Bulova 1930 Lone Eagle

Submitted by Wayne Hanley on January 8, 2011 - 3:23am
Manufacture Year
1930
Movement Model
13AF
Movement Date Code
Omega
Movement Jewels
15
Movement Serial No.
789347
Case Serial No.
6295942
Case shape
Tonneau
Case color
White
Crystal details
14.8mm Top/Bottom Bezel, 19.5mm Mid, 24.3mm Length
Gender
Mens
Watch Description
 Dial Case Material: 14k Rolled Gold Fill, Lug-Lug 36.4mm, 30.4mm width

Dial is cream color with lum numbers & Cathedral Hands & seconds bit

1930 was a big  transition year for Bulova. Without a doubt Bulova watchmakers had to do comparative analysis to determine cost & manufacturing efficiency & reliablility of their current & future products. During the late 1920s Bulova had great success with the circular 10AN caliber movement.  The 13AF movement was specifically designed for tonneau & rectanglular shaped cases. Normally, Bulova minute track & seconds chapter outlines are shaped to emulate the shape of the case.  This Lone Eagle II series watch is uniquely different from the Lone Eagle II powered by the 10AN movement  Notice the dial with the rectangular shaped minute & seconds chapter outlines and short stubby cathedral hour and minute hands.  The case frame was made quite different in order to accomodate the 13AF movement. This is not  a one-of-a-kind-watch.  There are at least three of the 13AF test bed watches on-site. The 13AF is apparently a very fine movement, but it didn't make the cut due to number parts & complication of assembly. Note the picture of the disassembled 13AF in Image 6.  It is conjecture on my part that if the 13AF movement had been accepted & used in tonneau & rectangular cases there would have been no need for the step-side design watches of the early 1930s. 

Bulova watch
1930 Bulova watch
1930 Bulova watch
1930 Bulova watch
1930 Bulova watch
FifthAvenueRes…
Posted January 8, 2011 - 4:05am

Wayne,

This watch puts everything in perspective, dials/hands are all identical..

 1929 - 1931 Lone Eagle design transformation.

NOVA
Posted March 10, 2011 - 3:58pm

Wayne,

Maybe two of a kind?  I just picked up this 1929 Lone Eagle with the 13AF movement and rectanglular minute track.

-Lisa

 

Wayne Hanley
Posted March 10, 2011 - 5:30pm

Liz

All Right! That's great news for my Lone Eagle. My watch is no longer an Orphan.

Wayne

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted March 23, 2011 - 10:44am

Nope, it's a Tripplet. Here's mine.

13AF, Short Hands and Dial with the oblong set numerals and track.

JP
Posted April 3, 2012 - 7:37pm

LISA The minute track on your watch looks different as it meets the second track. Is that a photo distortion or does it actuall curve into the second track? It appears to meet at a different location than the others.

John

bobbee
Posted January 8, 2013 - 3:15am

Impossible case SN.
The starting number six would date this watch as pre-CCLE, or mid 1930's, and that is wrong on both counts.
Without being able to see the inner case back this watch cannot be dated correctly.
If we make this a 1936, it would be the Charles, from the new ad that Lisa provided.

mybulova_admin
Posted January 8, 2013 - 5:38am

It's highly possible that Wayne recorded the serial number incorrectly. The 8s are often misstruck making it look like a 6. I think 1936 would be too late for the Charles.

William Smith
Posted January 8, 2013 - 1:22pm

Does the new 1931 Charles ad show the case w/ the  X -- X -- X  pattern? The "flexible link bracelet to match" looks like it does.  Snippet below.

Check out the Alvin, just below the Charles...and the X--X--X is obvious.  Something looks a little fishy w/ the Charles bezel...

bobbee
Posted January 8, 2013 - 6:57am

We can't honestly say what the first number is, as we cannot see the inside of the case back.

William Smith
Posted January 8, 2013 - 1:00pm

The last photo in root record shows as a red x.  It may be a pic of the inside case back.  The pic file may still be on site, but I can't "look" for it.  The path/file name is :
http://www.mybulova.com/sites/default/files/watches/LoneEagle03222011.jpg?1300832342

How late did the produce the 13AF movement?  I thought 1931, but don't remember for sure.  Our movement database indicates 1928-1930.  Ranfft has no entry for 13AF.