1983 Timex Tun-Timer Baseball Mechanical Kids Watch Ref. 19941
1983 Timex Tun-Timer Baseball Mechanical Kids Watch Ref. 19941
Reference Number: 19941
Manufactured Date: 1983
This 1983 Timex Tun-Timer Baseball Mechanical Kids Watch, Ref. 19941, is a colorful example of Timex's playful approach to children's timepieces during the early 1980s. Featuring a bright blue resin case, matching blue fabric strap, and white dial with oversized blue Arabic numerals, the watch was designed to make learning to tell time both simple and enjoyable. A vivid red inner minute track and matching red seconds hand provide a striking contrast, while the traditional mechanical movement reflects an era when even inexpensive children's watches could be manually wound. The watch retains its original-style blue fabric strap and features a water-resistant case assembled in the Philippines. Visible imperfections include light scratches and scuffs on the blue resin case, minor wear around the crystal and bezel, and slight discoloration and wear to the fabric strap. The original $17.99 retail price sticker, shown in the photographs, offers an additional glimpse into the watch's early retail history.
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Sizing
Sizing
Case: 25.5mm
Dial: 20.75mm
Lug-to-Lug: 29.25mm
Thickness: 8.75mm
Strap: 17.8cm
Strap Style: Nylon NATO Pin Buckle
Timekeeping
Timekeeping
Watch Type: Mechanical Analog
Watch Movement: M80
Watch Complications:
- None
Movement Caliber: Mechanical
Watch Lume: None
Watch Night Light: None
Color & Finishing
Color & Finishing
Case: Blue
Dial: White
Strap: Blue
Research & Restoration
Research & Restoration
Caseback Style: Snpaback
Restoration Thoughts / Notes:
- Timex's Tradition of Children's Watches – Timex and its predecessor companies had been producing affordable watches for younger wearers for decades before this example appeared in 1983, including character watches and educational models designed to introduce children to traditional timekeeping. The company's emphasis on inexpensive, durable wristwatches helped make personal timepieces accessible to generations of American children. This brightly colored Tun-Timer represents that tradition during a period when children's watches were becoming increasingly playful in their materials and styling.
- The End of an Era for Mechanical Children's Watches – By the early 1980s, inexpensive quartz movements were rapidly replacing mechanical movements throughout the watch industry, particularly in affordable consumer watches. This Timex is an interesting survivor of the transition, retaining traditional mechanical timekeeping in a product aimed at children rather than watch enthusiasts. Its construction reflects the final years when winding a wristwatch could still be a familiar part of a child's daily routine.
- A Surviving Piece of 1980s Retail History – The original $17.99 price sticker provides an unusually direct connection to the watch's retail origins, preserving information that is often lost as vintage watches change hands. Children's watches were typically purchased for everyday use rather than preservation, making surviving examples with identifiable period packaging or pricing details especially appealing as nostalgic collectibles. The blue-and-red color scheme and simple, oversized numerals further capture the cheerful aesthetic of affordable children's accessories during the early 1980s.
Original Catalogue Description: "Fun Timers - $14.95 - The grown-up watch for kids"
Original Wholesale Price (1983): $17.99
Original Retail Price (1983): $14.95
