Bulova 1936 Apollo

Submitted by plainsmen on January 5, 2012 - 10:52pm

 I don't have this one in hand yet, but I believe it to be a very nicely intact 1936 Apollo with original band and possibly original box.

The pictures are from the seller... I will of course update with some of my own as well as a good one of the movement.

White gold version of this guy is the Commodore... yellow gold... Apollo.

This watch looks to just need a cleaning/buffing and it will darned near be showy!

That name is pretty sweet!  The Apollo.... yeah baby.  I'm mucho stoked about this find boys!  It'll most likely be staying with me next to that all orgiinal Ambassador of the same era!

NOVA
Posted January 5, 2012 - 11:58pm

Ummm. . . I don't think that's right.  According to the Bulova ads, the Commodore was offered in white and yellow gold, while the Apollo has entirely different lugs.  The Apollo doesn't have the step down, hidden lugs; rather it has simple, straight lugs. If you look at the ads, you'll see the difference between the two models.  The Apollo is shown in the fifth ad for 1936, while the Commodore is included in the first ad for 1936.  The Commodore ad clearly states that it came in white and yellow gold.

Looking again at the ad you posted, I see that it does imply that the yellow gold version of the same watch would be called the Apollo, but that is inconsistent with Bulova ads in the database.  Not sure how to reconcile this one.  Maybe Spiegel just got it wrong?

Here's an excerpt from the 1936 Bulova ad for the Apollo:

mybulova_admin
Posted January 6, 2012 - 12:25am

Conflicting ads.

I'd say its a Commodore as these ads both indicate both white and natural yellow gold.

1935 Bulova Commodore1935 Bulova Commodore

Ellierose
Posted January 6, 2012 - 7:25am

i saw this,it look very very nice and is...complete watch,original band clean dial, factory box...i should have bid but...congrads, i thought it was a commodore when i saw it,,and that what it is..interesting too that it came from canada,nice to know atleast some of the history on the watch

NOVA
Posted January 6, 2012 - 8:46am

It is a beauty, Plains.  I have both the white and yellow Commodores, but neither one has the band, which is a problem.  Good for you for snagging the complete set.

plainsmen
Posted January 6, 2012 - 8:49am

NO... NO IT'S AN APOLLO!!  All your logic and multiple ads are just shinnanagans and trickery!  THE APOLLO!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

so.... yeah.  I'll have to agree with the Commodore.  It is a beauty.

plainsmen
Posted January 6, 2012 - 8:53am

Though... I have this version as well... without the band.  It's going to be a pretty long project to try to find this band engraved like timerestoration here:

 

Ellierose
Posted January 6, 2012 - 3:27pm

right that was nice too....i remember that watch...it went for like 220 dollars..this one was just as nice thought plus it came with the box..