you are rite on about the civilian provenance, since ATPs,
by hurley
properly expanded to "army trade pattern," were exactly that, trade pattern watches that were bought by the military for issue pending fulfillment of contract orders. the same deal with the pocket GSTPs (general service trade pattern) before them. i am aware that "temporary pattern" is the preferred expansion for some, and this has some appeal. however, the lists, while occasionally referring to "temporary" issues, the phrase "trade pattern" recurrs in both the TAP and GSTP context with great frequency. either way, marvin is exactly rite about the origins of ATP watches. perhaps this point speaks to MF's recent query about the possible dual life of the iwc mark ix.
Posted on Jan 2, 2002, 6:50 AM from IP address 172.143.169.88