Bulova 1940 Marshall

Submitted by nbardach on April 21, 2011 - 2:42pm
Manufacture Year
1940
Movement Model
7AP
Movement Date Code
Omega
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
0249845
Case shape
Rectangle
Case color
Yellow
Crystal details
Amber, curved, 27.1 x 13.8mm, MX432
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Curved shape, Omega date mark (1940), bought 1999 in Palo Alto, CA for $250.  "B-10K Gold Fill" on case.  

Watch has a white face, appears yellow through amber crystal. Watch is 9.5/10 functional and aesthetic condition. Crystal size is an exact match for MX432, which corresponds to the "Palm Beach", the original designation of this watch.

However, in August, 2012, an ad surfaced which almost certainly demonstrates that this watch is the 1939 Marshall model.

Pix of the movement and inner case are available in the comments section.

Many heartfelt thanks to the denizens of MyBulova, who generously shared their time and expertise to help ID this watch!

EDIT 2012.08.09. Changed from 1939 Palm Beach to 1940 Marshall by request of owner. Will Smith

Bulova watch - Front
Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova Watch
Bulova Watch
Bulova Watch
shooter144
Posted April 27, 2011 - 11:40am

In reply to by OldTicker

And this is why we need a tentative id of some sort added to some of these so that we know what is  and what isnt 100%, otherwise this watch is tagged, but not 100% and sooner or later people stop looking and its accepted. Then another watch comes along and is identified the same based on this id, and now we have 2 possible wrong id's. Nothing wrong with giving this a name but if its not 100% we need to ba able to show that it isnt. I think its better to have a tentative ID than to leave everything an Unknown as it give a new set of eyes a place to start. maybe its as simple as adding (?) to the names in the database to be used for possible id's ie double the DB of names....'Blackout' and 'Blackout(?)'  'Senator' and 'Senator(?)......

nbardach
Posted April 29, 2011 - 1:21pm

In reply to by shooter144

Sounds fair to me. I'm an art historian and our systems of identification are very similar. In many cases, there will never be any definitive proof of authorship. Still, with enough corroborating evidence and respected connoisseurship, we still make attributions. If/when further evidence comes to light, it is taken into consideration and attribution can be changed.

As for the watches, I like the idea of diversifying the categorization beyond a binary ID/Unknown system. Adding a designation of  "tentative " or  "(?)" or  "unconfirmed" would help strengthen the quality of the data in the MyBulova database.

My $0.02. Thanks again for all your help! Cheers, N

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted April 25, 2011 - 11:24pm

nbardach,

Your Watch has been an unseen Model to Us all here until this time, it's a great piece.
 
Nice job Greg, I'll Second the 'PALM BEACH' call.

 

nbardach
Posted April 26, 2011 - 1:56am

Sounds good. Glad I could bring something new to MyBulova. You are collectively an amazing resource. Many thanks for your insight and patience with this one!

mybulova_admin
Posted April 26, 2011 - 1:59am

I've added it to the model listing to use for now. Hopefully we can confirm the ID with an actual Ad.

WatchCrystals.net
Posted April 26, 2011 - 8:15pm

A "Palm Beach," eh? I was wondering what that model looked like?? I see only two models listed in the 1939 G-S catalog, as taking that "MX432" acrylic crystal:

 

MODEL                                      GS:               BB:                        PERFIT:

(39?) Biarritz, Palm Beach      MX432         MX2712 138        MC271/2 138

 

:-)  Scott

OldTicker
Posted April 26, 2011 - 8:19pm

In reply to by WatchCrystals.net

Heh Heh!

Its a Start Scott!

The one that I am waiting for is the "Playboy" listed in the BB catalogs....;-)

WatchCrystals.net
Posted April 26, 2011 - 8:42pm

In reply to by WatchCrystals.net

Actually it IS almost certainly the "Palm Beach..." since the 1937 "Biarritz" is a 17J with slightly different lug tips... So I'd wager the BIARRITZ is a 1937 release... (or 12/36?) And the PALM BEACH is then a (for purchase) as of either 12/37, or more likely an early, mid or latter 1938 release??? 

 

 

:-)  Scott

 

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted April 26, 2011 - 8:31pm

There's a pic of the 'BIARRITZ' in the database, new ad.