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smellody
- Owner
- Posts: 12741
- Joined: December 18th 2009, 11:00pm
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New 41 MM 1937 Zenith Pilot Special
Zenith Pilot Special 41MM 1937 Matador Watch Malou Dohodou Gilt Dial
Back in the day I had a lovely Tag Targa Florio. It was an attractive watch with acrylic crystal and double coin edged bezel. I had traded it off for some Rolex. I'm a little nostalgic, so I've been looking to replace it.
My friend Rich @ www.timetitans.com had this cool Zenith Pilot Special. (NOTE this 1937 watch is sans the Pilot inscription (more info here: viewtopic.php?p=540591#p540591)).
The watch was assumed to be a prize for an air competition:
"The back has a unique inscription, 'Malou Dohodou 1937 Matador.' The Malou Dohodou is the Czech name for the Little Entente, which was an alliance that was comprised of Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Romania and existed from 1921 to 1938. They staged air competitions and we can assume that a talented Czech airman won the title of 'Matador' in 1937."
The Matador, or bullfighter if you will, inscription didn't fit to me. Unless the winner
could be considered the "killer" per the Latin root of the word.
In addition to air competitions, the Malau Dohodou was also an automotive competition.
Here is an article in Czech on the event:
https://www.motormix.cz/malou-dohodou-2022
Here is an English translation of the pertinent information:
"The Malau Dohodou international motoring competition was the largest sporting event organized by the Autoklub of the Czechoslovak Republic in the interwar period. He collaborated with the royal clubs of Romania and Yugoslavia on the organization. Czechoslovakia had an alliance agreement with both countries, which was called the Little Agreement."
Pictures from the article of the event (in the event you are scared to click the link).
So what about Matador. . .? In 1937, Matador tools
was unveiling a new American idea 
to Europe, socket tools.
More info on Matador's 1937 campaign: https://www.matador.de/en/About-Matador/Historie/1937/
Pictures of the campaign from the article above:
So why is Matador engraved on the back of this watch commemorating a 1937 Czech motorcar race? I speculate that Matador sponsored the event and this was the winner's 
prize. I can't imagine they gave one of these to all participants. This was 1937 and times were rough for all.
Matador Tools have another cool connection to the Land, Sea, and Air company Mercedes. They make the tools in Mercedes tools kits. I must have a couple dozen of these in my garage from various 60's Mercedes that I've owned.
Watch arrives Friday. I'll post pictures. Thanks for reading. Happy watch collecting and motoring and flying. Also, Dale, it is pronounced Then-ith.
Perhaps I should reach out to the Matador Tool Company to see if they have any info.
Back in the day I had a lovely Tag Targa Florio. It was an attractive watch with acrylic crystal and double coin edged bezel. I had traded it off for some Rolex. I'm a little nostalgic, so I've been looking to replace it.
My friend Rich @ www.timetitans.com had this cool Zenith Pilot Special. (NOTE this 1937 watch is sans the Pilot inscription (more info here: viewtopic.php?p=540591#p540591)).
The watch was assumed to be a prize for an air competition:
"The back has a unique inscription, 'Malou Dohodou 1937 Matador.' The Malou Dohodou is the Czech name for the Little Entente, which was an alliance that was comprised of Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Romania and existed from 1921 to 1938. They staged air competitions and we can assume that a talented Czech airman won the title of 'Matador' in 1937."
The Matador, or bullfighter if you will, inscription didn't fit to me. Unless the winner
could be considered the "killer" per the Latin root of the word. In addition to air competitions, the Malau Dohodou was also an automotive competition.
Here is an article in Czech on the event:
https://www.motormix.cz/malou-dohodou-2022
Here is an English translation of the pertinent information:
"The Malau Dohodou international motoring competition was the largest sporting event organized by the Autoklub of the Czechoslovak Republic in the interwar period. He collaborated with the royal clubs of Romania and Yugoslavia on the organization. Czechoslovakia had an alliance agreement with both countries, which was called the Little Agreement."
Pictures from the article of the event (in the event you are scared to click the link).
So what about Matador. . .? In 1937, Matador tools
was unveiling a new American idea 
to Europe, socket tools. More info on Matador's 1937 campaign: https://www.matador.de/en/About-Matador/Historie/1937/
Pictures of the campaign from the article above:
So why is Matador engraved on the back of this watch commemorating a 1937 Czech motorcar race? I speculate that Matador sponsored the event and this was the winner's
prize. I can't imagine they gave one of these to all participants. This was 1937 and times were rough for all. Matador Tools have another cool connection to the Land, Sea, and Air company Mercedes. They make the tools
in Mercedes tools kits. I must have a couple dozen of these in my garage from various 60's Mercedes that I've owned. Watch arrives Friday. I'll post pictures. Thanks for reading. Happy watch collecting and motoring and flying. Also, Dale, it is pronounced Then-ith.
Perhaps I should reach out to the Matador Tool Company to see if they have any info.
2023 3flushes Media.^^^
