New DH-style reenactors' watches: Your suggestions needed.

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Hans Gowert
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New DH-style reenactors' watches: Your suggestions needed.

Post by Hans Gowert »

Many thanks to Tom for lending me his account for this...

After a break of a few years while I actually went away and learnt the watchmaking trade properly, I'm restarting production of the DH-style watches.
I stopped making the previous watches simply because they weren't as good as they could have been, mainly due to the way I made the dials from plastic film which doesn't seem to have stood the test of time too well.
The new ones have a printed and enamelled dial which, while not made exactly as the originals, is as close as I can get without investing a few thousand pounds in some purpose-designed machinery. The hands I now use are a good match for the ones on the original Heer and Luftwaffe watches in my collection that I've used as reference sources.

Here's a quick snap of the very first one of the new design, fresh off the workbench:

Image

And now the purpose of this post:
I would welcome any suggestions as to making these as YOU want, rather than how I think you might want them.
After all, these are intended for German re-enactors, so let me know and I'll see if I can incorporate your ideas into production.

I'll have five with me at Beltring for you to have a look at in the flesh as it were, so please pop by and see what you think.
I'll be on the main Summer of 44 pitch in the living history field, in the usual spot as far as I know.

I can be contacted directly via paulbellamy1939 AT hotmail.com.

All the best,
Paul Bellamy

...We now return you to your regular programme. :wink:
Peiper

Re: New DH-style reenactors' watches: Your suggestions needed.

Post by Peiper »

Very nice mon ami :)

How much will these be going for if you don't mind me asking?
(Just a thought maybe some wording or maker mark on the dial would be a nice touch??)

Regards Pipes :wink:
Hans Gowert
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Re: New DH-style reenactors' watches: Your suggestions needed.

Post by Hans Gowert »

PB again...

Ta Pipes,

The sub-seconds dial watches are £60, with free postage once full production starts..
I've tried to keep the price as close to the first ones as I can by buying the components in bulk while keeping the quality up, hence there's a lot of common parts between all five different reenactors' watch styles I'm doing.

I've tried to avoid putting a name on the dial so far, as the list of original manufacturers is relatively small, and I won't use any of them anyhow as they are all still trademarked.
I can put a name in there however, to the specified 1mm letter height.
Any suggestions for an appropriate un-trademarked name will be considered of course.
I did some draft designs using "Dalbech" before going with the sterile print.

All the best,
Paul
Peiper

Re: New DH-style reenactors' watches: Your suggestions needed.

Post by Peiper »

Hans Gowert wrote:PB again...

Ta Pipes,

The sub-seconds dial watches are £60, with free postage once full production starts..
I've tried to keep the price as close to the first ones as I can by buying the components in bulk while keeping the quality up, hence there's a lot of common parts between all five different reenactors' watch styles I'm doing.

I've tried to avoid putting a name on the dial so far, as the list of original manufacturers is relatively small, and I won't use any of them anyhow as they are all still trademarked.
I can put a name in there however, to the specified 1mm letter height.
Any suggestions for an appropriate un-trademarked name will be considered of course.
I did some draft designs using "Dalbech" before going with the sterile print.

All the best,
Paul
Perhaps just a little "universal" German State eagle or a motif for branch of service such as WH, LW, KM and SS....just a thought :?: :?:

Pipes
Hoffman Grink

Re: New DH-style reenactors' watches: Your suggestions needed.

Post by Hoffman Grink »

The watch looks good as it is. The "trades" Peiper suggests will make it look cartoony. Not everything Third Reich was festooned with swastikas..... I do like the idea of "Dalbech" for obvious reasons...... :lol: But if not ordered I will have one of the five from you at Beltring please Paul.........

A good looking watch indeed. Well done.
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JDR
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Re: New DH-style reenactors' watches: Your suggestions needed.

Post by JDR »

I agree with Paul the watch looks good as it is no need to add extras
And that boys is how you take a penalty.
Peiper

Re: New DH-style reenactors' watches: Your suggestions needed.

Post by Peiper »

Hoffman Grink wrote:The watch looks good as it is. The "trades" Peiper suggests will make it look cartoony. Not everything Third Reich was festooned with swastikas..... I do like the idea of "Dalbech" for obvious reasons...... :lol: But if not ordered I will have one of the five from you at Beltring please Paul.........

A good looking watch indeed. Well done.
Heh heh.....ooops sorry i spoke, there i go again :lol: :lol:
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Gren Broich
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Re: New DH-style reenactors' watches: Your suggestions needed.

Post by Gren Broich »

Using period Radium as well? :wink:
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KDF
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Re: New DH-style reenactors' watches: Your suggestions needed.

Post by KDF »

Ummm, I'd be interested in one.

I do like the idea of a lufty styled one ?
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fallschirmjaeger
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Re: New DH-style reenactors' watches: Your suggestions needed.

Post by fallschirmjaeger »

Wow lovely item! Are there any period markings on the back - can you post a pic regardless?

Are you sure all the manufacturers are still around and copyrighted?

My preference is to get as accurate copy as possible, now if they exisited without markings and you cant use markings for the reason above go with this! But if they were marked (and you are allowed) then I would mark them up!

Mike
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Re: New DH-style reenactors' watches: Your suggestions needed.

Post by Peiper »

TBF maybe a logo would look farby but i was thinking of initials such as branch of service as
mentioned earlier, although if you did want a name maybe you could change one of the real
ones if they are still under copyright such as change "Kienzle" to "Hienzle" or "Gienzle" for example,
just a thought :?: :?:

Pipes
Hans Gowert
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Re: New DH-style reenactors' watches: Your suggestions needed.

Post by Hans Gowert »

Paul is most likely now down at beltring.

But also note: if cases need to be marked, this will increase in price due to sending the cases off to a seperate bloke to have them stamped.

OR if you find an original case, Paul can make one up for that case.

Keep it simple
John Wilson
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Re: New DH-style reenactors' watches: Your suggestions needed.

Post by John Wilson »

Is it a mechanical timepiece you're offering Paul?
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Mikkel
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Re: New DH-style reenactors' watches: Your suggestions needed.

Post by Mikkel »

Branch marked watches were the property of the armed forces and would only have been lend to personal who required it. An average landser with a Army Property stamp would be enough to jail him, charges with theft. And hence it would not be realistic for most reenactors to have.
I think it's really great with these watches, and I would seriously consider to get one for myself.
Erich Johann

Re: New DH-style reenactors' watches: Your suggestions needed.

Post by Erich Johann »

Any pictures of the original(s) you based your watch on?
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