*GSTP Army Issue WW2 White-faced Pocket Watch by Marvin*
A Marvin, British military, pocket watch. A white enamel dial with Arabic numerals, lumen on the quarters. The face is inscribed “Marvin, Swiss Made”. A snap on back and bezel. The back has the British Broad Arrow followed by the letters “G.S.T.P”, (G.S.T.P. stands for General Services Timepiece/Temporary Pattern, which indicates that the watch was purchased by the British government for the armed forces 1939-1945). This is followed by the army stores number “258392″, “XX” (XX is often thought to mean higher quality but is more likely to mean released from service). 5cm diameter.
The Marvin Watch Company was founded 1850 by Marc and Emmanuel Didisheim in Saint-Imier. 1891/92 the three sons of Marc Didisheim, Henri-Albert, Edgar and Charles, took over the management of the company, and changed its name to Albert Didisheim et Frères. In 1895 Henri-Albert took over the management. The American market became the marketing focus. The export to America was organized by the general agency in New York, headed by Hippolyte Didisheim. With the establishment of the new factory building in 1912 the company name was modified to Marvin. From 1940 the company began alliances with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Ferrari, Mercedes, Jaguar, Fiat, MG, Rover and Chevrolet.
*Condition*
The face is in excellent condition with very minor fading to the lumen. The stem works to pull to change the time and to wind the watch. The second hand works and the watch appears to keep time. The case has some scratches and marks commensurate with its age and service. We can open the watch on request. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
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