Bulova 1935 -Non-Conforming

Submitted by Bravic on July 5, 2017 - 3:18pm
Manufacture Year
1935
Movement Model
10AN
Movement Date Code
Triangle
Movement Jewels
15
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
-
Case shape
Round
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Other
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

My great-grandfather owned a jewlerry store which included watch repair. This is one of the pieces from his inventory. Many of the pieces were damanged in a flood years ago but this one survived. I believe that the movement and case may be from different years. I would like some help identifying the year. Thank you. 

1935 Bulova watch
1935 Bulova watch
jabs
Posted July 5, 2017 - 4:28pm

It impressed me - the case is Ashford (for comparison, we have several examples in the database), the dial also looks like modified Asford (supplemented with diamonds, which is not unusual for the jeweler). Movement is obviously from 1935, which does not correspond to the case and dial (Ashford can be seen in the late 40s and early 50s)

The photos of the case (internal and external) would confirm or refute my consideration

now is for me Bulova Non-conforming

Bravic
Posted July 5, 2017 - 8:40pm

In reply to by jabs

Thank you for the insight. I included a photo of the case markings below. Looks like 10K RGP. is stamped into it but could not find any other markings internally or externally. 

mybulova_admin
Posted July 6, 2017 - 10:39pm

Would agree that the movement is an earlier replacement commonly used in the 1920 and 30s, but the watch itself is from the 40s/50s. Case serial number would confirm.

Are there not any details on the back of the watch?

A non-conforming 'Ashford' would be the correct ID for your watch as the movemet is not period or genuine to this model, but still nice to see it used to make the watch a working timepiece.

Geoff Baker
Posted July 7, 2017 - 6:41am

Hello Bravic, welcome to myBulova. I think the best of this watch is that it came from the workbench of your great grandfather! It may well be what we call a non-conforming watch, which means that is a combination of different components from different years, but as a family heirloom I submit that it's priceless. Congratulations on having this wonderful keepsake from your great grandfather.

neetstuf-4-u
Posted July 7, 2017 - 9:17am

Is it possible this is a Bulova movement and face grafted into a non-Bulova case? Several different companies used this case and the lack of any Bulova markings on it might suggest it is something besides Bulova? If great grandpa was a watch repair person, it's possible this was a put together from parts salvaged from different watches and he "made them work" to ressurrect a nice servicable watch, which is very resourceful.  Perhaps only the caseback is a replacement from a non-B case. In any event, as a heirloom piece it is great to have and pass down as a momento of the family history. Love the look of it, wish it could talk. IMO for what it's worth, no reason it can't be considered a "Non-conforming Ashford".

jabs
Posted July 7, 2017 - 9:45am

In reply to by neetstuf-4-u

Non-conforming does not mean anything wrong, it's just a mere designation of watches compiled from inconsistent parts and thus unidentifiable by Bulova ID