Bulova 1930 Sky King

Submitted by FifthAvenueRes… on September 4, 2011 - 11:12am
Manufacture Year
1930
Movement Model
10AN
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
0283388
Case shape
Tonneau
Case color
Two-tone
Crystal details
B*B H2205 205
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Hinged Case measures 36.5mm lug to lug x 21.5mm wide non inclusive of the Crown while using Calipers.  White Dial shows raised Gilt Arabic numerals and Bulova signature, tracks are printed Black. Hour and Minute Hands are Black Modern style and a Black Modern style Seconds Hand appears on a sub Dial totally obscuring the 6.  Caseback is stamped as shown  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maddux_Air_Lines  http://www.mybulova.com/node/2576

Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova Watch
Bulova Watch
Bulova Watch
simpletreasures
Posted September 4, 2011 - 1:21pm

Excellent find and documentation!

What I wouldn't give to turn back the clock and "dumpster dive" when Bulova's original records were lost. In my youth (long, long ago) I managed to save two letters and a picture all signed by Admiral R E Byrd that were carelessly thrown away, and yes I still have, and admire to this day! I just wish Bulova would have honored him the way they did Lindberg. "If we forget our past, We have no future"... I've forgotten just who said this?

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted September 5, 2011 - 5:50am

Yes, this Watch is original IMO apart from the Strap and Crystal which will be replaced with N.O.S. Glass. Possibly the only one in the database.

I've heard the records were lost in a Truck during the move to Queens in the early '50's? Whatever that means.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted November 9, 2011 - 10:11am

N.O.S. Glass fitted 11/09/2011

Ellierose
Posted January 27, 2012 - 9:27am

this was posted here because of the one i listed in the forum section?? it is save to say that the one i posted is a variant of the sky king...mine is just a sky king that is a little different..since bulova did make two or more different styles of the same case with the same name..its not too crazy to think that..just like the gladaitor i have..that instead of the gold and white gold model...i have just a white gold one...maybe bulova made more of one style  of  case,to, for some crazy reason to offer different verisons of a case to maybe, i know this is crazy to offer more choices at different prices to  MAKE MORE MONEY.....

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted January 27, 2012 - 10:02am

Ellierose,

There is only one Case design shown in any of the vintage advertisements in the database as the 'SKY KING', a White tonnau style hinged Case showing a Gold 'fish' pattern engraved Bezel with Chevrons at each end. This Case design is also shown with 2 Dial variations.

......Your source of information on the Bulova 'SKY KING' is?

Ellierose
Posted January 27, 2012 - 1:14pm

other members have agreed that the one i posted is a variant...my source  that other than the engraving it both where the gold is and the lines on top and bottom the watch looks exactly the same...which would make it some type of variant, then another model altogether...that makes more sense...and since there isn't another watch that has this style case in the ads..then i have no reason to think it as another watch...

OldTicker
Posted January 27, 2012 - 1:19pm

Its a 2 star Sky King until an ad proves it something else.

NOVA
Posted January 27, 2012 - 1:30pm

Ellierose - relying on the fact that we don't have an ad showing this watch as anything else is not a safe bet.  The sheer number of "unknowns" posted on this site is a strong indication that we don't have all the ads.  I have quite a collection of unidentified models from the '20s as '30s, including two like yours.

Others will correct me if this assertion is wrong, but I don't think we have an example where the same model had a different engraving pattern during the same time frame.  That doesn't mean it's not possible, but that proposition is also not a strong theory based on what we've seen to date.

The variations we see in the 20s and 30s are 1) different gold colors, 2) engraved or not engraved, and 3) different dial background, numbering, and hand styles.

 

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted January 28, 2012 - 7:32am

The Watch Case in question gets 1 Star from Me as there is no evidence to support a 'SKY KING' ID*. (In fact there is strong evidence to the contrary).

* The initial ID of the Case was made based upon an IHC thread where a member had a 'SKY KING' box and placed a Watch they thought was a 'SKY KING' in.

Ads have since proved them to be wrong.

IMO

The IHC thread can be found here: http://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9886009961/m/6371046712

form Your own opinions, I have mine which are based on FACT.