Hello Genevieve,
Thank you for sending in your father’s Rolex wall clock to mearto for an appraisal. It will be my pleasure to help you today.
TITLE:
Large ebonized metal, Electric Advertising Wall Clock with blue center seconds, made by the Ohio Advertising Display Company of Cincinnati, Ohio (see notes) and made for the Rolex Watch Company, Geneva, Switzerland circa late 1960- 1970.
PROVENANCE:
Client’s father was an employee of Pan American Airlines where it hung in their offices at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP). Prior to that it was used at one of the New York City airports. The relationship between Rolex and Pan American Airlines dates back to the 1950s. Her father was given this item. . .
DESCRIPTION:
CASE - Measuring 52cm in diameter, this wall clock has a black painted metal bezel and case. Some examples still retain a sticker label at the back which indicated it was manufactured by the Ohio Advertising Display Company based in Cincinnati. (I cannot see the back of this case) Rolex used several different style wall clocks over the years, but this style with blue center seconds was made circa late 1960s-1970. . .
DIAL - The white dial is painted with black baton hours and the Rolex logo coronet @12, elongated open bar minutes, steel ‘Epee’ hands, blue (for Pan-Am) center seconds, and the dial is marked ‘Rolex Chronometer’ at the top. . .
MOVEMENT - The movement is not shown but it would contain gearing powered by household current, i.e. 110-120 volt 60 cycle AC only. . .
CONDITION – Excellent case, dial and movement remains functional. Totally genuine and original. . .
These large size clocks for the collector of Rolex ephemera are rare finds. They were used in the offices of Pan Am, at airport check in desks and also at Rolex retailers as advertisement for the collaboration between the two firms (Rolex and Pan-Am). Their business relationship began in the 1950s.
HISTORICAL:
Ohio Advertising Display Co. of Cincinnati, OH / Lima, OH -
The Ohio Advertising Display Co. was a sign manufacturer from the 1930’s to the 1970’s. The Ohio Advertising Display Company made signs such as neon lighted signs, lighted signs, motion signs, spinner signs, and clocks. They had designers who originally used the style of the art-deco years of the 1930’s in their sign design. Many of their signs had art-deco style accents through the graphics as well as the metal case that held them together. They also did collaborate with Telechron on the advertisement clock signs for breweries, soda, ice cream, watches, appliances, and other industries.
They also made illuminated art deco style liquor signs with reverse-painted glass graphics. Those signs were made to promote Nips, Bourbon, Vodka, Cordials, Brandy, Scotch, Rum, Vermouth, Gin, and Whiskey.
The Ohio Advertising Display Co. made various beer spinner and motion signs for breweries like Mount Carbon, Mount Carmel, Yuengling, Latrobe (Rolling Rock), Chester, Reading, Sunshine, Gretz, Esslinger, Schmidt, Fort Pitt, Horlacher, Neuweiler, Old Shay, Duquesne, National Bohemian, Blatz, Pabst, Anheuser-Busch, Budweiser, Hamms, Miller, Goebel, and Hanley’s just to name a few.
And they obviously made advertising signs for the one of the top Swiss watch companies, ‘Rolex’.
PRICING:
In 2018 a similar example to your wall clock with the addition of a large blue Pan-Am and Rolex painted on the dial sold at Christies for $14900. It carried the label of Pan Am with its office address in Denver on the back of the case. That is really a retail price when bought at Christies and replete with the two company names and a label.
In 2018 as well, a clock, the twin of your wall clock with no extra frills or label, sold at auction in the USA for $1700.
During the past five years similar examples with and without labels, including those with both Rolex and Pan Am marked on the dial sold from a low of $500 to a high of $3500 at auction.
Looking at the mainstream auction sales in recent past years I believe that the actual fair market auction value should be in the $3500-$3800 range in today’s marketplace for your fine example.
I hope this has been of some help to you today.
My best,
David