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In my quest to acquire vintage watch ads, I often get a much-welcomed surprise. Or more of an added bonus if you will. If I’m lucky, I’ll flip over the vintage watch ad that I recently purchased, and there will be another ad that wasn’t listed by the seller online.
Sometimes these ads are very interesting, in some cases even more interesting than the ad I was initially interested in. They’re usually produced by brands I knew literally nothing about until I had the ad in my hands.
On the other hand, sometimes I see a vintage ad for sale online by a random brand I know nothing about, and purchase it just because I think it’s cool. That’s how I acquired a few of the ads that I posted in my article on triple calendar watches from the 1950s (those brands being Eloga, Butex, and Hugex).
Most of the time, these brands have very little (if any) information about their history listed online.
In this post, I’d like to share five of these ads, in hopes that maybe someone else can inform me more about their past as watchmakers. It’d be a shame if these brands were lost to the sands of time, considering they were a part of horology at one point.
Altus Advertisement From 1949
Besides a potential connection to Glycine that’s murky at best, I can’t seem to find much of anything on Altus’s history.
It’s possible that Glycine and Altus merged in the 1950’s, but I have no definitive proof. The above ad is form 1949, and came as as an added bonus on the back of another ad I purchased.
Ogival Advertisement From 1948
This advertisement is really cool, so I had to share it. The history of Ogival, however (especially during the time this ad was produced) – is scarce.
Interestingly enough, it apparently took over Ulysses Nardin at one point in 1979 when UN was bankrupt, and then sold it in 1983.
Reusser Advertisement From 1948
I bought this ad simply because I thought it looked cool. As far as Reusser, I know nothing about it.
It’s possible that Reusser was responsible for producing Tradition watches, along with Sears in the US. If anyone knows more, please comment below, I’d love to learn more.
Sully Watch Advertisement From 1953
Here’s another cool ad from a company I can’t seem to find much about – Sully.
The closest thing to history I can find on the company comes from forums. Sully was likely a brand owned by Fabrique D’Horologerie S.Schaya. Sully watches also likely used ETA and A.S. Schild movements. Beyond that, I’m having difficulty finding anymore information on the company.
Vendome Advertisement From 1955
I bought this ad thinking it was tied to the Vendôme Luxury Group, which eventually turned into the modern Richemont Group (which if you didn’t already know owns A Lange Sohne, IWC, Vacheron Constantin, Panerai, etc). Turns out it’s not related at all (oops).
The ad is still interesting, and Vendome’s history is virtually non-existent. Strange, considering we live in a day and age where there seems to be an answer for everything on the Internet. All I know is that it seems to have been based in Corcelles – Neuchatel, Switzerland. Beyond that, I have no clue, but I’m definitely curious.
Conclusion
I love expanding my knowledge when it comes to horological history. Most of the brands displayed in these ads have me stumped. I have a burning curiosity to know more, so if anyone reading this knows anything more about these brands, please share in the comments below.
Know more about Altus, Ogival, Reusser, Sully or Vendome and want to add to the discussion? Please post a comment below!