MINT ORIG 1944 DARK BROWN COLT HIDE WATCH BAND BRITE SPECIALTY CO. NY CITY For Sale

This sale is for a one original, unused, vintage U.S. Army issue dark brown colt hide leather watchband from a master waxed cardboard carton dated December, 1944. This band is a civilian-style watch band, but was made under a U.S. Army contract to the Brite Specialty Company of New York City to produce leather watch bands for military use. The contract was issued in October of 1944 and fulfilled in December, 1944. The watch band for sale in this sale came from a case of 720 leather watchbands that were destined for shipment by the U.S. Army to the European Theater of Operations, but for some reason never were sent. The watch band for sale in this sale is from a small collection of about 30 unique bands that I had set aside. This is one of the last of the 1944 watch bands that I have. ********** The box from which this set came originally contained 36 watch bands, which were individually packaged. The band for sale in this sale is complete with its original cellophane envelope and small paper insert with instructions about how to install onto a watch. The watch band is about 19 mm wide (3/4 inch). It is made of smooth, dark brown colt hide leather, with a single leather strap keeper. It is stamped on the back with an outline of a horse and the words "GENUINE COLT." The long part of the two-piece strap measures 4 3/8 inches (11.2 cm) from end to end, the short part (with the buckle) measures 2 7/8 inches (7 cm) from leather end to leather end, and (3 1/4 inches -- 8 cm) from leather end to the end of the buckle. ********** This is an original civilian-made, U.S. Army issued, civilian-style two-piece leather watch band, of the type used on the WWII-era rectangular "Tank"-style watch (will fit other WWII watches as well, such as Elgin, Hamilton, Gruen, Rolex, or Waltham, with lugs 13 mm apart or wider). The watch band is in new old stock, mint condition, never issued or used, contained in its original wrapper and shipping box until now. ********* The story of this watch band is as follows: The watch band was made by a civilian manufacturer, the "Brite Specialty Co." of New York, which was awarded a late 1944 contract to supply leather watch bands to the US Army. The master carton from which this band came was dated December, 1944. The watch bands made by Brite Specialty were delivered in waxed cardboard cartons to the Jersey City, New Jersey Quartermaster Depot. Apparently they were intended for shipment to US troops in the European Theater, but they were never sent overseas. They have remained in storage since the end of WWII, until they were sold more than 20 years ago at a surplus sale. The watch bands were stored under ideal conditions for the past 80+ years, and so they appear just about brand new. They are absolutely authentic, from 1944. ***************** I have included photos of the original waxed cardboard master box labels in which the smaller cardboard boxes of 36 bands each were contained. The master box (not included in this sale) is marked with labels and stamps, as follows: SHIP TO: JERSEY CITY QM DEPOT, WHSE B, GATES & GARFIELD AVES, JERSEY CITY N.J. FOR C.O., REQ'N. NO. 28-021-292, P.O. NO. 40445-C, D.Q. NO. 1, FROM: BRITE SPECIALITY CO., 115 FOURTH AVENUE, NEW YORK 3, N.Y." Also, "STOCK NO. 25 [ILLEGIBLE] BANDS, WRIST WCH, LEATHER 720, WT. 17, CUBAGE 1.0." The carton is also stamped with information about the cardboard used to make the box, along with the date "12-44" for December, 1944. The smaller cardboard box containing the bands was stamped with: "No. 25-B-500, GENUINE TOP GRAIN LEATHER WATCH STRAPS, 36 PIECES, BRITE SPECIALITY CO. NEW YORK 3 N.Y." ************ U.S. Army wrist watches were issued to troops with both cloth and leather bands. I have also included below an excerpt from U.S. Army Technical TM 9-1575, "ORDNANCE MAINTENANCE WRIST WATCHES, POCKET WATCHES, STOP WATCHES, AND CLOCKS," dated April 6, 1945. The manual illustrates both Hamilton and Elgin U.S. Army Ordnance Dept. watches having leather bands like the ones featured in this sale. ********** The leather of this watch band is in very fine, supple condition, mint. It is in NOS, new condition even though it is about 81 years old. Please see photos, the watch band shown is the exact watch band for sale in this sale. Please note: The carton labels, Army manual, and cardboard box are for illustration only, they are not included in the sale, this sale is for the one watch band and its cellophane wrapper and paper insert. ************* This is a 100% original WWII band. There are lots of reproduction watch bands out there, and some originals that are purported to be WWII vintage, but very few that can be dated with certainty. I guarantee that these watch bands are 1944 vintage, civilian manufacture, intended for issue to U.S. Army troops in the ETO. ************* This is the very last of these that I have. ********** I can ship worldwide. Free shipping to a US address. Non-US buyer pays exact shipping costs only