My first Borgel case W1 wristlet

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River Rat
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My first Borgel case W1 wristlet

Post by River Rat » Sun Jan 01, 2023 12:48 pm

Almost did not buy any watches this year then the last day of the year I saw this on eBay. Being a vintage collector of military watches saw this has a interesting waterproof case it's a front loader with pin set movement. You pull the crown and turn the bezel ring and the movement unscrews from the case. It saw action in WW1 came from a family of the veteran the seller had it in his collection for a while. should get it next week.
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Mr. Frederick Cooper wearing the watch in WW1
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Comes with a lot of stuff from the veteran.
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Info about the veteran's service. I will take care of this watch and artifacts it's like we are caretakers of stuff we collect. Maybe I will see if I can find out what awards he was given in WW1 and more about his military record and if he had a long life after WW1, he was in bad shape medically from getting sick when in the service from the info in that letter. Hope it had a good life.

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tmw
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Re: My first Borgel case W1 wristlet

Post by tmw » Sun Jan 01, 2023 1:05 pm

Wow. That is an incredible piece and history.
Stan, don’t you know the first law of physics? Anything that’s fun costs at least eight dollars”
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“To absent friends, lost loves, old gods, and the season of mists; and may each and every one of us always give the devil his due.”
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I bought a cheap watch from a crazy man
Floating down canal
It doesn't use numbers or moving hands
It always just says now
Now you may be thinking that I was had
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And If I have trouble the warranty said
Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On

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rockmastermike
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Re: My first Borgel case W1 wristlet

Post by rockmastermike » Sun Jan 01, 2023 1:41 pm

Well done, Mike
This is amazing
Please let us know what you find out about the man

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kempoman
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Re: My first Borgel case W1 wristlet

Post by kempoman » Mon Jan 02, 2023 5:47 pm

Well done!! That's interesting piece with all the papers.
Watch collector since 1989

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Captdave
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Re: My first Borgel case W1 wristlet

Post by Captdave » Tue Jan 03, 2023 8:24 am

That’s very cool!


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River Rat
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Re: My first Borgel case W1 wristlet

Post by River Rat » Tue Jan 03, 2023 8:33 am

Found a few photos online of small boats being used in the Gallipoli campaign Frederick Cooper the veteran who once owned this watch was a coxswain on motorboats in that campaign. Emagine this watch being there in those photos below.
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jimspa
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Re: My first Borgel case W1 wristlet

Post by jimspa » Thu Jan 05, 2023 9:58 am

A watch with a rich history and great looks, congrats man!

I really like the story. I also collect watches, but this one impressed me a lot :clap:

River Rat
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Re: My first Borgel case W1 wristlet

Post by River Rat » Thu Jan 05, 2023 4:04 pm

Received it today. I replaced the strap with one off one of my other trench watches. Came with a bunch of stuff from his military service. A set of legging soldiers would wrap around the ankles to their boots and a diary read a little will read more. Figured how to open the case it's a front loader you pull the crown up unscrew the bezel ring anticlockwise the silver date mark a T 1914 date mark so more info to make this legit story of this veteran. Will need to get it service has a plastic crystal will see if I can get a period correct beveled glass crystal for it.
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Some info about the case. Doing homework on movement no marking on it.
https://www.vintagewatchstraps.com/borgel.php

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gonzomantis
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Re: My first Borgel case W1 wristlet

Post by gonzomantis » Thu Jan 05, 2023 7:15 pm

Looks really nice. Congrats!

River Rat
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Re: My first Borgel case W1 wristlet

Post by River Rat » Wed Jan 11, 2023 6:32 am

Here are a few pages out of his pocket diary.
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Here are some prints I found on eBay I just bought shows how they got these motorboats to these lakes to fight the Germans in Africa.
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Got more stuff I will post later. Mr. Cooper went to a lot of different combat areas in WW1 not just one front. Turkey, Africa, Greece.

River Rat
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Re: My first Borgel case W1 wristlet

Post by River Rat » Wed Jan 11, 2023 6:38 am

The HMS Monitor 23 that towed their boats in Greece to the Struma River found a photo of it on the net.
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Blaine
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Re: My first Borgel case W1 wristlet

Post by Blaine » Fri Jan 13, 2023 9:15 pm

River Rat wrote:Almost did not buy any watches this year then the last day of the year I saw this on eBay. Being a vintage collector of military watches saw this has a interesting waterproof case it's a front loader with pin set movement. You pull the crown and turn the bezel ring and the movement unscrews from the case. It saw action in WW1 came from a family of the veteran the seller had it in his collection for a while. should get it next week.
Image
Image
Mr. Frederick Cooper wearing the watch in WW1
Image
Comes with a lot of stuff from the veteran.
Image
Info about the veteran's service. I will take care of this watch and artifacts it's like we are caretakers of stuff we collect. Maybe I will see if I can find out what awards he was given in WW1 and more about his military record and if he had a long life after WW1, he was in bad shape medically from getting sick when in the service from the info in that letter. Hope it had a good life.
Amazing Mike! They could not have found a better caregiver as wellImage


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River Rat
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Re: My first Borgel case W1 wristlet

Post by River Rat » Sat Jan 14, 2023 9:16 am

Here is the original strap worn throughout WW1. I dropped the watch off for a movement service the other day.
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His military issued driver license and drivers handbook.
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River Rat
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Re: My first Borgel case W1 wristlet

Post by River Rat » Tue Jan 17, 2023 9:33 am

A military quiz for our members who served in the military or anyone. There is an odd device next to the shoehorn both these were issued items in the British Army in WW1 I know what it is can anyone tell be what it was used for, and I will tell you if your right. These were items issued to Mr. Cooper the original owner I had to figure it out I was not issued one.
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River Rat
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Re: My first Borgel case W1 wristlet

Post by River Rat » Wed Jan 18, 2023 1:55 pm

I guess no one knew what this was a button stick to clean and shine the brass buttons on your uniform without getting brasso on your uniform.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1ne5IrkVgw

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