In the not too distant past the boards were presented with a Watch - the Bulova 'PATRIOT'. A relatively new piece supposidly produced by Bulova with the proceeds of any Sales to benefit the Veterans of the Iraq War.
According to Bulova they have no knowledge of the Watches existance and a search has found no results other than the mentions found here at MyBulova and a short discussion at the NAWCC site.
http://www.mybulova.com/watches/1991-patriot-3560#comment-23109
There has been another Watch seen recently, an almost identical looking piece only this time the Watch has a HARLEY DAVIDSON theme.
Although Bulova does produce a 'HARLEY DAVIDSON' model line a search of the internet has revealed no results to confirm a 'HARLEY DAVIDSON' Bulova of this design.
Yes and the idea screams american con artist. There is an organization known as the patriots that all ride Harleys and fly american flags on thier bikes. They attend and escort for burials of fallen US Military personel. They sprang up around the time this watch was introduced to us. There may be no connection but. it smells of something an enterprising biker club with money would come up with. IMO.
JP
Pretty stupid remark JP,
PATRIOTS M/C History
The American Vets M/C was formed to be veteran oriented. The American Vets M/C proposed the idea of a Veterans hospital run for the tragic spinal ward, the purpose being to honor the Veterans for their service and patriotism.
In 1989 on the Saturday after Thanksgiving in heavy rain led by the American Vets M/C, a group of riders arrived at the Palo Alto Veterans Hospital with the goal of providing the Veterans with a special day. The American Vets M/C and friends gave the Veterans a memory not to be forgotten. The ride home being just as stormy, these Riders were destined to be known as “Riders of the Storm”, as reflected on the pin they proudly wear on their vests.
In 1990 the American Vets M/C became the Patriots M/C. The Patriots M/C would continue the legacy of the American Vets M/C. They would become non-profit with a requirement of patriotism for membership. Besides veteran causes, the Patriots M/C would extend their support to Hospice, Special Olympics, Triathlon World Championships for the mentally and physically challenged, canned food drives, toy runs, Muscular Dystrophy events, benefits for deceased or injured motorcyclists, and various functions for those in need.
The Patriots Motorcycle Club has held an annual event for veterans at the Spinal Cord Injury Ward of the Palo Alto VA Hospital every year since 1989. The annual event includes a pack run to the VA hospital, and bike show entry for the riders. All participants get to enjoy time spent with the veterans while helping the veterans with barbecue lunch, playing of bingo for free gifts, free raffle where all veterans win assorted prizes, and helping to move beds and chairs to an outside parking lot where the veterans are the judges for the bike show. The most important part of the event is the interaction of the bikers with the veterans. Each biker is asked to bring a gift for a veteran in order to participate. A plaque is presented to the Hospital every year. Past years are displayed in the Day Room for all to see.
On May 9, 2009, the Annual Banquet for the Bay Area and Western Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America was held. The Patriots Motorcycle Club was recognized with an appreciation award for the second time. The first award, June 9, 1995, was for significant contributions in support of veterans at the Spinal Cord Injury Ward of the Palo Alto VA Hospital.
Patriots M/C motto: “Showing Vets we care since 1989”
There was more stupidity in this thread than you may have realized, Time Bandit. Starting with the entire premise that the Harley Davidson watch shown above was fake. It's not.
Rather than just "look around on the Internet", I did some actual research and contacted Bulova corporate with photos of the watch and packaging materials, which I own. Corporate responded that the watch was made by Bulova.
While I have no appreciation whatsoever for the lack of research that went into the blatantly false, wholly unsupported suggestions made in this thread, I do thank the author for inspiring my latest blog entry.
http://www.watchophilia.com/news/opinions-are-not-facts/
Enjoy!
Time bandit
I did not mean to give the idea the the patriots were the people who might try a trick like that. I am myself a Vietnam Vet and served proudly in the US Army. I have been a rider and owner of Harley Davidson Motorcycles since I was 14 years old and I am 70 now so you don't have to explain the motivation of the Patriots MC to me. If I had not sold my scooter I would be right there in the thick of it with them in providing support and encouragement. I make regular visits to the Vets Hospital here in St. Louis to chat with the vets in the quad and para wards. I am also a thirty year master mason(Shriner) and work in the burn wards at the hospital here with the badly burned patients who come here, many of whom are the children of Vets who lost limbs or are paralyzed and can't always be here for their kids.
JP
NOVA,
That's interesting and somewhat informative information. Thank You.
Being that the Eagle 'HARLEY DAVIDSON' piece and the 'PATRIOT' are identical in design would indicate that Bulova did indeed produce the 'PATRIOT', although they had no knowledge of its existance?
I think I'd ask another customer service representative.
My message did not in any way address the Patriot watch, nor would I assume that just because the Harley Davidson model is legit, the Patriot is also.
The Bulova representative who responded to me in writing, and who I know from past correspondence to be the individual who responds to historical questions--including those addressed to other Bulova offices around the world--was not asked about the Patriot model--at least not by me. I presented only photos of the Harley watch with the box and paperwork that came with it.
I only researched the watch I was interested in--the Bulova Harley, which, by the way, is from the 1990s. You can investigate the other one if you feel so inclined.
P.S. It is silly to suggest that the two watches must both have been produced by Bulova just because the Harley is a confirmed Bulova model and they look alike. That assumption suggests that no one has ever made a convincing imitation. If you believe that, then all I can say is you should get out more. The name brand and designer knock-off market is big business, and many of them take an expert eye to recognize. Moreoever, considering only the watch market for a moment, imitating other companies' designs has been standard practice for many years. I just spent the day in the Library of Congress looking at watch ads in Sears catalogs dating from 1902 through 1979. If you covered up the name on most of the watches you would not be able to tell the Bulovas from the Elgins or the Walthams or the Ingersolls or the Van Burens or the Illinois or the Centrals, and on and on. By the end of the day, it was clear to me that they all made careers out of imitating each other's designs, often to the point that you could not tell them apart but for the name on the dial.
Okay, so I told my contact at Bulova Corporate that Fifth didn't believe him that this watch is authentic and further suggested that I ask someone else. In response, he sent me the screen capture of their corporate system, which shows the details of my example of the Harley Davidson watch. The screen capture is below.
Pics of my hang tag, box sticker, and inside case back are also included below the screen capture. If you want to see pics of my entire watch and it's complete packaging, they can be found here: http://www.watchophilia.com/photogallery/bulovas-special-collections/
Note that the "case number" on the screen print is the number on the inside of my caseback. There is no other number anywhere on the case. In regard to that number, he explained, "The C867498 is our case reference number, meaning it will tell us all the parts that make up the 96014 which is the style number".
The style number--96014-- is shown on my hang tag and outer box sticker and on the very top of the screen capture.
He further explained in his email message that "H/D" indicates Harley Davidson.
Note that the prices also match.
The line was started in 1991. Mine is a 1996 example, as evidenced by the "T6" on the back of the case.
Note the vendor name and all the other tabs showing information that may be available regarding this model.
This is the type of information that can be obtained from Bulova about late model watches, if one takes the time to ask.
Whew.. You are the best at digging up info I have ever seen. YOU ROCK NOVA...
I have a 1902 catalog but can not find any Bulova stuff or even any wrist watches. Am I looking in the wrong places in the catalog. I have taken up another new hobby, collecting old sears catalogs. I just missed getting three from an old book store that is going out of business but i have a dozen or more places to contact. I have located a woman who has a 1978 she will allow me to photograph and she is bringing it in to her shop for me. I will let you know how that turns out.
John
JP - I spent the day at the Library of Congress yesterday looking at Sears Catalogs. I started to write you a long explanation of what I found, but I think it would be better to record that in a separate thread. So, give me a minute, and I'll report what I found elsewhere.
Separate thread is now posted.
Just to get this straight in m'head, Bulova say they produced the Harley model, but not the Bulova Patriot? I would have thought other way round if anything. Sorry Lisa, they both still look like pigs to me! One man's (or Woman's) meat is another one's poison though Hmm?
In reply to Just to get this straight in by bobbee
Variety is the spice of life, Bobbee. Like it or not, the watch is a piece of Bulova history, as are the other Harley Davidson models that they continue to produce today. It certainly is not your run-of-the-mill Bulova.
Bulova produced--and, in some instances, still produces--some interesting collections in more recent years. I like dabbling in those along with the older models. Many of the collections from the 1980s and 1990s are already hard to come by and fetch a much higher price at resell than anything typically posted on this site. The Vasarely watches, for example, of which I am pleased to own a few, are rarely seen and will put quite a dent in your wallet. http://www.watchophilia.com/photogallery/bulovas-special-collections/
They are all part of the same Bulova history, which continues today.
P.S. Your post reminded me of a discussion we had a long time ago about the Computrons. Some members of the site really dislike those and won't collect them. I have a growing collection of them and don't like them enough to ever consider wearing them, but I do think they have a lot of character, and, like the Harley model, are true Bulova history.
In reply to Variety is the spice of life, by NOVA
Spoken as a true collector! Myself, I will not consider buying a watch I would not wear myself unless it is for someone else, so am I a real collector? I often sell my watches but am always buying more, (as an investment, honest!).
As for Computrons, I thought the Driver's models were baby Cylons from Battlestar Galactica!
In reply to Spoken as a true collector! by bobbee
The Computrons are very odd watches. The ladies' models aren't bad, but the men's weigh a ton, are huge on the wrist, and take two hands to operate. I never understood the "driver" concept as related to those watches, since you have to use two hands to operate them and look directly at the watch to read the time. If you miss the two or three second flash of the time, or don't have the right lighting to see it, then you have to do it again. I guess you were only supposed to use them if someone else was driving!
In reply to The Computrons are very odd by NOVA
According to the opening post, Bulova claimed no knowledge of the Patriot watch.
I didn't ask Bulova about the Patriot, only the Harley, because it is the one I'm interested in and was sure was a genuine Bulova.
I think anyone who is interested in the Patriot should take that issue up with Bulova themselves.