Firstly, let me say this is a wonderful reference site!
I have recently aquired what I thought was named a Time King (21j ,1937) based on photos listed here. After searching the ads section, I came across what looks to be the same watch but it is advertised as a Broadcaster (21j). Does anyone know what the difference(s) is/are between the two? The only notable difference I see is with the seconds register on the dial. Can this be enough reason for a name change?
Thanks .
In reply to Got it. Database Watch - by FifthAvenueRes…
I thought so at first , but according to an ebay crystal seller, they both take the same crystal. I had also thought, like yourself, that the difference was in the jewel count. I'm leaning towards a misprint in the Bulova advertisement. Only problem is I have yet to see an ad for the Time King and cannot definitively make a comparison. Here's my watch...
In reply to Amen!...I can just see by timeless
In reply to There is no confusing this by simpletreasures
I think it matches the ad. Not a good ad to make posiitive ID from but here's what I see. Look at the Phantom, Treasure, Biarritz and President, these four clearly show a rectangular face in the ad, the Broadcaster in the ad clearly shows (well, it's clear to me anyway) a barrel shaped face like timeless' watch. I see, in the ad, a hint of the '6' below the seconds track as I do in timeless' watch. The engraving on the bezel appears a match as do the hands. As stated, a tough ad to positive ID from but I say this is a Broadcaster. Oh, one more thing - I think the ad displays the swivel lugs too.
gb
In reply to I think it matches the ad. by Geoff Baker
Geoff...I think it matches the ad also, which leads me back to my original post stating that I determined mine was a Time King based on a photo posted on this site. This begs the question, how was it determined that that watch is a Time King since there is no ad or other documentation I am aware of that identifies it as such?... It's a good msytery waiting to be solved....
In reply to Geoff...I think it matches by timeless
Timeless - herein lies the dilema of myBulova. We are a group of Bulova lovers and collectors spread across the globe with a bit too much time on our hands. We attempt to ID old watches using any info we can get our hands on. We are not associated with Bulova but are unified in our love for the brand. We rely heavily on vintage ads but find that sometime they don't all agree even within a model year. Other sources are crystal catalog as they often state model names, but alas there are some crystals that will fit several cases so that doesn't always work either. Recently we've found that old department store catalogs can help us.
So - to answer your question - Bulova lost/destroyed/gave away all of their historical records, so pre 1980 or so we're on our own ID'ing old watches. If there is a watch in the db identified as a particlular model chances someone either ID'd it because someone else had already posted one, as your were thinking about doing, or they found some documentation to support their 'claim'. Lately we've been a bit more diligent on the documentation end. I am not saying that any watch in our database is misidentifed but will admit to having posted a few with the wrong name, our members are generally quick to 'correct'. As one of our member said - the quickest way to get the RIGHT information on the internet is to post WRONG information. There is a group of users here who 'rate' watches posted ( the stars). Stick around and you're bound to stumble across one of their more lively discussions around an ID (and YES - non raters chime in too, don't be shy). This web site is gaining a reputation for THE PLACE to come for info on old Bulovas so we take in seriously but at the end of the day, we just Bulova lovers and we're glad you found us - welcome!
gb
In reply to Timeless - herein lies the by Geoff Baker
Thanks Geoff!...I have been haunting the site for some months now and think you all have done a wonderful job collecting information, photos, and ads...I've always got my eyes open for them. I collect a variety of vintage brands that don't have half as much information to help ID them as this site has accumulated. I will certainly contribute whatever I find to further the addiction... I mean cause.
In reply to Timeless - herein lies the by Geoff Baker
In reply to Geoff, thank you for your by mybulova_admin
In reply to Geoff...I think it matches by timeless
A lot of the watches in the database were posted "Quite" awhile ago before the star rating system and before a lot of new ads came to the site for comparison. At that time there were broad conclusions made without definitive proof. IMO there are a lot of "named watches" in the database that require further investigation to acquire a positive ID, it's a constantly developing process but it's getting better. I think our biggest problem right now is finding old, vintage, original ads to use for comparison.So Timeless, keep your eyes peeled for those old ads that sometimes come up for sale.
Nice example of a Broadcaster timeless!
I would agree with Geoff's assesment of the ad in the database and it looks like your example is a match. The ad, unclear as it is, does show the swivel lugs like yours.
Just a thought...Broadcaster=swivel lugs, Time King= fixed lugs???
Greg
maybe we should start a positive ID collective for all of the watches we currently have, ie sort by date or something and start one by one and go through them all in the forums until we Id as best we can with what we have....add something to the description after this process to differentiate from the guesses.
It would be a long process but as was said, many of us have a little extra time on our hands.
Mark, in the first pic you posted it almost looks to be a jewelers repair (?) where the lug would swivel. Since you have the watch is there any chance you can use some form of magnification to examine that area closer? I'm just wondering if the original owner had this done for what-ever reason?
Wow...a new mystery! My first thought also that the lugs look altered. I'm curious what the dimensions of your case are and also the length of the lugs, they are definitely longer and overall it appears different than mine. If on your example the lugs were originally fixed in place, why that design, since all other similar models of the period had a continuous line incorporating the lugs?
Dimensions of my watch are :
Total length including lugs: 46.85mm
Width not including crown: 23.25mm without crown
Lug length: 6.92mm
So, based on what I know so far, I am officially referring to my watch as a Broadcaster...for now....
Found another 1938 example that looks exactly like mine...
heritagewatches.com/Bulova%20Men%27s%20X-Long%20Hinged%20Lug%20GF%2021j,%20near%20mint,%20c.htm