Bulova 1938 -Unknown

Submitted by plainsmen on October 27, 2022 - 9:51pm
Manufacture Year
1938
Movement Date Code
Cresent Moon
Movement Jewels
21
Case Serial No.
8387985
Case shape
Tonneau
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Really long, lean, and rounded like 30's style sedan. Sporting a 21 Jewel, 7AP.  Watch is in great shape with both Arabic numerals and dashes. I thought a Broadcaster at first glance, but this has a smooth bezel and no etching.  I want to say there may be floating around an ad for a "Time King" of this era that matches, but can't seem to find the ad. 

1938 Bulova TK 10-27-22 F
1938 Bulova TK 10-27-22  L
1938 Bulova TK 10-27-22  R
1938 Bulova TK 10-27-22 m
1938 Bulova TK 10-27-22 B
plainsmen
Posted October 28, 2022 - 10:07pm

Oh I know... The same crystal as the Broadcaster... "The Time King".  Scott talked about it a dozen years ago.

neetstuf-4-u
Posted October 29, 2022 - 9:06am

I come up empty on this one in the ads, but my gut feeling is that it is an unengraved version of the Broadcaster (21J). The only Broadcasters we have ID'ed are engraved with a full numbered dial. The subject watch dial differs, but that could be the dial matched to unengraved Broadcasters. We see that distinction in other models from this time period.

Case with swivel lugs is pretty distinct and appears to be pretty unique.

I think we see the same situation with this one and this one - another swivel lug model produced at the same time. These appear to be a Kenneth but are engraved with a full number dial and identical band, while ads show unengraved with an alternating number/stick dial and different band. Two in the database as unknown. Subject watch seems to verify that Engraved swivel lugs equals full numbered dial and unengraved equals alternating dial. Both Broadcaster and Kenneth only appear for a couple years and are gone. Scant advertising of one variant of two before production and marketing ceased? In each case, the "fancier" model had a better case design, dial and band?

Just my thoughts.

Broadcaster

Geoff Baker
Posted October 29, 2022 - 8:30pm

Sorry plains - No advert is always Unknown from me

Kathy L.
Posted October 29, 2022 - 10:03pm

I tried to find the Time King ad but came up empty.  It could be a Broadcaster but without an ad I am just not sure.

Unknown for now.

JimDon5822
Posted October 30, 2022 - 8:14pm

Unknown for now until I can find an ad.   Definitely an ad that I am looking for.