Bulova 1925 Senator

Submitted by dhhirsch on November 9, 2015 - 7:02pm
Manufacture Year
1925
Movement Model
10AP
Movement Jewels
15
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
5242075
Case shape
Square
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Bulova & American Standard
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

I’d like to get the panels thoughts regarding the identification of this one.  There have been some lively discussions related to the early Senator vs the Executive. On this one, the case number begins with a 5, and  at first I thought this was an Executive, but the placement of the sub second dial, which is square, is consistent with a Senator, not the Executive.  It closely matches the Senator, but the Senator doesn’t show up in ads with a square sub seconds dial until 1926.  Prior to that the ads show a circular sub seconds dial.  

Also, while I don’t have a caliper for a precise measurement, but its square and in the 26 mm range, not the 24.8  mm that Lisa indicated was the size of her Executive in one of the previous discussions related to the 1926 Senator.

This one has a 10AP movement which was made in 1925 and 1926, and I don’t see a date code.  Also, the engraving pattern on the back matches the back of this Senator 

http://www.mybulova.com/watches/1926-senator-4249

To further confuse things, it also has a closed 9.  Could it be a transitional Senator, while they were otherwise still making Senators with circular sub seconds?

1925 Bulova Senator watch
1925 Bulova watch
1925 Bulova watch
1925 Bulova watch
jabs
Posted November 10, 2015 - 4:48am

Subject watch will be Senator, your watch is identical with two another in database 1. 2

Executive has different engraving

mybulova_admin
Posted November 10, 2015 - 5:59am

Date stamp should be up near the winding stem. Circle or triangle.

The combination of the components certainly don't match any of the advertisments for the Senator, but one common factor for the Bulova Senator's is the lugs that appear to be seperate and not a straight line as with the Executive.

I'm half inclined to say Unknown, but for now based on the other two Senator models we have in the database I'll go with a 1925 Tentative Senator.

dhhirsch
Posted November 10, 2015 - 11:48pm

In reply to by mybulova_admin

Yes, there is a very faint triangle near the winding stem/crown. Very faint, almost indistinct...

David

dhhirsch
Posted November 10, 2015 - 11:48pm

In reply to by mybulova_admin

Yes, there is a very faint triangle near the winding stem/crown. Very faint, almost indistinct...

David

Geoff Baker
Posted November 10, 2015 - 7:46am

Great watch David, I bid a lot of watches, seems like I recently bid on this one. It's a '25 I think, pretty sure there's a circle date stamp near the crown. This is another of the early movements with a period in the serial number. I wonder what that is supposed to signify.

We do have this one ID'd a couple times as Senator but I'm not sure I agree. The engraving on the Senators in the adverts we have is quite different. 

This advert is  December 1926:  

http://www.mybulova.com/sites/default/files/vintage_ads/1926-Bulova-AD-…

This advert is December 1925 and show a completely different watch: 

http://www.mybulova.com/sites/default/files/vintage_ads/1925-bulova-ad-…

I'm going with the flow as a Senator ID but I will be tentative as well. Either way, this is a wonderful, early Bulova wrist watch in fabulous condition!

 

Geoff Baker
Posted November 13, 2015 - 5:49am

Panel Members, your thoughts?

Reverend Rob
Posted November 14, 2015 - 11:47am

Engraving variations may have everything to do with the ad watches being solid gold. 

I'd go with tentative Senator, but is possibly a dial swap...