Bulova 1949 Chief

Submitted by donegd on November 14, 2014 - 9:40am
Manufacture Year
1949
Movement Model
8AD
Movement Date Code
49 (A9)
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
9406888
Case shape
Square
Case color
Yellow
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Hi all I've just received this nice little watch, but im having difficulty in identifying it. I think it may be a Clinton but the ones on the site have different movements to the one i have also there seems to be a number of differing names for this case depending on the year of manufacture. I would greatly appreciate any help members could give me in determining which model it actually is.  It is a nice clean watch running well and with very little patina on the dial. It came complete with a genuine bulova brown leather strap which i think is of the same vintage as the watch . Crystal is glass  The case is yellow Gold plated  marked 10k rolled gold plate and the serial number is 9406888

Kind regards to all donegd

donegd 1949 Bulova Chief 11 22 2014
1949 Bulova watch
1949 Bulova watch
1949 Bulova watch
1949 Bulova watch
Geoff Baker
Posted November 15, 2014 - 6:39am

In 1948 we have this listed as a Chief, in '49 we've called it Clinton. Movements are 8AD, 8AH and 8AE from what I see. Over the years it's been Knickerbocker, Chief, Clinton and Comptroller

I would tag this a 1949 Clinton. Hard to tell, is it yellow gold?

bobbee
Posted November 15, 2014 - 7:38am

December 1949 advert. Yet another name, matches watch and fits the date.

 

 

mybulova_admin
Posted November 15, 2014 - 3:58pm

Do we have the full advert? We've seen this design go by a number of names, but never by the 'Amercian Clipper'. I'm wondering if they got the name mixed up.

bobbee
Posted November 16, 2014 - 2:08pm

[quote=mybulova_admin]

Do we have the full advert? We've seen this design go by a number of names, but never by the 'Amercian Clipper'. I'm wondering if they got the name mixed up.

[/quote]

 

This looks like a totally genuine mat print to me. Just compare it to mats in catalogues of the time, it's genuine or plainsmen wouldn't have posted it. 

Note the different mount to all other adverts for this watch.

hover the mouse over the image for original date/issue.

mybulova_admin
Posted November 17, 2014 - 3:44am

Advert dated December 1949. Perhaps this watch had yet another name change in late 49/50 to American Clipper. The model name hadn't been used for about a decade so was probably time to recycle it again in typical Bulova fashion. I'd like to see a confirmation advert. Looking now.

donegd
Posted November 15, 2014 - 8:05am

Hi Geoff

Yes it is yellow gold, its just the lighting that makes it look a little white in the pics.

I have another one of these coming over next week or so but it is dated 1946. It looks identical but has a 8AH movement would this be a Clinton ?

mybulova_admin
Posted November 15, 2014 - 4:07pm

Ads show the following:

43 - Comptroller
45/46 - Kickerbocker
47 - Clinton
48-49 - Chief

I'm at 1949 Bulova Chief.
 

plainsmen
Posted November 15, 2014 - 6:50pm

I'm good with the Chief.

Geoff Baker
Posted November 16, 2014 - 5:56am

Hmmm, we have watches in the dB as Chief only in '48. We have this watch in the dB as Clinton in '46, '47 & '49. In the '49 adverts we have it BOTH ways.

I based my ID on the ads and the '49 Clinton. I'm OK with it as a Chief but we'll need to update a couple records.

mybulova_admin
Posted November 17, 2014 - 3:38am

The top advert date may not be acturate, depends on the source at the time. These cards weren't dated as such and they should be reviewed from time to time when evidence like this presents itself.

I'm still with Chief.