QUERY: INFORMATION ON LONGINES WITTNAUER MEDALS SOUGHT

I am cataloging the family collection of medals created by Joseph DiLorenzo (1920-2001) for a possible exhibition. While the bulk of DiLorenzo's medallic work was struck by Medallic Art Company -- and I have these records -- he also did two series for Longines Wittnauer. This was the famed watch firm, which, prior to the American Bicentennial, ventured into medal issuing for a brief time.

For the most part the medals were issued under the Wittnauer name and carried a W as their hallmark. They were struck by Metal Arts of Rochester and bear a maker's mark of a lower case a. Further, the medals are also signed with the initials of the sculptor who prepared the models. So they are easily identified.

Wittnauer issued three presidents medals in 1973-74, two Washington medals in 1975, that I have a record of, and a series of America's Natural Legacy Series, begun in 1972. The latter series was in conjunction with the Sierra Club which selected the animal species shown on each medal. Sculptors for this series was divided between Marcel Jovine and Joseph DiLorenzo. The two sculptors were friends, lived in nearby towns, and shared commissions, as is evident in this series.

The medal series I need more data on is the Great American Triumph Series. I have a list of all 60 medals in the series, but I have no documentation for the years in which these were issued. Harry Flower dated the Einstein Medal in this series (number 41) as "1971" in his collection, published 1987.

Ideally I seek:

• Photocopies of any sales literature, advertisements, direct mail offering of ANY Wittnauer medals.
• Dates a subscriber received these medals in the Great American Triumph Series.
• Possible contact with a former employee of Longines Wittnauer who might recall any data on the firm's medal issuing activity.

Thanks! dick.johnson@snet.net .

Wayne Homren, Editor

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