Bulova 1956 Launcelot

Submitted by mirtlem on September 30, 2014 - 5:00pm
C
Manufacture Year
1956
Movement Model
10BM
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
B032816
Case shape
Round
Case color
White
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Believe this to be a 1956 Launcelot "C".  Ad is from 1955.  Mike

Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova Watch
Bulova Watch
JP
Posted September 30, 2014 - 5:26pm

Launcelot "A"

bobbee
Posted September 30, 2014 - 5:33pm

Launcelot "C".

Cool, first one Mike!

Geoff Baker
Posted October 1, 2014 - 5:41am

That s nice.

Launcelot C (assuming it's white?)

William Smith
Posted October 1, 2014 - 6:17am

Launcelot "C" from me too.  

plainsmen
Posted October 1, 2014 - 10:59pm

Lancelot C... super nice.  Different year this is a Beau Brummel we think guys?

jabs
Posted October 2, 2014 - 5:08am

1956 Launcelot "C"

William Smith
Posted October 2, 2014 - 3:52pm

Plains, it looks like these Launcelot models did not morph into Beau Brummels in future years.  I looked at the price lists for all Launcelot model variants, and BB's.  The Launcelot variants remained in the cumulative price lists (with unique bulova model numbers) through Spring 1964 (the last year price list we have).  There were also four variants of Launcelot listed in the earliest two price lists. One of the $95 "A" variants dissapeared from the list after a couple years.  Below are the list snippets in chronological order:
1954 November quarterly supplement "Mens diamond dial" section.

1955 Spring Quarterly Price List New Section "Mens Diamond Dial", showing two diamond dial variants at $100.  Notice the listed "A" variant has same unique number as the Nov "A" at $95  (30175).  I thought this meant this variant went up in price by $5, but both the $95 and $100 "A" variants appeared in the cumulative section of same 1955 price list.

1955 Spring Quarterly Price List Cumulative section. Note two "A"s w/ same unique number but diff price.

Below is 1955 August (Fall) Quarterly Pirce List Cumulative section.  Still both $100 variants are listed, but the $95 "A" variant is now missing.

Below is 1958 Fall Quarterly cumulative section.  Still three Launcelot variants.  The Beau Brummel were available by this time. I did not add the Beau Brummel price list snippets, but checked them, and there were no BB variants with these unique Launcelot numbers.

1961 Fall Quarterly Cumulative section.  Still three variants listed.  Not pictured, but also lots of BB variants numbers diff than these Launcelots.

And again still listed in Spring 1964 Quarterly Cumulative section.

I have no idea what the difference between the $95 and $100 variants are, but they all are listed as Diamond Dials.  The lists also indicate these Launcelots didn't morph into BB's, and were apparently still available as late as Fall 1964.
I wonder if they were still in production this late, or if Bulova had an excess manufactured earlier, and were still providing to dealers/distributors?  ...Or Bulova no longer had any in stock, and were listing the prices because distributors may have some remaining NOS for which the price was still fixed as per Bulova fixed price contracts?