Time Capsule
Vintage Personalized Wristwatches & the Stories They Tell
"You never actually own a watch...You merely look after it for the next generation" **
Click any Photo above to read their Time Capsule stories....
Following their first campaign, the regiment was sent to Melbourne, Australia to recover. On Feb 10, 1943, Paul Thomer purchased a steel-cased wristwatch, engraved “Paul R. Thomer ~ U.S.M.C. ~ 343824 ~ Australia ~ 2-10-43”.
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Click photo to read Pvt. Thomer's story
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New Story: September 2023
Returning Marine Pvt. Paul Thomer’s WW2 Watch to His Family
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Private Paul R. Thomer (1923–1992) was a WW2 Marine Corps hero who fought at Guadalcanal as a member of the famed 1st Marine Division. The battle would cost the division 650 killed in action, 1,278 wounded in action with a further 8,580 contracting malaria and 31 missing in action.
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I personally presented Paul’s watch to his daughter Deborah in September. She and her four siblings will cherish their Dad’s watch – a courageous Marine who fought as part of “The Greatest Generation”.
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(You can also find his story on the <WW2 / Cold War> menu above)
** Thank you, Patek Philippe
WW1 Military Watches
WW2/Cold War Military Watches
Athletes Watches
Presentation/Personal Watches
The Time Capsule Collection of Vintage Watches
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Bob Stokes
I have spent my entire life collecting something. 1950s baseball cards (yup, I had all the Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays cards...) -- and of course my Mom threw them all out when I went to college. Over the next fifty years, that morphed into Victorian Furniture, Victor Talking Machines / Nipper collectibles, 19th Century Advertising; Opera memorabilia – and finally, vintage personalized wristwatches.
Why? First, through the miracle of the Internet, the lives of the original owners have have been documented and preserved -- military heroes; athletes; community leaders. Second, each watch is unique -- it is the only one in the world. If you don't buy it, no amount of money can get it for you. And third, when I research the owner's family, I can return it to them for posterity.
​"You never actually own a watch....you merely look after it for the next generation"