The Bulova BLACKHAWK

Submitted by plainsmen on January 16, 2011 - 7:11pm

Wow... talk about shattering an ID!  Goodbye two tone Surgeon... hello BULOVA BLACKHAWK!!

 From a 1941 Montgomery Ward catalog Ad.

And now I know I have a Bulova Blackhawk here at the house and one on the way!!

Here's a few nice pics of the Blackhawk:

 

How sweet is that new ad!

 

plainsmen
Posted January 16, 2011 - 7:23pm

I'm wondering if this luminated version is the Blackhawk.... while the non-lumi one is the Surgeon?  Sort of like the Medical Officer and the Regulator?

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted January 16, 2011 - 7:45pm

That would be a very logical conclusion plainsmen.

Great find on the old ad!

plainsmen
Posted February 17, 2011 - 5:22pm

In reply to by NOVA

Great snag Nova!  I saw that one as well...  Looks to have been recently redone.  I don't believe the hands are the correct ones though... but they look cool on there anyway.

I FINALLY got in my other one I won last month... today!  Took 5 weeks to ship.... just plain silly.

The 1943 cleaned up nicely though!

NOVA
Posted February 17, 2011 - 7:24pm

I thought the hands might be wrong, but I couldn’t tell for sure. I find the old, illustrated ads pretty hard to use for fine detail. To me, the hands in the ad don’t even look they go together.  I wonder if Bulova ever imagined people trying to use those ads for identification 60 years later.

 If the hands are wrong, I’d like to replace them, but I have no idea how to determine which ones are correct or where to get them. I would love to know that, but I just haven’t gotten that far in the educational process yet.  I have watches that need a new crystal, but I can’t even identify the model, much less determine which crystal is needed.
 
I wish one of you experts would give a tutorial on how to identify the proper parts for a given model and then how to find replacements. That would be cool. 
 
Speaking of cool, your watch looks terrific.
OldTicker
Posted February 18, 2011 - 11:49pm

In reply to by NOVA

NOVA,

I am a collector not a watchmaker like some on here, but through reading posts on this site and others on the net, have learned how to clean up a watch, identify and replace the crystal, change the stem, crown, pull hands/dial and send/replace.  It took time and a lot of post reading on these sites, but over the years I picked up much info.

When it comes to the movement, I leave that to the experts, on this site there are many quality watchmakers that can help you out. Check out the Watch Repair form.

I have been collecting for the past 20+ years, and have found that the best info comes from the people that collect and work on them, I belong to a couple of other watch sites, but prefer this one because of the people on here...they are more than willing to help and listen. Check out the past posts in the form section, there is a lot of info to gain by reading comments and posts  from months back, and most of the info you are seeking are in those posts.

Everybody here is on the same learning curve unlike some of the other sites, and that is why this site will be sucessful.

Greg

plainsmen
Posted February 18, 2011 - 10:42pm

Thanks Nova! 

Now all you need is the other two for the Trifecta! 

Getting the bug yet bud?

 

NOVA
Posted February 19, 2011 - 2:54pm

Actually, I'm a budess, and, yes, I've got the bug. . . bad.  Hope you guys don’t mind a sheila chiming in every now and then. 

I started buying the old Bulovas years ago (only the men’s models—the women’s are too small for me), but not really to collect as much as to wear.  I thought they were beautiful and classy, and I knew that Bulova had a reputation for high quality.  I love watches in general and was looking for something better than all the look alike junk on the market today (not that I don't have a fair amount of those as well--a girl's got to stay in fashion after all ;>}

My only buying criteria were that the watch appear to be in good shape, run well, and look interesting. Pretty ignorant approach, I know.

Now, 100+ old Bulovas and Accutrons later, I’m starting to get more serious about the investment I’ve made. In the past weeks, largely through this site, I’ve identified my watches by date, and now I am working on naming the models. That process is turning out to be far more difficult than I ever imagined. Without the information on this site, there would be no hope at all.

Unfortunately, I’m also identifying some probable Frankenbullies, which, at this point, I’m still too embarrassed to bring forward for judgment. After spending just a few weeks here, going through the archives and the ads over and over again, I’m starting to develop more of an eye for the real thing, and now the fakes seem painfully obvious.

As I name each watch, I’m also photographing it and trying to determine if any of the parts are not original to the model. It will be a long, tedious process, but I am determined to accomplish it, and I know that I'll learn a lot in the process. I need to get the collection insured, and I’m told that proper ID and photographic evidence are paramount.

So, that’s a bit about me. Hope you don’t mind the long post, but I figured I’d best introduce myself.

I really enjoy your posts and seeing your watches.  Those last three actually made my heart skip a beat. You’re way ahead of me, but I will catch up eventually.

- Lisa
plainsmen
Posted February 19, 2011 - 3:15pm

What a fantastic collection story!  And SWEET!  A woman after our own hearts!  My wife and I have a thing for Scifi movies... she's the only woman I found who enjoyes that stuff with me.  That your into old watches is awesome!  Welcome and hopefully we can help you out with any of your questions.

As far as me being ahead of you... ohhhh.. how little do I know.  I've just started collecting... literally at the end of October.  I have some nice looking watches because A.... I'm redicuslously driven and somewhat obsessive when I don't know something.... and B... I started the right way with these guys helping me out from almost day one.

I've asked a hundred questions and done a pretty large amount of researching on my own.

You're way ahead of me when it comes to the buying process...

As far as making my watches look purty.... a bit of spit and polish... and a really cool artical about how to take good pictures cheaply I found and shared.  Check it out in the forums page under General Information.  That's really about it.

I worked for about 3 months stalking those three watches after finding out there were three different dials for that model.  I knew I wanted to make that picture the moment I saw the three of them individually.  That actually was my first major goal.  Now I'm just happy to be here! Heh...

Once again.... welcome and thanks so much for sharing!

NOVA
Posted February 19, 2011 - 3:38pm

My husband doesn't even wear a watch.  He's one of those business execs with a Blackberry glued to his hand.  Who needs a watch?  (Not that I'm complaining, since he so generously finances my watch addiction!)  He has, however, been quite a sport about my love of watches.  He had a custom piece of furniture built for me which, in addition to all my jewelry, holds 260 watches in velvet lined drawers.  Recently, I decided to display watches on the wall in our guest room, and he was cool about buying a bunch of wall cases.  So, in his way, he participates.  He just doesn't want to talk about watches or look at them, so you guys are my only outlet for that.  Lately, I've been spending more time on this site than I have with him. :>)

shooter144
Posted February 19, 2011 - 4:11pm

Nova, those frankenbully watches are rather cheap and easy to bring back IF you can ID them and IF the crystal is good or someone has one, hands dont seem to be too hard to get and dials are redone for pretty cheap ($45-$100 or so). So literally for around $100 to $200 you can have an almost as new original looking (all but dial, will look original but be redone) watch. In fact, several people on here will restore them including the movement for about that range of money.

Or you can turn them into cool customs !! Options are almost endless !

So if you have a few of those that you really like the case style, speak up, toss a pic on here and see who has what.

Ive only started myself and these guys are by far the best, and many others have told me that as well !!!