Although watch fobs are no longer a standard article of men's jewelry, there was a time when a pocket watch adorned with a gold or silver chain or leather strap not only gave a feeling of importance to its wearer, but could also indicate his loyalties, perhaps the fraternal organization he belonged to, his occupation, or his political preferences.
The practical use of a watch fob or chain was simply to help the wearer locate and retrieve their timepiece, but also served as a decorative or informative accessory.
For our purposes, the standard political campaign watch fob – those which feature medallions, die-cut metal, or celluloid suspended from a leather strap – had its beginnings in the 1904 Roosevelt vs. Parker campaign and saw its heyday in the 1904-1912 campaigns. Fobs were still prevalent through the 1928 campaign, but by the 1930's, had virtually become a thing of the past.
As is true with most political items, the celluloid fobs are typically pricier than the metallic varieties, and the later fobs – especially varieties from the 1916-1924 campaigns – tend to be better. Probably the rarest presidential campaign watch fobs are those celluloid jugate varieties issued for Theodore Roosevelt and Hiram Johnson from the 1912 Progressive Party campaign and can be valued in the thousands.
Take a look at this week's listings featuring a variety of watch fobs priced from the low $20.
