hello i have been getting in too pocket watches lately,as i said in my other post if i don't wear them i dont keep them,and since i don't often wear a vest and have too much in my pocket the way it is...but i have been getting in to them to start collecting and i was wondering what where the grades or bulova pocketwatches, are they RR aproved, some where swiss made so i guess that is why you don't see RR bulovas like you do elgins or hamiltons...
By about 1900, the standards on most railroads specified 16 or 18 size, lever set, open face, 19 jewels or higher, and often specified particular models from each watch company. 16 size would translate to >19 ligne, and I don't know if Bulova made anything larger than 17 1/2.
I am unaware of any Bulovas that would have matched that standard, but Elgin is my area of specialization so I am not the one to ask. When I have seen Bulova PWs, they often seem to be 12 size or smaller, which would disqualify them. A quick look at 'Bulova' in the Pocket Watches section of Ebay yielded not a single watch that would qualify.
It seems like this is an area where Bulova did not attempt to compete. It was already pretty competitive with Elgin, Hamilton, Waltham, Illinois, Howard, and others.
FWIW, Bulova's largest movt was 22''', (the 22B) . This translates roughly to about 20+size. The 19AT is another example of a larger Bulova movt. Railroad watches in countries other than the States were different sizes, and tended to be Swiss, but American watches were also used. I don't find any references here in Canada to Bulova being RR approved, which is not to say an example doesn't exist, but it would appear to be very rare. Zeniths, Omegas, and Longines were RR approved in Canada, along with the American watches, and could be as small as 16 size. A bit off topic, but something to interest RR watch collectors. I'd love to get my hands on a large Bulova pocket watch.