1940s Midshipman Vs. Minute Man

Submitted by tshanno on October 25, 2019 - 11:36am

Hi, guys.

For the life of me I can't tell these watches apart.  

Midshipman:

https://www.mybulova.com/watches/1940-midshipman-5903

Minute Man:

https://www.mybulova.com/watches/1940-minute-man-2827

At first I thought it was just the watch face but then I came across this Minute Man example:

https://www.mybulova.com/watches/1941-midshipman-6528

I must be missing something.  These cases look identical to me.

Thanks,

Tom S.

Geoff Baker
Posted October 25, 2019 - 9:56pm

Hi Tom - One of the challenges we have is backwards updating already ID'd watches when a new advert is presented. The third watch you referenced should have been name updated a year or so back when the ad was presented showing it to be Midshipman. The difference, per the ads, is IS the dial. The first Midshipman you reference WAS name updated several years after it was originally ID'd as Minuteman. Good catch, thanks!

tshanno
Posted October 26, 2019 - 12:24pm

Ah, ha.  Thanks.  That clears it up.

Cheers.

Tom S.

tshanno
Posted October 27, 2019 - 5:53am

There's an interesting picture in this one that might, or might not, help:

https://www.mybulova.com/watches/1942-midshipman-8393

The last photo has four watches side-by-side.  I'm unsure of the details or the years but to my eye #2 and #4 look longer and maybe thinner than #1 and #3.

Tom S.