how old and what modle please

Submitted by web1969 on April 24, 2011 - 7:27pm

HI HAD THIS WATCH FOR YEARS.  NUMBER ON BACK OF CASE IS 169370 . PLEASE LET ME HOW OLD AND MODEL PLEASE.

Bulova Jump Hour

THANKS WALT

NOVA
Posted April 24, 2011 - 7:48pm

Jump Hour, early '30s.  To get an exact year, you would need to open it up and tell us the symbol that's on the movement, along with the movement number.

If you look in the watch database under Jump Hour, you will see other watches like yours.

The number that you provided is a serial number.  Unfortunately, those appear to have no meaning and do not help us identify models or dates.

It's a pretty hard to find model and well sought after.  Yours looks like it might need some cosmetic work; IMO, it would be worth putting some money into.

mybulova_admin
Posted April 24, 2011 - 8:05pm

Case serial number tends to suggest that its pre 1932, although as NOVA pointed out only sure way is to see the date code on the movement.

web1969
Posted April 24, 2011 - 8:17pm

THANK YOU.  INSIDE I ONLY FOUND PATT. WITH A + BELLOW IT AND 2 F'S BELLOW IT. ILL LOOK HARDER.

NOVA
Posted April 24, 2011 - 8:21pm

You want to look at the movement itself (the motor of the watch), not the case.  You'll need to carefully lift the movement (dial attached) out of the case and write down everything you see printed on it.  Be very careful not to touch the dial, as you could damage the hands.  Hold the movement by its edges.  There should be a symbol of some sort--could be a circle, a triangle, a cresent moon, a square, a "T", a shield, etc.  You should also see three or four larger characters--typically a number and a couple of letters, usually in a box.  That's the movement number.

web1969
Posted April 24, 2011 - 11:40pm

In reply to by NOVA

HI THANK YOU.  ITS A  13AT , 15 JEWEL ,  YEAR T , S/N 728815 .   THANKS WALT.

NOVA
Posted April 24, 2011 - 11:55pm

That's an appropriate movement for the Jump Hour and it dates to 1932.  Very nice watch indeed.

mybulova_admin
Posted April 25, 2011 - 3:49am

Bulova case numbering....go figure.

 

Year
Movement
Mov SN#
Case SN
Jewel
Model

32
13AT
728815
169370
15
Jump Hour

32
13AT
729522
182252
15
Jump Hour

 

Movement difference -  707

Case difference - 12882

I've always wanted to know if Bulova just stamped every case sequentially as it came off the production line in batches as opposed to by model type grouping.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted April 25, 2011 - 1:16pm

In reply to by mybulova_admin

admin,

I've worked in manufacturing.

In this instance My thoughts would be the Caseback would need to be stamped after any machining process but prior to becoming hinged to the bezel. - Easier to handle, less chance of damage to another part.

1. Part is cast in the foundry

2. Rough part is machined in the mahine shop (including the stamp process (?))

3. Finished part to assembly. - caseback to bezel.

One style of Caseback may/would/did and does fit many different bezels.

Watches were then 'Cased and timed' which to Me says a movement was added to a finished Case.

2c.

mybulova_admin
Posted April 25, 2011 - 3:51am

Feel free to add this great1932 Jump Hour to the web site database.

web1969
Posted April 25, 2011 - 9:38am

In reply to by mybulova_admin

HI  I LIKE MY WATCH. ITS NOT WORKING YOU CAN SET THE TIME BUT NOT WIND IT UP. ANYWAY IM OUT OF WORK AND FOUND IT WHEN I WAS LOOKING FOR STUFF FOR EBAY. IM NOT SHURE I WANT TO GET RID OF IT BUT WONDERD WHAT IT WAS THANKS WALT.

shooter144
Posted April 25, 2011 - 10:32am

In reply to by web1969

most watch makers will charge around $40 or so to go through the movement and clean and oil it. If you were to sell the watch, you would likely do much better ( but not always, ebay is a gamble) if the watch was serviced. If you would like to sell it be sure to let the members here know as well. It is a very cool watch and desireable to many collectors. Your best bet for approx value would be to search for jump hour Bulova on ebay (closed sales ) to get a going rate on the Bay.

shooter144
Posted April 25, 2011 - 11:07am

In reply to by shooter144

It would be great if you had the time to add it to the data base with a few good pics. If so, see if your camera has a macro setting, it will allow you to focus very close to the watch and provide good detailed photos. Very cool watch indeed !

web1969
Posted April 25, 2011 - 1:22pm

In reply to by NOVA

VERY CLOSE MINE HAS A RECTANGULAR MOVEMENT AND IS NO WEAR NEAR AS GOOD AS THAT FINE WATCH.  THANKS WALT.

NOVA
Posted April 25, 2011 - 1:46pm

In reply to by web1969

True that they have different movements, but that would not, in my experience, have any impact on the price.  They both have movements that are appropriate to the model.  They are the same watch, i.e., the Jump Hour, and they are both from 1932, so very comparable in the major features.

However, you are correct that condition is a significant factor in price.  The watch in that listing had been serviced and cosmetically cleaned up.  You could do the same with yours, if you want to invest the funds.  There are folks who participate in this site who do that kind of work.  With some watches, you can get a significant return on your investment.  IMO, this would be one of them, because it is a very hard to find model.

It is possible that, even without doing any work, you could get significant money for it.  Probably not what the one last week sold for, but you're likely to still be able to find a buyer who is willing to pay for the refurbishing him/herself.

web1969
Posted April 25, 2011 - 1:57pm

In reply to by NOVA

 WOULD LIKE TO SELL. CANT AFFORD TO FIX. IM OUT OF WORK. CRUSHED HAND IN FEB. TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF MY FAMMILY FIRST. YOUVE BEEN GREAT WITH SO MUCH HELP. YHANKS WALT.