Another "HOT" Bulova

Submitted by OldTicker on November 20, 2011 - 6:06pm

This one has a crystal that is still glowing, (you can't have the only one Fifth!)

Looks like a late 20's Treasurer...Might have a fair restoration project here...If nothing else a nice band to work with.

Hope I didn't snipe anyone! ; D

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted November 20, 2011 - 6:15pm

An excellent candidate Greg!

Case and band look good and surprisingly after removing the Glass in mine the Dial itself wasn't that bad.

Elgin Doug
Posted November 20, 2011 - 6:27pm

Yowza!  I have a couple watches with radium burned dials, but nothing like the burn on that crystal!

I'd suggest opening that baby up under a fume hood, and either wearing gloves or at least washing your hands after.  You probably already know that, but it doesn't hurt to mention it.

OldTicker
Posted November 20, 2011 - 6:42pm

In reply to by Elgin Doug

Lol,

Do you think the mail carrier will look at me twice when I put on my lead lined gloves before accepting the package?

Welcome back Doug!

Elgin Doug
Posted November 20, 2011 - 7:21pm

In reply to by OldTicker

Thanks!

I'm wondering what the composition of the crystals that burn is.  Glass wouldn't do that, I don't think, and I've never seen such a burn on acrylic crystals.  Acetate?

Daca102090
Posted November 20, 2011 - 6:48pm

OK, I was wondering who snagged that one.  I was hoping the rest of the sharks had missed that.

plainsmen
Posted November 20, 2011 - 6:53pm

That nice blue glow off the case on the lower left is NOT a reflection... haha!

vintagebulova.com
Posted November 20, 2011 - 7:57pm

An old time watchmaker friend of mine told me this story.  A good friend of his brought in a chronograph for hands because the glow in the dark stuff had flacked off.  He installed a set of NOS radium hands that he had.  The friend, who as it turned out was a Navy officier stationed on a nuclear sub set off some sort of alarms when he entered the boat with his new watch hands.

Jay

vintagebulova.com

 

Daca102090
Posted November 20, 2011 - 8:24pm

Try crossing the Canada border into the U.S.  Those will set off al kinds of alarms as you drive up.

 

shooter144
Posted November 21, 2011 - 12:44pm

Most (if not all) of the vintage WWII era radium has half-lifed itself into Radon gas. Tho I still wouldnt breath the crap in lol

Elgin Doug
Posted November 21, 2011 - 1:31pm

In reply to by shooter144

Actually, no - the half life of Radium is 1600 years, so less than 3% will have decayed.  97% of it is still there.

What happens is that the zinc sulphide - what actually lights up when hit by the alpha particles from decaying Rd nuclei - has lost its fluorescence.

EDIT: Concur on not breathing, it, though.

Geoff Baker
Posted November 21, 2011 - 6:36pm

Greg  - had hoped one of us would bring this guy home, pretty close to the 'burn in' my '25 Conqueror had when he came to me:

I'll give you three "Treasurer" stars, that bracelet almost makes it four!  I love those originals, send it my way if you don't keep it on this beauty.

Here's the way mine turned out:

http://www.mybulova.com/watches/1930-treasurer-2841

gb

OldTicker
Posted November 21, 2011 - 8:06pm

In reply to by Geoff Baker

I was kinda suprised that I got it Geoff, I only had a $31 + change snipe in and that was all it took...Seller has shipped it already so maybe I will have it by the end of the week... Lol, I am ready!!!

The only thing I see that may be an issue is the "possible ding" on the bezel just above the crown, I am hoping that it is just a reflection...time will tell.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted November 21, 2011 - 8:50pm

heh, can I borrow that?

OldTicker
Posted November 21, 2011 - 9:03pm

In reply to by FifthAvenueRes…

Lol,

You might just as well buy one Mark...with all of the radioactive goodys that you have comming in, it should be sitting on a table right next to your front door....:0

OldTicker
Posted November 30, 2011 - 3:11pm

Well, the watch arrived and nobody from Homeland Security as come knocking on my door yet...

I have a clasp to replace the broken one, and I am sure I have a crystal for it, the case does have a ding just above the crown, and the dial will need refinishing, but take a look at the movement...

Something is not right here...

OldTicker
Posted November 30, 2011 - 4:53pm

In reply to by vintagebulova.com

Jay,

I am thinking that this movement was swapped out at one time, the Treasurer is advertised at a 15J...

It looks like I can update the movement database to include the 10AN in a 7J...or do you think it might have been offered in the Treasurer, or is this watch something else?

vintagebulova.com
Posted November 30, 2011 - 5:22pm

I have seen enough of these to make me wonder if they were indeed put together that way from the factory, but without any documented proof of this I would have to go with the movement swap theory.

Jay

 

vintagebulova.com

 

mybulova_admin
Posted December 1, 2011 - 6:09am

OT, it's a Treasurer either way IMO,  as the case (as in this case) is the defing aspect of the watch.

Looking forward to seeing it refurbished.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted December 1, 2011 - 10:38am

Here's My theory.

In this Day (1920's) a Watchmaker would build a Watch for a Customer 'a la carte'. The Customer could spend more or less Money on the same style of Watch, depending on Budget, by 'upgrading' or 'downgrading' certain attributes.

ie: Rolled Gold Plate, Gold Filled or Solid Gold Case.

The same with Movements, depending on Budget.

ie: 7 Jewels, 15 Jewels, 17 Jewels or 21 Jewels

and Dials (?)

The vintage advertisements We see are priced based on the combination of attributes shown and described.

ie: 15 Jewels, Gold Filled Case = $$.

Any variantion from advertised would cost more or less depending on what the Customer wanted.

2c