WatchUSeek Watch Forums banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

Beautiful 1930 or 1940 Bulova 21 Jewel watch! (Curved)

Jump to Latest
1 - 20 of 28 Posts
S

Spartcom5

· Registered
Joined
·
549 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
Hey guys was at a thrift store 3 weeks ago and they had this watch... Went back today and was surprised when they still had it so I bought it for $16. Slight brassing on the corners of the case, dial has patina and seems to be all original, doesn't work needs service, crystal looks original as well needs polishing. The movement looks great, USA made, 21 jewel, can anyone identify it?? Case back says B-10k gold filled and inside it says Bulova Fifth Avenue New York. Now this watch is either 1930 or 1940 based on the Omega marking on the movement, I'm leaning towards 1930 because there are about 10-12 service marks inside the case back and there is even a date inscribed 5/?/41...? Definitely my most unique watch, what do you guys think?


Edit found a thread, seems like this watch may actually be 1930! Would be my oldest watch by 12 years! http://www.mybulova.com/forums/bulovas-aaa-markings-movements
 
#2 ·
Very nice 1940 President. I have been wanting one of those for so long...

1940 advert.

Cheers, Bob.
 
  • Like
Reactions: busmatt
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
Discussion starter · #3 · (Edited)
You think it's 1940? It definitely looks like a President model however I think it's 1930 after some research According to this site it talks about case back signatures from bulova. Inside says "Bulova Fifth Avenue New York" with B - on the outside which would be from the 30s Bulova - Vintage Bulova Case Signatures | Watchophilia.com . Here's the exact same watch on another thread AAA Signature on Bulova movement Combined with the year 1941 scratched on the inside as a service mark I'm thinking 1930..... Would love some more opinions! I could be wrong!

Oh and the second dial is different than the advert
 
#4 ·
This model was not introduced until 1935.
 
  • Like
Reactions: busmatt
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#5 ·
The long thin, curved President was made about 1935-1939. Yours is the first I have seen to indicate 1940. (Which get me to a tangent - in that I think that Bulova date codes and model/catalog years ran independently.)

A 1930 President is a quite different watch...

All in all a good score...congrats.

I have been wanting one of those for so long...
Click to expand...
Bobbee...The next time I grab one for cheap - I'll fix it up for you...Just hard to catch one on the down-low these days in acceptable condition.
 
#8 ·
Would you say that this is in acceptable condition? How much would you charge to fix it up?
Click to expand...
I would say that the condition of yours is pretty average for the model (I would find it acceptable). The long curved models all tend to brass pretty heavily along the ends. The dial condition looks pretty OK to me too.

Sorry - I don't take in work for other people. When I give a watch away is the only time watches that I service end up with other people.
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
Here is a close up of the dial! Also, I emailed the admin at mybulova.com and he too says it's for sure a President model but the date code is throwing him off somewhat, odd... Can't seem to find a 1940 President online anywhere except for on some adverts... Maybe the case is earlier and the movement is 1940? Very confused haha!
 
#10 ·
No, the case also is 1940, the seven-digit serial number (as stated by 1955 mercury) on the case back begins with a ''0''.
As stated, this model watch was made from 1935, so the case can't be earlier. There are several 1940 adverts (the one I posted is one!;-)) to be found.
Admin at myBulova is very easily confused, please don't be surprised by his lack of knowledge.

The datemark on the movement for 1940 shows the movement database on myBulova is slightly wrong too, there are several such on all known Bulova movement databases, as new models with later dates have been found.

Cheers, Bob.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1955mercury and busmatt
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
Discussion starter · #11 · (Edited)
bobbee said:
No, the case also is 1940, the seven-digit serial number (as stated by 1955 mercury) on the case back begins with a ''0''.
As stated, this model watch was made from 1935, so the case can't be earlier. There are several 1940 adverts (the one I posted is one!;-)) to be found.
Admin at myBulova is very easily confused, please don't be surprised by his lack of knowledge.

The datemark on the movement for 1940 shows the movement database on myBulova is slightly wrong too, there are several such on all known Bulova movement databases, as new models with later dates have been found.

Cheers, Bob.
Click to expand...
Great! Thanks so much really appreciate about learning more and more about each watch I find! Final question are these from 1940 at all rare? As I said I can find several different year Presidents on eBay and such but none from 1940... Only other 1940 I found was here AAA Signature on Bulova movement Same exact watch in better condition... Would you get this watch fixed up if it were yours (assuming you didn't do the work) as it's going to run me easily $130+ to get someone to fix it
 
#12 ·
Not rare as such, just scarce.
I would definitely get it working.
Good luck with it, and be proud of it too!

Bob.
 
  • Like
Reactions: busmatt
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#13 ·
With regard to years of production (I am sure Bobbee has "heard" me say this) - I am of the opinion that date codes on watch cases and movements are indicators of either fiscal year or calendar year. But I think the "catalog year" was different. This is why we sometimes have two models of the same name in a given year but that are different watches.

For example your '40 President vs. the accepted style of '40 President (We see this also with the '29 President)...To clarify - I am saying that watches would have been produced in 1940 but from the 1941 catalog. Like model years on cars - the new line comes out before the calendar year expires.

Just for fun - here is an example of one of the generally accepted 1940 Presidents from my collection...(the President "B")
 
#16 ·
scram said:
View attachment 9652386 View attachment 9652402
Hey, I have that watch from my favourite Uncle Walter. In fact, I believe mine had that band you show when I got it. My research revealed the bulova 1948 Arnold. Not sure if that's correct, but it's awfully close. Cheers!
Click to expand...
Nice watch (why does everyone have one but me?) scram, but as merc points out that is not the Arnold!
The case shape (barrel and flat, V rectangular and curved) is wrong, the dial shape (barrel shape V rectangular) is wrong, the jewel count (15 V 21) is wrong, the movement type (round 10BC V barrel shaped 7AP) is wrong.
Send it to me for lengthy (possibly decades long!) appraisal.....;-)
 
  • Like
Reactions: busmatt
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#19 ·
I had to dig on my IG to find the original pictures I took of my 1936 (in the last picture you'll see it on a 1937 ad):







 
  • Like
Reactions: 1955mercury
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
1 - 20 of 28 Posts
About this Discussion
27 Replies
7 Participants
Last post:
cfw
WatchUSeek Watch Forums
posts
24M
members
618K
Since
2005
A forum community dedicated to watch owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about watch collections, displays, watch winders, accessories, classifieds, and more! We welcome all manufacturers including Casio G-Shock, OMEGA, Rolex, Breitling, Rolex and Tudor, Seiko, Grand Seiko and others.
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Public Forum Watches - Private Sellers and Sponsors Affordable watches Dive watches Casio G-Shock