Bulova 1957 Mr Universe

Submitted by vfd999 on April 24, 2018 - 12:00pm
Manufacture Year
1957
Movement Model
unknown
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
B964535
Case shape
Rectangle
Case color
Yellow
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Belonged to my father. Band replaced 2014. No other known work done. Any help identifying model/history greatly appreciated.

1957 Bulova Mr. Universe watch
1957 Bulova watch
neetstuf-4-u
Posted April 26, 2018 - 10:46am

This appears to be a 1957 "Mr. Universe". Ad below is dated 1955.

 

1956 ad ->

Does the watch have articulating lugs? 

Watch appears to be a match, right down to the beveled crystal. A movement photo would also help to confirm ID with jewel count.

It looks like this case design was also used for the "Commuter" (1955 ad) , It could techically be either. Neither ad clearly shows articulating lugs, but colored Mr. U ads appear to show the spanners between lugs. my guess is  Mr. Universe.

mybulova_admin
Posted April 28, 2018 - 3:00am

In reply to by neetstuf-4-u

Gotta love Bulova, they make is so easy to identify a watch :-)

Nice work on the adverts.

I'm leaning towards Bulova Mr Universe as it's a match for the year.

This model may have started it's life off as a 'Commuter' in 1955, then in 1956/57 was rebadeged as the 'Mr Universe'.

Andersok
Posted April 29, 2018 - 3:02pm

Yes, these do have articulating lugs, though they do not move very far. I have a 54 (believe to be the Commuter) with my watchmaker now and it looks to be identical to both the Commuter and the Mr. Universe.

Mr. U ads show up starting in 55 - and it is listed in the 54 pricelist; Commuter ad from 53 (Note, the Commuter ad above is from 1953, not 1955) - but it is also listed in pricelists through 61. The ads show some differences in the band used, which may be the defining difference.

The crystal lists for SUC (RMS 144-82C) and Watchcraft (P14MA224) list these models together.

Unless we find a Commuter ad later than 55, I would say we id these as Commuter 1954 or earlier, and Mr. Universe 1955 and later.

1957 Mr. Universe

neetstuf-4-u
Posted May 1, 2018 - 8:15am

In reply to by Andersok

Excellent critical thinking Ken, I agree.

EDIT: ad date correction noted, thanks.

Geoff Baker
Posted May 1, 2018 - 8:07am

Congrats vfd999 on a cool heirloom watch, I love it

1957 Bulova Mr. Universe.

Watch-N-Learn
Posted May 1, 2018 - 9:19am

Gotta love the names Bulova came up with...

vfd999
Posted May 1, 2018 - 10:25am

Thank you all for your help/comments. Great to know the history of this watch! It belonged to my father, and I have great memories of him wearing it.

Thanks again,

Vic