Super cool 1958 Omega Speedy ad

[Subfiend]

I just added this ad to my collection. In over a decade of collecting watches and ads, I have never seen this one.

Dig the reference to the "High precision wrist computer with tacho-productometer scale." I have never heard that one before. Enjoy!

[Subfiend]

Here it is in black & white to make it easier to read.

[Kringkily]

200 feet water depth hmmmmm people always tell me 50....

[Subfiend]

I noticed that too.

[rodrob59]

And I thought my stick hands were the original ones. Does anyone know if they black, silver or blue like the current "1957" model?

[Saxon007]

Originally Posted by rodrob59

And I thought my stick hands were the original ones. Does anyone know if they black, silver or blue like the current "1957" model?

They were silver from the photos I've seen. Here is my 1957 re-issue (late 1990s manufacture). It differs from the current Broad Arrow watch in that mine is a handwind 1861 movement and does not have a date function. It is basically a Speedy Pro with a different dial, handset, bezel and caseback.



EDIT: Here is an original (note the case shape). Not my photo or watch.

[jmsrolls]

That is probably the earliest Speedy ad but this one is my favorite:



Fr. John†

[SUBversive]

Cool. I also love the form to fill in and mail in for more info. Awesome. Does anyone know the history of the broad arrow hands?

[SirGrotius]

Can you imagine that much copy on one of today's ads? Peoples' brains would fry!

[Fearsome Puppy]

Originally Posted by SirGrotius

Can you imagine that much copy on one of today's ads? Peoples' brains would fry!

Agree very David Ogilvy. Half the time now the website address is the longest copy element in an ad. Different times - though personally I do appreciate the skill in copy driven ads of the past - at least I can understand what they're selling!

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by SirGrotius

Can you imagine that much copy on one of today's ads? Peoples' brains would fry!

Cool AD, thanks for sharing.

Attention spans have gotten shorter, because we have so many more choices. Many which really aren't worth very much anyway.

[Kringkily]

Originally Posted by SUBversive

Cool. I also love the form to fill in and mail in for more info. Awesome. Does anyone know the history of the broad arrow hands?

The broad arrow hands were first introduced but then replaced with the slimmer hands to allow for better visibility. They were then re-released in the 1957 edition I believe a little while ago and also on the blue and white moon phase watch. There is also a broad arrow version of the 50th anniversary.

[Subfiend]

Fr. John,

I have been collecting these ads for nearly a decade and this is the earliest Speedy ad I have seen, by far. The next earliest I have in my collection is from 1964 or 1965. I love the pre-Moon ads featuring the Gemini and Apollo programs. Omega definitely had space fever in the late 1960s.