My grandfather passed away last month and left this watch to me. I believe he told me he was given the watch prior to WWII. From the research I've done on this site I believe it may be a President from around 1940. Any thoughts? Update 23 Sept 2011: I'm now thinking it is a 1939 case with a 1948 movement? Case measurement: 45mm x 20mm
Greg,
The first paragraph is of interest: ftp://atmosman.com/sweet/casemfg.txt
Until someone comes up with something else I'd have to stand by the fact that Bulova produced their own Cases - all of them.
In reply to Greg, The first paragraph is by FifthAvenueRes…
In reply to Greg, The first paragraph is by FifthAvenueRes…
Yet I see no reference to "American Standard" in that ??? (link). If it looks, tastes, smells, like a "Opinion"...
What's that old adage about opinions?
I do agree with what Jay said about casebacks and pictures. I think we are getting too obsessed with "names" without documentation, but there's the RUB, we can never put together a complete database without acquiring every ad that Bulova put out there, maybe we can all chip in and buy the "Back To The Future" Delorean. I hear it's going on the auction block.
BTW, the NAWC is not the "Holy Grail" of watch collectors, I'm just saying....
So today- this is apparently a Bulova solid gold case w/ first digit of case SN suggesting 1938 w/ a movement swap at some time by or after 1948. This is noted throughout this thread, but previous/dated comments go back and forth on the case manufacturer. Other cases w/ this small shield after Bulova exist in our database, and thoughts on this case signature have changed since inception of this post.
There's several discussions about this case signature in various threads on site:
Trademark info, Bulova, Keystone Watch Case Co., American Standard
Bulova Case Signatures
The 'FRANKENBULLY' category.
Lisa has a succinct summary of the various case signatures-including the outside case signature in subject watch here:
http://www.watchophilia.com/general-information/bulova-case-signatures/
Subject watch may be non-conforming, or simply a solid gold President case w/ a later mvnt swap?