The AMF Voit Watch Brand Is About as Unconventional as It Gets
AMF Voit ‘Super Automatic’ Diver’s ref. 1573-666, circa 1970s / Credit: Wanna Buy A Watch
Founded by William J. Voit in 1922, Voit initially began as a tire retreading company in Los Angeles, California. It was during this time that William invented and patented the first rubber beach ball with an air retention valve. Continuing with the success of the rubber beach ball, Voit then went on to invent and patent numerous other successful products throughout the 1930s and ‘40s. One of those was a process of vulcanization that allowed leather to be fixed onto a separate rubber bladder, which was crucial in the development of the basketball.
Voit was later acquired by AMF in 1957 and pivoted to recreational diving equipment. They went on to release the Swimaster and Aqualung lines, and invented the first rubber bodied water polo ball which was adopted as the official match ball for the Olympics. Through the Swimaster line, Voit also provided the equipment for many famous Hollywood films, such as Thunderball, the 1965 James Bond film starring Sean Connery.
AMF Voit advertisement for the 1965 James Bond film, Thunderball
AMF, or the American Machine & Foundry Co., initially became famous through their production of bowling equipment. They also went on to own Harley Davidson and DeWalt for a short while, as well as a diverse group of other products and companies.
The new entity, AMF Voit, produced their legendary dive watches throughout the 1960s and early ‘70s. AMF Voit teamed up with the Swiss powerhouse Schild & Co. to produce these watches, specifically the movements, which they sold along with their other recreational diving equipment line.
Along with AMF Voit, Schild & Co, Orator, and Aqualung also produced their own skin divers during this time. A majority of these dive watches used the Felsa/A. Schild 4004 17 jewel automatic movement.
Skin divers by manufacturers Voit, Orator, Schild, and Aqualung
The AMF Voit dive watches can be characterized as generic skin diver from the 1960s. AMF Voit was never an actual watch brand but instead would use their expertise in the dive watch market, and their retail presence, to sell these timepieces. Although generic, these are archetypal examples of vintage skin divers, with highly sought-after dial configurations. As such, you will still see these pieces fetching thousands of dollars online, and the collectability and prices seem to only continue to rise.
By: Eric Mulder
AMF Voit Super Waterproof ref. 1573-666, circa 1960s / Credit: Craft and Tailored
Read more:
“VOIT AN AMERICAN LEGACY.” Voit, https://voit.com/pages/story.
“American Machine & Foundry Co. (AMF).” Vintage Machinery, http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgindex/detail.aspx?id=28.