Albert Fleeger of Butler, Pa., had an amazing watch fob collection on display in the construction tent, at this year’s Historic Farm Days. The show was held at the I&I Antique Tractor & Gas Engine Club grounds in Penfield, Ill.
Albert’s collection spanned several tables and contained a huge variety from tractor, construction truck and other companies. The watch fob is a nifty device that became a great advertising tool. Watch fobs were developed in Europe in the 16th century and were quite popular in the United States in the mid-1800s.

Albert became entranced with watch fobs as a kid.

“You used to be able to get watch fobs free,” he explained. “There are over 200 Caterpillar fobs alone. I even have a guide book, and I have over 5,500 watch fobs.”

This extensive collection allows him to display a wide variety. He offered several for sale to those looking for a particular brand or company.
“People did this for a living,” he added. “Companies made watch fobs, then they would change to class rings, hotel keys, paper weights, et cetera.”
Albert said he began collecting when his mother’s uncle gave his brother a watch fob. “I wore it a long time. I played basketball and I saw a dad of one of my friends had watch fobs.”

Copying down the addresses, a new hobby began.

“I started writing for them and companies would send them for free. These were never sold; now, they are commonly bought and sold.”

The most watch fobs Albert said he ever received in the mail in one day was 28. He is one of the original members of the International Watch Fob Assoc.
“I am the sixth member,” he said. “My wife and I were some of the first ones to go to watch fob shows. We have won many trophies for our displays.”
With companies like Bucyrus Grove, Allis Chalmers, Caterpillar, Case, Clark and many more on display, visitors pored over them looking for their favorite brand, or enjoyed conversing with Albert and learning just how many companies used the fobs as a way to advertise.

Albert and his wife have even been known to create holiday watch fob displays such as Christmas Trees and Easter egg decorations with the fobs for unique displays.

“My wife is really clever,” he added.

The International Watch Fob Assoc. was formed for collectors like Albert as an educational and nonprofit organization devoted to furthering the field of watch fob collecting. According to its website, watch fobs are an important part of advertising history. Prior to World War II most people kept track of time with a pocket watch. These were carried either in a small pocket at the waistline of a pair of pants, in a vest pocket, in the bib pocket of a pair of overalls – even ladies wore pocket watches.

It was easier to remove the watch from these smaller pockets with a piece of string or a leather strap attached to the watch. The fob was used as a weight to hold the strap close to the body so it did not catch on something and be accidentally pulled from the pocket.

Watch fobs were offered to potential customers at trade fairs. One interesting fact the Association points at was the general lack of literacy at the turn of the century, and fobs were a way to convey manufacturers’ messages. “At the beginning of the 1900s, a large percentage of people in North America could not read or write and manufacturers quickly realized that these prospective buyers did recognize a trademark. Most early fobs had a trademark or picture of their product on the front and a brief message on the back for those who could read,” stated the website, at www.watchfob.com

Watch fobs were also used to convey a message or particular status, such as those offered to operating engineers. They were required to run a lot of equipment and had to become certified; their watch fobs are hard to come by.
Going through the Bucyrus, Erie and Marion equipment histories, Albert said all these companies used watch fobs over the years. It is interesting to see some of the fobs with dual company names, which represents the combining of companies. “The Saturday Evening Post even had an essay contest where you could win a watch fob,” Albert said.

For those wanting to know more about watch fobs, Albert may be reached at 724-283-8233.

Readers with questions or comments for Cindy Ladage may write to her in care of this publication.