A Timex Camper advertisement from an Italian magazine in 1983.
The caption translates as : “The kind of watch equipment used by the American Marines. Water resistant, corrosion resistant. Washable strap.”
The watch then retailed for 29,500 lira, or about $ 20. Actually $19.95 as below.
Here the Model number is 29911, and the listed benefits on the box tag are :
Water-resistant
Luminescent hands/markers
24-hr dial
Traditional wind
Washable/adjustable nylon strap.
This watch was very similar to a MIL-W-46374B spec watch which TIMEX manufactured as a trial in 1981, complete with the military-issue case back markings, lack of TIMEX on the dial, and having the H3 marking and rad hazard symbol on the dial.
Timex have an image of this in their museum.
And the case back is shown below.
In 1982 a slightly revised model was trialled, with thicker numerals, and non-green triangle indices, and an arrow tip on the second hand.
The case back read :
Watch, Wrist, General Purpose
MIL-W-46374B
Timex Corp.
NSN 6645-08-952-3767
Mfg. Part No. 39-075000
DLA 406-81-C-2671
Feb 1982
Dispose Rad Waste
U.S.
In the end TIMEX decided not to pursue the military contract.
The watch was then issued commercially in the same case as the Camper, model 29911, a mechanical watch until the early 1990’s when a quartz movement was used.
The other milspec watches are shown below.
A September 1989 mechanical Camper is seen in the main image above with an A.F.0210. strap.
