Russian Submariners Watch All Original

Creator: Hampden Watch Company
Style: Modernist
Period: Mid-20th Century
Date of Manufacture: 1950s
Condition: Good Wear consistent with age and use. It is worth noting that this watch only had a 12-month warranty when it was new. However, we are so confident of our workmanship and team that we offer an 18-month warranty on all our watches, even those over 100 years old.


FACTORY / HOUSE: Russian by The Hampden Watch Company
STYLE / REFERENCE: Utilitarian Military Style
METAL / MATERIAL: Stainless Steel
CIRCA / YEAR: 1950s
DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 77mm X Diameter 60mm
MOVEMENT / CALIBER: Manual Winding / 15 Jewels / Caliber 16 Size
DIAL / HANDS: Original Black Dial with Luminous Blued Steel Hands
ATTACHMENT / LENGTH: Original Canvas Material, 25 mm / Full Length / Original Factory Box
WARRANTY: 18 months on the movement
Established in 1877 in Springfield, Massachusetts, the Hampden Watch Company was one of the smaller American Watch Companies, however they produced exceptionally fine pocket watches. In 1888 they relocated to Canton, Ohio. In 1923 the firm merged with a the watch case manufacturer, Dueber, in the same city to become the Dueber-Hampden Watch Co.
In 1925, John Dueber sold the company to Walter Vrettman. However, in 1927, falling sales led to the company going into receivership. Around 1930, the machinery and tools were sold to the Amtorg Trading Corporation, one of Soviet Russia?s buying agencies in the US, for $329.000, it was a princely sum of money at the time. The former Dueber-Hampden employees were invited to go to Russia to teach them how to use the machinery. So, 23 watchmakers, engravers and various other technicians were hired, for one year, to help train the Russian workers in the art of watch making at. The machinery was loaded into 28 boxcars and left Canton, Ohio together with the employees and moved to Russia. It was the First State Watch Factory in Russia. It was set up in Moscow.
The sale of the Dueber-Hampden Watch Company to the Soviet Union was controversial at the time. Some people argued that it was a mistake to sell such a valuable asset to a foreign country. Others argued that the sale was necessary to help the Soviet Union modernize and become a global trading partner. That did not happen however.
In 1931, the factory produced pocket watches that were presented at a ceremonial meeting in the Revolution Theater. The Hampden pattern watch movements were called the Type-1, easily recognized by its distinct twin finger bridge layout, which is what this model is as well.
They continued to produce watches going into the war. As the Nazi army closed in on Moscow, during Autumn of 1941, the factory was hurriedly evacuated to Zlatoust, where more than 300,000 Zlatoust Type-1 watches and clocks were made. By 1943, the Moscow factory was re-established and renamed the First Moscow Watch Factory and continued the manufacture of pocket watches and stopwatches, as well as the Type-1 191-ChS watch for Soviet Navy divers, which is what this watch is. They ended production In 1970.
It is interesting to note that the basic Ebauch of this Submariners watch is identical to the 16 Size Hampden Movement that was produced in the early 1900s by the original Hampden factory before it merged with Dueber.
I have only seen three of these watches in my 60 years in the watch business. They all come in their original boxes as well.
Lastly, this is a "vault find" watch, it has been locked up for nearly 50 years, which means it needs a service. We will service it for you as part of the purchase price before it is shipped out to you. This will delay shipping for a few days of course.

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