The History of the Mickey Mouse Watch
The world got its first taste of Mickey Mouse on the 18th of November in 1928 in the black and white cartoon "Steamboat Willie" a creation of the late Walt Disney (1911-1966) and has since become an icon the world over. The cartoon spawned a series of marketing products as people began to look for ways to show their love for the little black and white mouse with the squeaky voice. It did not take many years before the first Mickey Mouse watch hit the stores and they became an overnight success.
The Birth of the Mickey Mouse Watch
While it might seem like an unlikely pairing Mickey Mouse paired up with a failing clock manufacturing company in 1933. The Ingersoll-Waterbury Clock Mfg. Company joined forces with Walt Disney to produce the world's very first Mickey Mouse watch. At the 1933 World's Fair a skilled promoter who had a long track record of success was hired to introduce the new watch to the world. These watches originally sold for $3.25, but the price was later reduced to $2.95 to make them more affordable to the masses.
The first version of the Mickey Mouse watch featured a round face with Mickey standing upright. His arms with their trademark yellow gloves served and hour and minute hands while a tiny disk with 3 Mickeys spun around at the bottom of the bezel to keep the seconds. Also printed on the face of the watch were the words "Mickey Mouse Ingersoll". These original Mickey Mouse watches are now the most sought after Mickey Mouse collectible items in the world.
Across the Ocean
Mickey Mouse soon became an international superstar and as such it should come as no surprise the Mickey Mouse watch would soon follow his success by appearing overseas. The Ingersoll -Waterbury Clock Company's London branch began manufacturing Mickey Mouse watches for the British. These watches soon earned the nickname "Balloon Trousers Mickey" watches thanks to the overly inflated look of Mickey's red shorts in the picture on the face of the watch.
In 1936 the Ingersoll Company released an updated version of the watch that featured trousers that were shrunk back down to normal size, but the hands and feet had been made larger to compensate for the smaller size of the pants. The original British version of the Mickey Mouse watch sold for 15 shillings which in those days was considered to be a small fortune making the watches only available to the more wealthy members of society.
Mickey and Friends
For the next 30 years the Ingersoll Company continued to manufacture Mickey Mouse watches until the name of the company became US Time in the 60s and then finally became Timex. Over the years Mickey shared the bezel with many of his friends, including appearing with Minnie at times. There have been watches that featured Minnie by herself that were designed and marketed specifically for the ladies.
In 1972 Goofy managed to appear on what has become one of the oddest watches ever made. The numerals were placed on the bezel backwards and to make it even more fun the watch was also made to run backwards. Oddly enough even though you had to learn to tell time all over again the watches were a smash hit selling out at the price of $19.95. Today these watches selling for at least $600 - $700 if you are fortunate to enough to even find one that is not in someone's collection.
Mickey Goes Mod
The 70s was the decade of the Mods and everything got bigger and far more colorful. Mickey suffered with a loss of popularity during the 60s, but by the seventies he was back with a vengeance and he soon appear on the face of the Mod Watch. These watches had a very large face and wide band and were the hottest trends going. The watch feature full figure Mickeys on the band and on the face and the watches were available with wristbands that came in an amazing variety of colours. Ingersoll/Timex introduced its very last Mickey Mouse watch in 1971.
Modern Times for Mickey
In 1972 Bradley Watchmakers, part of Elgin Industries began to make all of the Mickey Mouse and other Disney character watches. Their top watch feature a new Mickey wearing red gloves and a premier Swiss made watch movement and they continued making these watches until Lorus took over in 1987. Today there are several top brands of watchmakers selling Mickey Mouse watches including Colibri, Fossil, Seiko and the Disney Time Works brand. From simple basic watches to one crusted with diamonds you can find a Mickey Mouse watch to suit everyone's tastes. One thing is for certain and that is the even though Mickey is now 91 years old he is still a superstar and has kept up with the times.