the case and I suspect the engraving is indeed old. It has Admiral Dewey with "DEWEY" underneath (obscured by my camera flash - sorry).

Has anybody seen similar engravings, either in person or in catalogues? Might this have been some sort of commerative watch?

Thanks,
Mike.


[This message has been edited by MikeB (edited 12-24-2001).]

[4thdimension]

Remember the Maine! I've had one watch case made from metal salvaged from the Maine. Dewey memorabilia is abundant.
The guy was a national hero and the souvenier mills kicked into overtime to
honor /capitalize on him. That's a neat case and desirable to the militariana
crowd as well as watch folks.
-Cort

------------------
<[';')>

[Kent]

Ya Ain't Seen Nuthin'

Yes, the Spanish-American War brought about quite a bit of Dewey-mania. I haven't seen the cases shown in the Fahys ad that shows The Hero of Manila (http://www.knology.net/~ksinger/fahys_dewey.jpg), but I'll bet that they looked real sharp when brand-new.

Kent

P.S. Was Lt. Hobson famous because of having to make a choice of the lesser of two evils?

[This message has been edited by Kent (edited 12-24-2001).]

[Kent]

Oh Yeah,

Other case companies got into the act as well. This Wadsworth Case (http://www.knology.net/~ksinger/wadsworth_maine.jpg) would be just the thing for that 18-size model `92 Riverside.

Kent

[This message has been edited by Kent (edited 12-24-2001).]

[4thdimension]

re: "The Ship's That Dewey'd". Man, that
was written by a New Yorker! That's a riot.
-Cort

------------------
<[';')>

[hc3]

Hobson, a naval constructor, piloted a ship into Santiago Bay to try to sink it so it would block the Spanish fleet's exit. He blew up the ship in the wrong spot, but swam out with the rest of the crew. He was a great hero of the time, and later served in Congress.

The "choice" Hobson was a livery stable proprietor. He was famous for making the customer take the horse closest to the stable door, no matter how bad. Thus, a "Hobson's choice" is really not having a choice at all- this is what you get.

Unfortunately, the original meaning is being eroded into having a choice among unattractive options.