A woman in town wanted us to find out the value of this watch. Thank goodness for this website. I've been able to find two or three "close, but no cigar" models and am hoping someone here will be able to help us help her. At this time, it's not known whether or not she will be willing to sell the watch.
Band is similar to the one shown on the 1949 Cadet model in http://www.mybulova.com/sites/default/files/vintage_ads/bulova-ad-1949-4.jpg
Case is similar to the one shown for the 1946 Minute Man model (but the face, font and hands are different) http://www.mybulova.com/watches/1946-minute-man-1079
The font used for the face seems to be similar to the 1950 President "A" but the case shape isn't there.
Will hopefully have a picture of the movement soon as my business partner will be taking it to the local jeweler to see if they are able to open the back for us.
It did seem to be in working condition when I wound it last week.
This watch has been sold.
admin,
Only that a Glass appears in a 1952 BB Watch Crystals Catalogue 'suppliment' that fits this Case as discussed by Old Ticker, Yourself and Myself in the linked thread in My prior post.
Any Glass found in a Catalogue suppliment says to Me new model or name change to an existing model in that Year. It would be interesting to know with certainty if the 'MINUTE MAN' namesake appears in the actual 1952 catalogue (not the suppliment).
If the OP's Watch is manufactured before 1952 then I would say Yes it's definately the 'MINUTE MAN', if not then the question arises.
Hi All,
Here we have another Bulova can of worms, let me add to the mix. I've had several of these over the years, yellow gold, plain and engraved BUT also available in rose gold, both plain and engraved.
I currently have a 1946,1947,1948 in yellow gold engraved, butler dial, gold "moderan" hands and a 1946 Plain rose gold, copper dial with black print figures and bluesteel "moderan" hands.
Looking at the pics here, I just don't see the L4 on this caseback?? I don't see any date code on this caseback. Should be right beside or below Bulova and I'm only seeing Bulova and a serial #.
Girls, can you get a pic of the movement showing the date code? My vote is that it's a Minuteman, until we confirm the date that is.
The value is $29.99 it sold last night on eBay. I questioned the seller on the date code & received the following:
My Question: Iam having difficulty finding this watch in Bulova ads. Please open the watch and provide the date symbol from the movement please. I am looking for the manufacturing year. I am very much interested in your watch.
Seller Responce: HELLO, I USUALLY DONT TAKE OFF THE BACK OF RESTORED WATCHES, BUT THIS IS EASY TO LOOK AT. THE ONLY NUBERS I CAN SEE ARE- 10BC AND WHAT LOOKS LIKE MX8 OR MX0 ON NEAR THE BALANCE AND SWISS 17 JEWELS WITH THE BULOVA TRADEMARK. HOPE THIS HELPS. J
My Resonse: MX8 OR MX0 are the part numbers for the regulator. There should be an alpha numeric two digit manuafaturer code e.g. L1=1951 49=1949 M1=1961. It would be very rare for a Bulova movement not to have this stamp. Thanks
Seller Responce: HELLO, YES, I THINK IT IS UNUSUAL, IT MUST BE A 1949 BECAUSE THAT WAS THE YEAR BEFORE THE M MARKINGS AND IT HAS NO SYMBOLS FOR PRE-1938 WATCHES. I HAVE A BOOK HERE AT HAND. IT SHOWS ALL SYMBOLS PRIOR TO 1939. I TRIED TO POST A PICTURE AND IT WONT LET ME-ITS TOO LATE IN THE GAME FOR CHANGES. PLEASE TAKE MY WORD FOR IT, IM LOOKING RIGHT AT IT. JOHN PS-I SOLD A 1953 BULOVA LAST WEEK SO I KNOW ABOUT THE MARKS
I think GirlsWithAKeyboard could splain date codes for us. Note the title of this string "Bulova 1949-Unknown"
You guys/gals are the best!!! I think I'd marry all of you if I weren't already engaged and polygamy wasn't illegal. :-) Give me a few seconds to go yell at the other girl for not d/l-ing the pics yet and I'll post them ASAP. Have I told you lately that I LOVE YOU!!!
OK. I'm now an amateur jeweler (thanks to being impatient with the pics that were given) and was able to figure out how to remove it and took my own pics of the movement. I couldn't see a symbol but I do see a "47" up around the 12 o'clock portion of the movement's pic. That's telling me 1947 and from your posts .... a Minute Man. May I post it as such?
In reply to OK. I'm now an amateur by GirlsWithAKeyboard
In reply to I would say that you have a by OldTicker
In reply to Yay! Mystery solved. by GirlsWithAKeyboard
If you get bitten by the bug bad enough, you will run across many...Just ask Plains what happened... http://www.mybulova.com/node/2491
Or Nova... http://www.mybulova.com/node/1597 or just about anybody else that posts here.
I look at it as a good investment and great hobby for the long cold winter months.
In reply to If you get bitten by the bug by OldTicker
Those are quite the collections. Maybe I should put Bulova watches in any condition on our wedding registry. :-)
It DOES look fun and would keep me occupied while he's at work. Once I have the wedding planned and paid for, I'll probably be at it ... with a few practice runs in between. ;-)
In reply to Yay! Mystery solved. by GirlsWithAKeyboard