1973 Walt Disney World Golf Classic Travel Clock w/Mickey Mouse--NIB

Description

1973 Walt Disney World Golf Classic Travel Clock w/Mickey Mouse--NIB
1973 Walt Disney World Golf Classic Travel Clock w/Mickey Mouse--NIB
New in original box.  Never used.  Collapsed, it measures 3.68" by 2.88" by 1.35".  Face of clock measures 3.12" by 2.15".  Clock is metal with a plastic face.  Includes hour and minute hands, month, day and date.  A very nice piece made by Elgin.  Luminous hands when the lights are off.  Wind up, so you never have to worry about oversleeping if you lose power.
Walt Disney World Golf Classic Travel Clock 1973 Mickey Mouse Elgin PGA Tour. Historic Walt Disney World Golf Auctions by Saturday’s Toys presents.. An original treasure from the first Walt Disney World Golf Classic (1973) as held at the Magnolia and Palm golf courses at Walt Disney World. The vintage travel alarm clock with golfer Mickey Mouse is in like-new condition with no noticeable wear.  Includes the original gold cardboard box. The clock has luminous (visible at night) hands and references at each 5-minute mark on the dial. The Disney golf tournament had been created in 1971 in association with the PGA Tour to celebrate Walt Disney World’s grand opening year and was initially named as the “Walt Disney World Open Invitational”… With the personal involvement of golf’s greatest ambassador of that era, Arnold Palmer. Though the WDW resort had planned all along on establishing a world-class golf facility, it wasn’t until a few weeks prior to the first event Nov. 5, 1971 that Arnold Palmer agreed to invite several of his friends to support the new course and to work with the PGA to add this tournament to the PGA Tour. As such, it was tagged as the final event of the PGA Tour season. Florida’s friendly climate worked well for this event happening so late in the year; and it was an immediate hit with the families of these golf pros. In 1971 and 1972 both events were presented as the “Walt Disney World Open” and were won by Jack Nicklaus, only adding to the event’s nationwide recognition as golf’s newest prestige event. The following year (1973), an agreement was made between Walt Disney World (in association with Walt Disney Productions in Burbank) and the PGA to establish the WDW golf event as a permanent part of the PGA Tour. As such, the name was changed to “Walt Disney World Golf Classic” and it continued to be scheduled as the final event of the annual PGA Tour season. Having already played in the 1971 “Open” at WDW… At that time, he was presented with this alarm clock in recognition of his participation in the event. Again that year, Jack Nicklaus won the tournament, becoming the only player in history to win the Disney event on three separate occasions. Notably, after winning the WDW event in 1972, only weeks later Nicklaus faced off with Rod Funseth at the Glen Campbell Los Angeles Open Jan. Funseth won the event with a 278 score (8 under par). Nicklaus finished 4 shots behind Funseth to place 6th in that event. The 1970’s proved to be a decade of significant transition for Disney watches and timepieces. After several decades of relationship to Disney as Ingersoll, US Time and Timex, the company’s contract with Disney was allowed to expire and long-time Timex national spokesperson John Cameron Swayze opted to retire. As such, there were no authorized Disney watches produced between 1969 and 1971. Finally, the Los Angeles Times reported on July 21, 1971 that Disney had signed a new five-year contract with Elgin National Industries (including their Bradley Time Division) and the contract took effect on January 1, 1972. As such, Elgin would create and distribute Disney watches worldwide and the Elgin / Bradley brand also became the official timepieces of both Walt Disney World (Florida) and Disneyland (Anaheim, California). This 1973 alarm clock for the Walt Disney World Golf Classic then became the first Mickey Mouse Alarm Clock in history to be issued under that “Golf Classic” name; a distinction whose rarity is only now being understood because of the extremely limited supply issued at that 1973 event; particularly with the original green Elgin box. Also, the instruction sheet inside the case notes the “Bradley” logo at the center of the dial; particularly interesting as the clock’s brand reference was completely eliminated from the face of Mickey Mouse dial. It should be understood that while the clock is in pristine condition and runs just as it did in 1973, there are specific direction on how to properly reset the Month / Day / Date dials on the piece. The instruction sheet spells out those directions and care should be taken when resetting the dial. In essence, the clock has never been used and has been in storage.
SHIPPING: Shipping on this item is first class.  Shipping is from 70767.
Our aim is happy customers.  We leave feedback for you; please do the same for us if you are happy with your item.  If there is a problem, please contact us before leaving low feedback or low DSR's.  We answer most email within 24 hours.
We appreciate your business and want you for a repeat customer.  Please save us a favorite seller and check back each week for new items.
Listing and template services provided by inkFrog