Reply With QuoteInteresting read. I see they were talking about “firsts” way back when. First waterproof watch, first perpetual winding system... pretty sure they’re both questionable claims from what others have posted here and on MWR. Thanks for the link.
A long time ago I worked for J. Walter Thompson, ad agency for Rolex and many other big brands. JWT have an archive of advertising and internal documents, memos and artwork. Includes in the archive is an internal Newsletter article from 1985 about the history of Rolex Oyster Perpetual advertising that I thought might be interesting to share.
https://dukelibraries.contentdm.oclc...id/13541/rec/2
The first two pages are out of sequence so start on page 5, go back to page 4 then jump to 6. Then it runs in sequence up to page 11. The website works best on a PC and the green box at the top right of each scan lets you zoom in.
The archive team at Duke University have done an incredible job of preserving the material and also are very helpful.
Last edited by alfat33; 27th November 2019 at 08:09.
Interesting read. I see they were talking about “firsts” way back when. First waterproof watch, first perpetual winding system... pretty sure they’re both questionable claims from what others have posted here and on MWR. Thanks for the link.
Glad you liked it. I particularly like the ad from the late ‘40s that describes how a British POW created fake Rolexes from other prisoners’ watches, as these were the most prized by their German guards.
We all buy into the mystique and myth of different watch brands I guess. Rolex seem to have been more successful than everyone else at creating that mystique, as well as some very good watches.
A great read. Thanks for posting.
JWT 'eh?
I always had you down as a Mad Man.
Cheers,
Neil.
"A self-winding watch was necessary on Everest"?
Shame it didn't make to the top in '53 . . . .
What was the one that did? Does anyone know?
Schmitt or Schild or Smyths or something. Might've been French or German.
Haha, I’m more of an imposter, or maybe a chameleon. A few IT skills can get you into almost anywhere.Originally Posted by Neil.C
A great read. Thanks for posting.
JWT 'eh?
I always had you down as a Mad Man.
I remember Mike Cronin who wrote the article.
Last edited by alfat33; 27th November 2019 at 22:50.
Browsing through the newsletter archive I see that in the 1920s JWT were the ad agency for Gruen watches, who I believe were the largest US watch manufacturer at the time.
There are 100 mentions of Gruen from 1916 onwards listed here in the archive. I’ve only looked at a few.
One of the most interesting is an overview of the company dating from 1924, which was the 50th anniversary of the founding of Gruen.
Nothing to do with Rolex but hopefully also interesting.
Last edited by alfat33; 28th November 2019 at 09:14.
V interesting
A long time ago I worked for J. Walter Thompson, ad agency for Rolex and many other big brands. JWT have an archive of advertising and internal documents, memos and artwork. Includes in the archive is an internal Newsletter article from 1985 about the history of Rolex Oyster Perpetual advertising that I thought might be interesting to share.
https://dukelibraries.contentdm.oclc...id/13541/rec/2
The first two pages are out of sequence so start on page 5, go back to page 4 then jump to 6. Then it runs in sequence up to page 11. The website works best on a PC and the green box at the top right of each scan lets you zoom in.
The archive team at Duke University have done an incredible job of preserving the material and also are very helpful.
Schmutz, innit
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