Tornek-Rayville TR-900 - Revision history

Richard: /* Links */

2020-05-22T21:34:52Z

Links

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:34, 22 May 2020
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	==Links==		==Links==
			* [[US Armed Forces Issued Watches]]
	*[[Tornek-Rayville TR-900]]		*[[Tornek-Rayville TR-900]]
	*[[Military Watches]]		*[[Military Watches]]

Richard: /* History */

2020-04-29T18:55:32Z

History

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:55, 29 April 2020
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	In the late 1950s, the U.S. Navy’s Experimental Diving Unit (NEDU) was assessing a number of "submersible wrist watches" for use by its Underwater Demolition Team divers, a unit that would later become known as the Navy SEALs. The preference was to go with an American watch company as supplier, and the Navy provided specifications to [[Bulova]] for a "standard USN watch." But while Bulova was developing that watch, NEDU decided to evaluate three commercially available dive watches to make a recommendation for use.		In the late 1950s, the U.S. Navy’s Experimental Diving Unit (NEDU) was assessing a number of "submersible wrist watches" for use by its Underwater Demolition Team divers, a unit that would later become known as the Navy SEALs. The preference was to go with an American watch company as supplier, and the Navy provided specifications to [[Bulova]] for a "standard USN watch." But while Bulova was developing that watch, NEDU decided to evaluate three commercially available dive watches to make a recommendation for use.

	The rigorous tests they ran were on three watch manufacturers - a [[Rolex Submariner]], an [[Enicar Sea Pearl 600]], and a [[Blancpain Fifty Fathoms]]. The resulting test report (Project NS 186-200 Subtask 4, Test 43, 15 July, 1958) passed judgment on the three watches. Of the three, it was the Blancpain alone which passed ~~with flying colors~~, meeting all criteria. ~~Thus, the~~ Blancpain was recommended for use by divers until the Bulova was ready.		The rigorous tests they ran were on three watch manufacturers - a [[Rolex Submariner]], an [[Enicar Sea Pearl 600]], and a [[Blancpain Fifty Fathoms]]. The resulting test report (Project NS 186-200 Subtask 4, Test 43, 15 July, 1958) passed judgment on the three watches. Of the three, it was the Blancpain alone which passed, meeting all criteria. The Blancpain was recommended for use by divers until the Bulova was ready.

	in 1959 the Bulova USN watch was ready for testing by the NEDU. It did not go well. Two of the three Bulovas' bezels fell off, and one stopped running. The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms passed the tests, and it was a cost-effective option – $55. The Rolex Submariner was $95 and the Enicar a mere $37.50 (but lacked a timing bezel which ultimately led to its rejection from the tests). A new "Buy American Act" gave preference to American military suppliers which largely ruled out Swiss manufacturers. So a clever New York watch importer, Allen V. Tornek, came up with a solution. He convinced Blancpain to put "Tornek-Rayville U.S." on the dial ("Rayville" is an play on "Villeret," Blancpain’s Swiss hometown). He then marketed the watches through his US company. The Navy went with it, and the first team of Navy SEALs, was issued the Tornek Fifty Fathoms watches in 1962.		in 1959 the Bulova USN watch was ready for testing by the NEDU. It did not go well. Two of the three Bulovas' bezels fell off, and one stopped running. The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms passed the tests, and it was a cost-effective option – $55. The Rolex Submariner was $95 and the Enicar a mere $37.50 (but lacked a timing bezel which ultimately led to its rejection from the tests). A new "Buy American Act" gave preference to American military suppliers which largely ruled out Swiss manufacturers. So a clever New York watch importer, Allen V. Tornek, came up with a solution. He convinced Blancpain to put "Tornek-Rayville U.S." on the dial ("Rayville" is an play on "Villeret," Blancpain’s Swiss hometown). He then marketed the watches through his US company. The Navy went with it, and the first team of Navy SEALs, was issued the Tornek Fifty Fathoms watches in 1962.

Richard: /* Links */

2020-04-29T18:54:32Z

Links

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:54, 29 April 2020
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	*[[Tornek-Rayville TR-900]]		*[[Tornek-Rayville TR-900]]
	*[[Military Watches]]		*[[Military Watches]]
	*[[Diving Watches]]		*[[Military Diving Watches]]
	* [[Switzerland]]		* [[Switzerland]]
	* [[Blancpain]]		* [[Blancpain]]

Richard: /* Links */

2020-04-29T18:54:18Z

Links

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:54, 29 April 2020
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	*[[Tornek-Rayville TR-900]]		*[[Tornek-Rayville TR-900]]
	*[[Military Watches]]		*[[Military Watches]]
	*[[Diving Watches		*[[Diving Watches]]
	* [[Switzerland]]		* [[Switzerland]]
	* [[Blancpain]]		* [[Blancpain]]

Richard: /* History */

2020-04-29T18:54:05Z

History

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:54, 29 April 2020
Line 11:		Line 11:
	The rigorous tests they ran were on three watch manufacturers - a [[Rolex Submariner]], an [[Enicar Sea Pearl 600]], and a [[Blancpain Fifty Fathoms]]. The resulting test report (Project NS 186-200 Subtask 4, Test 43, 15 July, 1958) passed judgment on the three watches. Of the three, it was the Blancpain alone which passed with flying colors, meeting all criteria. Thus, the Blancpain was recommended for use by divers until the Bulova was ready.		The rigorous tests they ran were on three watch manufacturers - a [[Rolex Submariner]], an [[Enicar Sea Pearl 600]], and a [[Blancpain Fifty Fathoms]]. The resulting test report (Project NS 186-200 Subtask 4, Test 43, 15 July, 1958) passed judgment on the three watches. Of the three, it was the Blancpain alone which passed with flying colors, meeting all criteria. Thus, the Blancpain was recommended for use by divers until the Bulova was ready.

	~~The following year,~~ the Bulova USN watch was ready for ~~evaluation and again,~~ NEDU ~~conducted tests~~. ~~This time, two~~ of the three Bulovas' bezels fell off, and one stopped running. ~~Again, the~~ Fifty Fathoms passed the tests, and it was ~~cheap too~~ – ~~a mere~~ $55 ~~versus~~ $95 ~~for the Rolex (~~the Enicar ~~was~~ $37.50 but lacked a timing bezel)~~. But the Navy had a problem~~. A "Buy American Act" gave preference to American military suppliers. So ~~an enterprising~~ New York watch importer, Allen V. Tornek, came up with a solution. He convinced Blancpain to put "Tornek-Rayville U.S." on the dial ("Rayville" is an play on "Villeret," Blancpain’s Swiss hometown). He then marketed the watches through his US company. The Navy went with it, and the first team of Navy SEALs~~, established in 1962 under President John F. Kennedy~~, was issued the Tornek Fifty Fathoms watches.		in 1959 the Bulova USN watch was ready for testing by the NEDU. It did not go well. Two of the three Bulovas' bezels fell off, and one stopped running. The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms passed the tests, and it was a cost-effective option – $55. The Rolex Submariner was $95 and the Enicar a mere $37.50 (but lacked a timing bezel which ultimately led to its rejection from the tests). A new "Buy American Act" gave preference to American military suppliers which largely ruled out Swiss manufacturers. So a clever New York watch importer, Allen V. Tornek, came up with a solution. He convinced Blancpain to put "Tornek-Rayville U.S." on the dial ("Rayville" is an play on "Villeret," Blancpain’s Swiss hometown). He then marketed the watches through his US company. The Navy went with it, and the first team of Navy SEALs, was issued the Tornek Fifty Fathoms watches in 1962.

	It’s estimated that only around 1,000 Tornek-Rayville TR-900s were made, and most were subsequently destroyed. That’s because the watch made use of Promethium-147 (a radioactive element produced industrially from uranium) for its luminescent markers and hands, and the caseback gives a stern warning of its radioactivity, and the instruction, "If Found, Return to Nearest Military Facility." When these watches were decommissioned, most were disposed of, leaving an estimated 30 or less around today.		It’s estimated that only around 1,000 Tornek-Rayville TR-900s were made, and most were subsequently destroyed. That’s because the watch made use of Promethium-147 (a radioactive element produced industrially from uranium) for its luminescent markers and hands, and the caseback gives a stern warning of its radioactivity, and the instruction, "If Found, Return to Nearest Military Facility." When these watches were decommissioned, most were disposed of, leaving an estimated 30 or less around today.

Richard: /* History */

2020-04-29T18:48:21Z

History

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:48, 29 April 2020
Line 11:		Line 11:
	The rigorous tests they ran were on three watch manufacturers - a [[Rolex Submariner]], an [[Enicar Sea Pearl 600]], and a [[Blancpain Fifty Fathoms]]. The resulting test report (Project NS 186-200 Subtask 4, Test 43, 15 July, 1958) passed judgment on the three watches. Of the three, it was the Blancpain alone which passed with flying colors, meeting all criteria. Thus, the Blancpain was recommended for use by divers until the Bulova was ready.		The rigorous tests they ran were on three watch manufacturers - a [[Rolex Submariner]], an [[Enicar Sea Pearl 600]], and a [[Blancpain Fifty Fathoms]]. The resulting test report (Project NS 186-200 Subtask 4, Test 43, 15 July, 1958) passed judgment on the three watches. Of the three, it was the Blancpain alone which passed with flying colors, meeting all criteria. Thus, the Blancpain was recommended for use by divers until the Bulova was ready.

	The following year, the Bulova USN watch was ready for evaluation and again, NEDU conducted tests. This time, two of the three Bulovas' bezels fell off, and one stopped running. Again, the Fifty Fathoms passed the tests, and it was cheap too – a mere $55 versus $95 for the Rolex (the Enicar was $37.50 but lacked a timing bezel). But the Navy had a problem. A "Buy American Act" gave preference to American military suppliers. So an enterprising New York watch importer, Allen V. Tornek, came up with a solution. He convinced Blancpain to put "Tornek-Rayville U.S." on the dial ("Rayville" is an ~~anagram for~~ "Villeret," Blancpain’s Swiss hometown) ~~and sell~~ the watches through his company. ~~In the end, the~~ Navy ~~got its watch~~, and the first team of Navy SEALs, established in 1962 under President John F. Kennedy, was issued ~~these~~ Fifty Fathoms watches ~~in their newly-conceived Tornek disguise~~.		The following year, the Bulova USN watch was ready for evaluation and again, NEDU conducted tests. This time, two of the three Bulovas' bezels fell off, and one stopped running. Again, the Fifty Fathoms passed the tests, and it was cheap too – a mere $55 versus $95 for the Rolex (the Enicar was $37.50 but lacked a timing bezel). But the Navy had a problem. A "Buy American Act" gave preference to American military suppliers. So an enterprising New York watch importer, Allen V. Tornek, came up with a solution. He convinced Blancpain to put "Tornek-Rayville U.S." on the dial ("Rayville" is an play on "Villeret," Blancpain’s Swiss hometown). He then marketed the watches through his US company. The Navy went with it, and the first team of Navy SEALs, established in 1962 under President John F. Kennedy, was issued the Tornek Fifty Fathoms watches.

	It’s ~~speculated~~ that only around 1,000 Tornek-Rayville TR-900s were made, and most were subsequently destroyed. That’s because the watch made use of Promethium-147 (a radioactive element produced industrially from uranium) for its luminescent markers and hands, and the caseback gives a stern warning of its radioactivity, and the instruction, "If Found, Return to Nearest Military Facility." When these watches were decommissioned, most were disposed of, leaving an estimated 30 or less around today.		It’s estimated that only around 1,000 Tornek-Rayville TR-900s were made, and most were subsequently destroyed. That’s because the watch made use of Promethium-147 (a radioactive element produced industrially from uranium) for its luminescent markers and hands, and the caseback gives a stern warning of its radioactivity, and the instruction, "If Found, Return to Nearest Military Facility." When these watches were decommissioned, most were disposed of, leaving an estimated 30 or less around today.

	==Links==		==Links==

Richard: /* History */

2020-04-29T18:44:05Z

History

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:44, 29 April 2020
Line 14:		Line 14:

	It’s speculated that only around 1,000 Tornek-Rayville TR-900s were made, and most were subsequently destroyed. That’s because the watch made use of Promethium-147 (a radioactive element produced industrially from uranium) for its luminescent markers and hands, and the caseback gives a stern warning of its radioactivity, and the instruction, "If Found, Return to Nearest Military Facility." When these watches were decommissioned, most were disposed of, leaving an estimated 30 or less around today.		It’s speculated that only around 1,000 Tornek-Rayville TR-900s were made, and most were subsequently destroyed. That’s because the watch made use of Promethium-147 (a radioactive element produced industrially from uranium) for its luminescent markers and hands, and the caseback gives a stern warning of its radioactivity, and the instruction, "If Found, Return to Nearest Military Facility." When these watches were decommissioned, most were disposed of, leaving an estimated 30 or less around today.

			==Links==
			*[[Tornek-Rayville TR-900]]
			*[[Military Watches]]
			*[[Diving Watches
			* [[Switzerland]]
			* [[Blancpain]]
			* [[Main Page]]

			Credits - https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/vintage-tornek-rayville-diving-in-depth

Richard: /* History */

2020-04-29T18:40:15Z

History

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:40, 29 April 2020
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	==History==		==History==

	[[File:~~Tornek-rayville~~.~~webp~~\|thumb\|Tornek-Rayville TR-900]]		[[File:Tornek2.jpg\|thumb\|Tornek-Rayville TR-900]]

	In the late 1950s, the U.S. Navy’s Experimental Diving Unit (NEDU) was assessing a number of "submersible wrist watches" for use by its Underwater Demolition Team divers, a unit that would later become known as the Navy SEALs. The preference was to go with an American watch company as supplier, and the Navy provided specifications to [[Bulova]] for a "standard USN watch." But while Bulova was developing that watch, NEDU decided to evaluate three commercially available dive watches to make a recommendation for use.		In the late 1950s, the U.S. Navy’s Experimental Diving Unit (NEDU) was assessing a number of "submersible wrist watches" for use by its Underwater Demolition Team divers, a unit that would later become known as the Navy SEALs. The preference was to go with an American watch company as supplier, and the Navy provided specifications to [[Bulova]] for a "standard USN watch." But while Bulova was developing that watch, NEDU decided to evaluate three commercially available dive watches to make a recommendation for use.

Richard: /* History */

2020-04-29T18:38:28Z

History

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:38, 29 April 2020
Line 4:		Line 4:

	==History==		==History==

			[[File:Tornek-rayville.webp\|thumb\|Tornek-Rayville TR-900]]

	In the late 1950s, the U.S. Navy’s Experimental Diving Unit (NEDU) was assessing a number of "submersible wrist watches" for use by its Underwater Demolition Team divers, a unit that would later become known as the Navy SEALs. The preference was to go with an American watch company as supplier, and the Navy provided specifications to [[Bulova]] for a "standard USN watch." But while Bulova was developing that watch, NEDU decided to evaluate three commercially available dive watches to make a recommendation for use.		In the late 1950s, the U.S. Navy’s Experimental Diving Unit (NEDU) was assessing a number of "submersible wrist watches" for use by its Underwater Demolition Team divers, a unit that would later become known as the Navy SEALs. The preference was to go with an American watch company as supplier, and the Navy provided specifications to [[Bulova]] for a "standard USN watch." But while Bulova was developing that watch, NEDU decided to evaluate three commercially available dive watches to make a recommendation for use.

Richard: Created page with "==Tornek-Rayville TR-900== A watch built by Blancpain for the United States Navy in the 1960s. ==History== In the late 1950s, the U.S. Navy’s Experimental Diving Uni..."

2020-04-29T18:37:10Z

Created page with "==Tornek-Rayville TR-900== A watch built by Blancpain for the United States Navy in the 1960s. ==History== In the late 1950s, the U.S. Navy’s Experimental Diving Uni..."

New page

==Tornek-Rayville TR-900==

A watch built by [[Blancpain]] for the United States Navy in the 1960s.

==History==

In the late 1950s, the U.S. Navy’s Experimental Diving Unit (NEDU) was assessing a number of "submersible wrist watches" for use by its Underwater Demolition Team divers, a unit that would later become known as the Navy SEALs. The preference was to go with an American watch company as supplier, and the Navy provided specifications to [[Bulova]] for a "standard USN watch." But while Bulova was developing that watch, NEDU decided to evaluate three commercially available dive watches to make a recommendation for use.

The rigorous tests they ran were on three watch manufacturers - a [[Rolex Submariner]], an [[Enicar Sea Pearl 600]], and a [[Blancpain Fifty Fathoms]]. The resulting test report (Project NS 186-200 Subtask 4, Test 43, 15 July, 1958) passed judgment on the three watches. Of the three, it was the Blancpain alone which passed with flying colors, meeting all criteria. Thus, the Blancpain was recommended for use by divers until the Bulova was ready.

The following year, the Bulova USN watch was ready for evaluation and again, NEDU conducted tests. This time, two of the three Bulovas' bezels fell off, and one stopped running. Again, the Fifty Fathoms passed the tests, and it was cheap too – a mere $55 versus $95 for the Rolex (the Enicar was $37.50 but lacked a timing bezel). But the Navy had a problem. A "Buy American Act" gave preference to American military suppliers. So an enterprising New York watch importer, Allen V. Tornek, came up with a solution. He convinced Blancpain to put "Tornek-Rayville U.S." on the dial ("Rayville" is an anagram for "Villeret," Blancpain’s Swiss hometown) and sell the watches through his company. In the end, the Navy got its watch, and the first team of Navy SEALs, established in 1962 under President John F. Kennedy, was issued these Fifty Fathoms watches in their newly-conceived Tornek disguise.

It’s speculated that only around 1,000 Tornek-Rayville TR-900s were made, and most were subsequently destroyed. That’s because the watch made use of Promethium-147 (a radioactive element produced industrially from uranium) for its luminescent markers and hands, and the caseback gives a stern warning of its radioactivity, and the instruction, "If Found, Return to Nearest Military Facility." When these watches were decommissioned, most were disposed of, leaving an estimated 30 or less around today.