Bulova 1939 President

Submitted by Ameroo50 on September 22, 2011 - 5:55am
Manufacture Year
1939
Movement Model
7AP
Movement Date Code
48 (A8)
Movement Jewels
21
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
8581925
Case shape
Rectangle
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Crystal details
25mm x 15mm
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

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

President 1939
Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova Watch
Bulova Watch
Bulova Watch
FifthAvenueRes…
Posted September 23, 2011 - 11:06pm

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.

simpletreasures
Posted September 24, 2011 - 7:18am

In reply to 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....

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted September 24, 2011 - 6:28am

I thought Bulova bought the American Standard Company in the early - mid 20's.

William Smith
Posted July 26, 2012 - 7:21am

First digit of Case SN suggests 1938?  These solid gold guys follow case SN to date pattern?   And with a 1948 movement. OT brings up some good points too.  

bobbee
Posted January 17, 2013 - 5:15am

Not a Keystone case, the mark on the case back is a shield, as stated by owner, making it an AM Standard case.

Like they say, nothing set in stone, right?

EDIT:- Case SN gives a 1938 date.

William Smith
Posted January 17, 2013 - 4:25pm

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?