Obviously they are Bulova movements/watches stamped Westfield on the case.... the reasoning it seems after looking at it on the interweb was this explaination someone gave?
"Westfield was a hybrid Bulova designed to take advantage of an import duty/tax loophole: Bulova (Switzerland) movements with USA Cases, assembled in the USA. Very high quality, very stylish..and currently very undervalued."
and
"Westfield was a lower-priced line for Bulova. Fairly common in the 20s and 30s for companies to do this. Central is the same thing for Benrus, Mimo for G-P, and so on.
The movements are usually lower jewel count versions of the same ebauches used by Bulova, and the cases are usually lower quality, although they are still considerably better than dollar watch grade"
Seems to me that these are Bulova's as much as anything else.
How do we feel about having them documented on the site as well?
I purchased two fantastic 20's-30's model Westfields though Scott last month and man they sure look like the real deal.... I'll post pics of them soon in this thread.
Both are in white gold hinged case's with a Triangle stamped, Westfield "10B", 6 Jewel movements.
Found this in a book online called "Biographical Dictionary of American Business"
So... what do we think gents? How does it differ from us documenting Accutrons? Would it be just as easy as we're researching these old Bulova models that we throw the Westfields in at the same time as I seem to find myself finding them in the same places online? heh...
This question has been asked before and unless there is an overwhelming agreeance my preference and focus has always been to showcase the Bulova brand only, rather than dilute things. I understand that Westfield was another brand produced by Bulova but I'd prefer to keep things simple (well simple as they can be with Bulova anyway).
Accutrons on the other hand still come under the Bulova banner.
Just my 2 cents.
Good to know your opinion Steph. I'm somewhat torn between just not documenting anything on the Westies at all though as they share so much with the Bulova's.... shoot the cases on a few of the model's are pretty much exact Bulova cases it seems.... dunno... maybe just a link to a Westfield page as a off-shoot? So they wouldn't convilute this site with them... but there would still be a small place on an off-shoot/spinoff page just for Westfields alone?
Maybe a "Click here to find Bulova's subsidiary Westfield watches." in the informational page or something.
I do agree with you whole heartedly on the aspect of no mixing them to much on here... makes sense to keep these forums as pure Bulova.
Actually thinking on snagging a Westfield from a BIN on ebay as it's got the exact hands I need to replace the ones on my Corrigan! Hah...
In reply to Good to know your opinion by plainsmen
Hi Plains
I think I have a set of gold hour/minute hands that would fit your corrigan. they are new old stock. they came out a box that was for 10an but I believe they are the same fitting on the 10ae?. If you want me to send them to you to try just drop me a email with your address and you can have them.
In reply to Hi Plains I think I have a by GVP
Oh... and of course I don't want to do any of the work on said suggested page as I would like to just remain part of the brain trust in thinking stuff up and not really volunteering to do any of the "hands on" or... you know.... "work" it would take in doing something like that.
Love,
Plainsmen
In reply to Oh... and of course I don't by plainsmen
Plaines
My thoughts are to keep it Bulova only. We are having enough problems just naming the Bulovas. With William, GS and you, with full afterburners are naming quite a few. That's a job in itself, I recon you know. We should also be aware that Bulova Company & all the trimings are now owned by Citizens Corp. Maybe we should be showing the Citizens guys what we have going here & let them encourage Bulova to get into the history bidness.
Happy Holidays
Wayne
In reply to Plaines My thoughts are to by Wayne Hanley
Not so fast Admin, I think Jerins idea about a separate directory might just be a valid point. I just ordered a Westfield 1930's ad that has the same watches listed as the same coprresponding named Bulova watches, ie: Sky King, Miss Liberty, Janette etc.
IMO, these were produced at the same time period, by the same company, by the same trained professionals, had a lot of the same named watches and so on. As to the reference to the Caravelle Line, These were done after the real "Heart and Soul" of Bulova died out and they were direct competition for the likes of Timex. Not even in the same ballpark as to comparison.
I'd like to hear what other members think, reference being, others that have not already expressed a opinion.
In reply to Not so fast Admin, I think by simpletreasures
Personally, if you started a mywestfields.com it may have some merit and would over time gather a following like this site, but it is hard enough trying to ID the 1000++ unknown Bulova's out there, the Accutron's listed here are just enough to muddy the waters, (maybe a myaccutron.com, a mycaravelle.com, or a mybulovabenetton.com would also work.
Too much unknown just adds more confusion...
Folks, I appreciate the thoughts and idea's but its hard enough for me to maintain a single brand name let alone opening it up to other sub brands.
And again my passion and the soul purpose of this site is to those watches branded Bulova....I know I know Westfield and Caravelles have Bulova movements but they were marketted under a different banner.
Whilst I like the idea of mywestfield and mycaravelles I don't think this site is big enough for all 3.
Feel the same way about the subject today as I did on December 19, 2010 - 7:04pm
If a complete Bulova database were compiled with all the unknowns ID'd, alphabetised with the t's crossed and i's dotted then maybe a new line of interest could evolve.
Ticker raises a valid point, the Accutron has entered the picture and I'm certain their individual model identifications could be broken down further than simply naming them an 'Accutron'...but as admin mentions with everything that goes on who really has the time, as time spent on anything else is time spent away from ID'ing vintage Bulova.
P.S.
www.mybulova.com rocks admin, We all greatly appreciate everything You do behind the scenes to keep it rolling.
No offense gentlemen but as you have all stated and apparently accept, these are Boulova watches, sub-brand or not. No one has asked for the "development" of a new line of investigation, database, model identification, emotional discussion or anything else! All that Jerin suggested was a separate listing category where the early Westfields could be listed by the owner, especially the ones that mimicked the same "Named" Bulovas.
This site as I understood it was developed by Stephan as a research, discussion, identification, and listing database for the "Bulova Company" ESPECIALLY the early Bulovas? How hard would it be or what would it hurt to ad a sub category. Nobody says you need to "Participate", and I'm not saying it would be appropriate to "Allow" forum discussions to Quote "Muddy the Waters", in fact I for one would dissuade any forum discussions on Westfields. Any discussion of this Bulova Brand could be done in the PM part of this site.
We currently don't allow Caravelle's so if you going to "Tout" the "Purist" Line of thinking then, IMO, all the Accutrons should be banned and deleted, along with all the discussions that can be found in the database!
While we're at it, how about we remove all the "members", supposedly 1531, that don't regularly participate??? I only see the same dozen or so members out of the 1500 plus ever add to the database, or participate in the discussions.
So why don't we ask ourselves, why is it we only see the same dozen or so members regularly participate? Why is it we have lost members who were regularly posting new "Finds" and adding to the database regularly with Ads and ID's??? All Jerin and I was asking for was a place to post, not discuss, a Bulova product that deserves some form of recognition, just like the Accutrons. I suggest we do our best to quit driving away members due to narrow mindedness, but always "sticking to our own opinion, regardless of facts presented".
Honestly, I was surprised when the Accutron category appeared.
There are certain traits original Bulova's show in the eras in which they are produced, any variation from those traits raises a red flag to the purist. Opinions are just that, opinions, but when an opinion is offered as a fact which doesn't click with well established past traits then questions will arise from the purist...which is a whole other discussion.
: )
it's admins site Bob.
As far as lack of participation from new members ? who knows, personal observations see many asking for assistance merely to bolster profit from a sale and some are simply completely ignored by the 'regular' member/contributors, possibly due to reason #1.
2c
Yes, and they are easily recognized Mark and are FEW IN NUMBERS especially compared to the numbers (1531) at last count!
I also know it's ADMINS SITE Mark.
I also don't think Stephan is a "Narrow minded" individual, and has shown that he's not so stubborn as to stick with something that either changes with time or FACTS!
As to the "RED FLAGS, PURIST" theory, then shouldn't the only thing allowed to be posted here, would be manual wind watches up and to the point of all "battery powered" watches?????????
Would we then question the "Purist" aspect to the "Automatic Wind" watches as well??????????
What I am saying is, if we weren't adaptable as a "Up and Coming" website we're
doomed to failure!
In reply to I would definately agree with by FifthAvenueRes…
I was previously going to post an interesting womens watch that is marked Bulova on the dial and case but the movement is marked westfield. It's very interesting but with previous inquiries about westfields I thought "the better part of valor" would be to just admire it for myself. BTW this appears like a single lug but similar to the commodore (1930's) in overall appearance.
For those of you interested here's a Westfield that went through my shop a few years back.
Jay