May 7, 2001

One very valuable series of fobs is the colored enamel set. Collectors crave this series because of the challenge of finding all four in good condition. The colored enamel background comes in black, royal blue, powder blue, and a unique red-white-and-blue striped version.

Made between 1910 and 1940, these colored fobs might have represented the various factories of Deere & Company at the time.

Others suspect the different colors referred to the years of release or the branch that gave them away.

While it seems odd that green is not one of the available colors, no one seems to know the reason for this colored series.

According to seasoned collectors, each of these fobs is reasonably rare, but the black one is the hardest to find. Yet this one is heavily advertised as a "good-will gift" in catalogs dating 1916, 1930, 1935, and 1940. These listings make no mention of other colored versions.

In a 1930 dealer ad specialties catalog, a caption reads, "The silver nickel-plated figure on this fob contrasts attractively with onyx-enamel background." It was even called "indestructible" in a 1916 souvenir flier. Judging by their existence yet today, this claim can certainly be upheld.

John Deere also offered a fine series of "Genuine Mississippi River Baroque Pearl" fobs from around 1915 to 1940.

Believe it or not, these famous fobs now selling for up to $500 in mint condition were actually advertised for just 20 cents around 1916. By 1940, the cost to the John Deere dealer in a promotional catalog was up to 35 cents each.

On "Mother of Pearl" fobs, both the badge and the buckle are made of a delicate pearl material, which explains why many fobs found today are chipped on the edges or missing the buckle entirely.

Another common problem with watch fobs is that the leather strap has been creased and folded enough to tear off. Replacing a strap is a simple repair, so realize that some straps will look much newer as a result.

Given the values placed on these early fobs, many reproductions flood the market. Beware of pieces that do not show consistent wear patterns according to their age. Also look for signs of poor craftsmanship —İa good indicator that the item was not an official Deere promotional piece.

Another example of Deere’s promotional prowess is the fob featuring the 1936 trademark with its special shield shape and black grooved background.

This relatively rare fob is advertised in dealer specialty catalogs from 1930 to 1940. The caption in a 1930 flier reads: "The fob illustrated above is of dull black jet finish, with the John Deere trade-mark faced off bright — something new in watch fob finishes. Price, 10 cents each, plus postage."

Other popular watch fobs include the dual-faced centennial set from 1937, as well as ones made by Deere’s related companies, such as Moline Wagon, Velie Vehicles, and Deere & Mansur.

For additional details on watch fobs in general, consult The Watch Fob Guide Book by Allan Hoover.

Next week, we’ll give our moms a hand for Mother’s Day! Stay tuned for the story of the cast-iron hand made by John Deere…

Fobs, fobs, and more fobs

These fobs show an assortment of designs over the years.

fob 3fobcu.jpg (10202 bytes) The far left fob represents the 1936 trademark with its special shield shape and black grooved background. The middle fob is an early pewter design with the hat-wearing Waterloo Boy and tractor. The far right fob is an ornate gold-plated design with colorful Model D on a celluloid background. Collectors presume these last two designs dated between 1915 and 1925 to be quite rare and valuable. Photo ©İ1999 Nick Cedar

These fobs promote the Moline Wagon Company, which became part of Deere & Company in 1910. fob molinefobs.jpg (15171 bytes)

The wagon wheel and greyhound were the trademark symbols of this "light running and durable" equipment. Photo ©İ1999 Nick Cedar

This fob has a unique type of strap and leatherwork. Actually a recently issued reproduction of the 1880 trademark, this medallion is the giant letter "D" with the deer poking its head through it. Photo ©İ1999 Nick Cedar

Many people do not yet associate the name Velie with John Deere. fob veliefobs.jpg (17785 bytes)

Yet the Velie family was very involved in the Deere business and also manufactured a variety of vehicles on its own. The Velie name was associated with carriages by 1902, motor trucks starting in 1911, automobiles from 1908 to 1928, tractors between 1916 and 1920, and even airplanes in 1928. These four fobs show the two major versions of Velie fob designs. The round "wheel-type" with "The Name Insures Quality" slogan and the large "letter V" version can be dated prior to 1928. Photo ©İ1999 Nick Cedar

Another sampling of fobs displays variety in age and design. The first one on the left resembles the 1956 logo, yet this is actually a more-recent design produced by Deere in the 1980s. A variation with a flat deer also exists.

fob 3fobscu.jpg (15768 bytes) The middle one is a round pendant with the deer leaping over the plow. Notice how its front leg is bent up and the rack points backwards. The wording at the bottom simply says "Moline, Ill." On the reverse is the bust of Deere with the words, "He gave the world the steel plow." Note its coin-like edges and older-style strap linkage. Collectors presume this fob to be an early one and quite rare as a result.

The far right fob is shown with the back side of the badge, which states "First Class Goods. John Deere Plows, Cultivators. Velie Buggies Etc." The front is less identifiable as John Deere — it features the Butts Building, an early branch office in Wichita, Kansas. Photo ©İ1999 Nick Cedar

These four fobs represent the popular "Mississippi Mother of Pearl" designs. Looking carefully, it’s easy to see the slight differences in the leaping deer logo. fob pearlfobs.jpg (12486 bytes)

Subtleties such as the antlers facing forward or backward, a bent front leg, kicked up rear legs, and other such details help a trained collector’s eye to quickly spot variations in designs. For example, the one attached to its card has the antlers pointed forward, while the two on the right show the rack to the rear. The two fobs on the right may appear identical in deer design, yet they vary in material — one is brass and one is silver.

The far left fob uses a larger shield shape with the famed plow emblem, which is inscribed with the words "John Deere." Some collectors have heard that these special fobs were worn by "Block Men," which are yesterday’s version of Territory Managers. Photo ©İ1999 Nick Cedar

Father time tells watch history

We’ve come a long way since sundials!

Abraham Louis Breguet (1747--1823), often acknowledged as the father of the watch, made some of the first timepieces for Napoleon’s military men.

One common story about the invention of the wristwatch came about because Louis Cartier’s aviator pal needed something better than a pocket watch to time his flights.

Cartier befriended famous aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont in 1900 and a year later, Santos-Dumont won the Deutsch de la Meurthe prize of 100,000 francs for flying his dirigible #6 from the Park Saint Cloud to the Eiffel Tower and back under 30 minutes.

At his victory celebration that evening, Santos-Dumont complained to Cartier about the difficulty of checking his pocket watch to time his performance. He wanted his friend to come up with an alternative that would permit him to keep both hands on the controls.

Louis Cartier went to work on the idea and the result was a watch with a leather band and a small buckle, to be worn on the wrist. Starting in March of 1904, Santos-Dumont always wore his personal Cartier wristwatch for all future flights. In fact, he used it to check his world record for a 220-meter flight, achieved in just twenty-one seconds, on November 12, 1907. (See link here.)

Japan’s Seiko had been a maker of mechanical watches since the end of the 19th century, introducing its first pocket watch in 1895 and its first wristwatch in 1913. (see link here.)

In the United States, the end of World War I corresponds to the introduction of the wristwatch, which soon became very popular. Its traditional round shape was generally adopted in 1960. In 1926, the first self-winding wristwatch was produced with the first electrical watches being introduced later in 1952. (See link here.)

In fact, the quartz wristwatch we know so well today was not even invented until almost 1970. By 1972, the world's first electronic digital watch (the Pulsar) was introduced to the public. (See link here.)