First, I want to say that I've really enjoyed reading through this web site over the past several weeks. You all have been busy. Good work.
Is the site very active now? Most of the things I've read through are from several years ago.
Hm. Perhaps not.
Anyway, I pulled my dad's 1951 (L1) Thayer with 10brc movement out of the drawer where it's been sitting in its original case for its entire life. It's effectively new even though it's been sitting in the drawer all of those years. It's prestine, as is the shell case. And it still keeps perfect time by my testing. It came with 2 original bands which are in the Shell case. 1 is a gold stretch band very similar to the band on the 1950 Duo Wind I saw here and the other band is its original tan Bulova signed calfskin single loop leather band with the saddle edge. The 1951 had the single loop band whereas the 1952 Thayer had the double loop, I believe.
I was just wondering if anyone had ever conditioned vintage watch strap leather. I want to take the gold band off it and put the leather one on it but I'm afraid of cracking it. It looks brand new even though I can tell that he had it on the watch at least once since it has a buckle bend in the leather. I don't want to take a chance, though, without some research on how to go about it.
Hello Sprocketmaster, we are an active group here but not neccasarily every hour of every day. Most of us check in a couple times a week.
In response to the leather strap question you pose, I suggest using the same means to recondition it as you would any leather item. The finish on a watch strap isn't dramatically different than most other leather items. It is difficult at best to determine the originality of a strap to a particular year and or model. The first indication I look for is the Bulova name marked on the inside, as that was common in the era of your watch, without it I would discount the originality.
PS - Please add your fathers watch to our watch data base, we'd love to see it.
http://www.mybulova.com/adding-your-watch-mybulovacom-database
Hi, Geoff. Thanks for chiming in. And, yeah, I understand about not checking in every single day.
I took the leather strap to the sporting goods store and steamed it in the glove steamer with my son's old baseball glove. It took about 5 minutes. Now the strap looks and feels soft as a glove again. It's perfect.
I'll try to take some pictures in the next day or so and add for review. Of course, just because I made the claim that it's a Thayer certainly doesn't make it so.
My pop was a jeweler and then took up watch repair after he retired so I have a few more bulova watches aside from this 1951 model. A couple Sea Kings in there, too. A really interesting ladies Sea King that's hard to peg down, too.
Most of his collection consisted of different makers, though.
Anyway. I'm rambling now. I'lll add a few to your database soon.
Thanks again for chiming in.
Some leather bands repond to re-conditioning, some do not.
I usually suggest getting a new quality leather band in a similar finish and style for the sake of security. You don't want an old band to suddenly let go. By all means keep the original as part of the collection, but for wearing purposes, I always go for stability wherever possible. I recommend Hirsch.