Our Favorite Gruen Hands on Our Favorite Gruen Watch
The Story of The Guild Watch by Cincinnati Watch Company
On the morning of Dec 7, 1941, 2,403 Americans lost their lives in the surprise attack at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. After which, both of Mark's and one of Rick's Grandfathers enlisted, trained, and became United States Marines.
Grandfather Joe Haworth left his job at Union Terminal to become a Marine. He was turned down for a role as a gunner on an aircraft because of poor eyesight. He was assigned to fix hydraulic systems on bombers at air bases in Europe.
Grandfather, Tom Stegman, was assigned to a 3-pack howitzer unit and island-hopped across the Pacific Ocean towards Japan.
Gruen Watch Company pivoted from assembling precision watches to assembling precision instruments for bombs and aircraft while trying to maintain its business as a watch company. Gruen's parts came from Switzerland; those supplies were cut off during the war due to German submarines in the Atlantic, so Gruen was limited in what they could do.
In 1946, upon returning home, Joe Haworth took his job back at the Union Terminal as a master carpenter. Fortunately, we have him on record talking about the condition of Union Terminal after the war, since it was maintained by a skeleton crew, and how the roof over the Union Terminal clock was leaking; and how he and his coworker fixed the leaking roof of the clock.
(listen to his story of reparing the clock when he got back from the war) from the war,
The Guild Watch by Cincinnati Watch Company was created specifically to honor Gruen's guild of watchmakers at "Time Hill" in Cincinnati. It was not war or date-specific; we wanted to honor that Gruen assembled precision watches housing some of the World's best watchmakers, like our own Jordan Ficklin does here in Cincinnati.
Designing and assembling precision watches is what Gruen did, and it's what we do at Cincinnati Watch Company. Tested, regulated, and assembled in house, like Gruen, Precision means something to us, the lifestyle, the work, the miniture scale. We get it.
The Guild Watch was a concept to honor Gruen's guild of watchmakers, the people behind Gruen who worked by the light of the South facing windows at Time Hill.
Rick Bell has a strong and detailed understanding of watch design and history. Especially as it comes to Gruen & Sons. Rick took inspiration from his favorite watch design by Gruen that uses a very unique hand set specific to Gruen. Out of all the years Gruen designed watched a favorite was chosen. So, in 2001 we created the Guild in homage to this watch of Gruen.
The Original Guild Watch and Cincinnatian PICTURES HERE>
The watch was designed in homage of this watch.
After the war, Marine 3-pck howitzer soldier Tom Stegman received this watch, purchased (We are not sure how he got it. It was above his pay grade. Did he treat himself with his GI Pay? Did his employer buy him this? We do not tknow. After discussing with family, we believe Tom Stegman's employer bought him the watch as gratitude for his service and committment to their family enterprise.
This water-resistant Gruen Automatic watch, he wore it every day of his life until 1992. He died still chased by the ghosts of his fellow Americans killed in action all around him during WW2.
This Google My Maps document shows the battles my Grandfather, Tom, an 18-year-old Marine in 1941, fought until the end of the war in 1945. The only reason my Grandfather survived the entirety of the war is that he manned a 3-pack howitzer; his team was behind the front lines and offered the front lines close support with precision shelling from their 3-pack howitzer.
Zoom in, click on the markers to learn what happened at that location.
My Grandfather and hundreds of thousands of Americans put their life on the line to protect America and avenge the fallen at Pearl Harbor.
Research
I got most of the information about my Grandpa Tom's journeys from my Grandma, his wife, who knew the battles from the correspondence during and after the war. From her, I learned what regiment, unit, and battalion he was in so I could study the location of the battalion as well from military records. From personal family research and researching the Unit and battalion, I used Google My Maps to create this map of my Grandfather's battle through WW2.
Peace is Possible
We are not attempting to glorify war. War is Hell on Earth. No one should experience it. We work for peace and a vibrant global economy. We still have utmost respect and recognition for the men and women who serve and who have served our Country now and throughout history. We are truly eternally grateful.
On this Anniversary of Pearl Harbor, consider visualizing your loved ones travels in a Google My Map or Google Earth flyover. It's a great way to learn about your ancestors and visualize their trials during this global upheaval.
An Important Ohioans WW2 History
Ohio Supreme Court Justice Paul Brown
View through the spaces of the story of Ohio Supreme Court Justice Paul Brown's capture in North Africa by Rommel and harrowing escape in Italy. Zoom in, click on the markers to learn what happened at that location.
Thank You!
The Incredible Story
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