So we might need to extend our date range back anoher year. Currently the site has watches dating from 1917 to 1979, with the earlist year option being 1916.
Well today I bring to you what I believe might just be the first pre-1917 watch we have seen on myBulova.
I present the 1915 American Maid. The older sister of the 1918 American Maid. Note the mistruck leading '2', same as the 1918 example.
The reason I'm dating this watch to 1915, is based on 2 factors:
- The second number of the case serial number being '5'. Other American Standard Watch Case Company cases of the ladies kind start with either a 27x, 28x or 29x, with the general belief these indicate 1917, 1918 and 1919.
- The enamel dial with red 12. This would be the first of it's kind this early.
Another factor which I feel also adds to the earlier date is the presence of a MAXIM SWISS movment. I'm still searching for information on this branding, but do find it interesting that there might be a connection to the Hudson Maxim line of watches (which included the Lady Maxim).
We have evidence that bulova did register the American Maid, and the other 1918 example has all the hallmarks of a Rubaiyat/Bulova watch to indicate that the name American Maid was something Bulova produced in the very early days of them selling watches.
I'd love to know everyone throughts, and if the 1915 is a valid year. We've long held the belief that 1916 was the first year Bulova started marketing watches and this watch may just be evidence of that.
Fascinating watch. I readily admit NO expertise in this era of watches and will always defer to the experts. The dial is beautiful, the condition is remarkable. I assume this was a local find? Is there indication that it was converted to a 'wristlet' from a locket/pocket watch?
You must be over the moon with this one.
In reply to Fascinating watch. I readily… by Geoff Baker
Another eBay purchase....one of very few these days :-)
The combination of American Standard Watch Case Company and American Maid caught my eye....oh and the case serial number with matches the stling of the earlier Rubaiyats.
Id say that this watch like many of the other we see was bult as a watch for the wrist. The bottom eyelet looks normal and like it belongs.
The notion that Bulova didn't actually manufacture complete watch in the begining, but rather purchased stock movements from the Swiss, housed them in a US made case and branded them with a name (registered or otherwise).
Watch arrived yesterday, stripped down last name and cleaed, olied and re-assembled.
The watch movement itself was made by Adolph Schild.
Adolph Schild (1844-1915) was a prolific Swiss manufacturer of ébauche movements from the late 1890s. His company was active until the 1970s. Ébauches are movements that contain the most basic structural elements, but are not equipped with a mainspring or the escapement. These are sold to watch manufacturers and retailers for assembly and branding. Adolph Schild invented and made a great variety of movements and became a major supplier to nearly all Swiss watchmakers.
Movement is a - A. Schild 708