Dimensions 35mm wide x 42mm lug to lug.
I'm not sure what 1973 ad you're referring to. The only ad labeled 1973 in the database is for the 17-jewel Jet Star.
There is a 1972 ad that shows the President and Senator. Both are 23 jewels, both are automatic, and both have the whale symbol on the dial.
The closest in looks to the subject watch is the Jet Star, but the jewel count is wrong for that model (at least per the ads that we have).
I am fully aware that looks are not the sole determining factor, but I also would not say that looks mean nothing. A mere glance through the 1970s adverts--or my own collection--reveals some very distinctive looks. Take the Diors, for example. You can spot one of them a mile away just by the case design.
Guessing that we're talking about the 1972 ad that I referenced, why assume that the Senator listing is a typo? By assuming that only the President could have 23 jewels? Based on what?
IMO, we have far too few ads for the 1970s to draw many conclusions, and I'm just not interested in basing a model ID on pure assumption, particularly if it involves assuming that one of the few ads we have is wrong.
Agreed- we don't have enough ads. and I would think there were many models available during this timeframe which may not have been advertised period. The magazines where we are finding 60's-70's ads are usually available in most larger libraries in hard copy. It requires sitting in the library and just going through the magazines looking for Bulova. My library has a scanner, or I've simply taken a hi res photo of the ads and post-processed at home w/o scanning.