Bulova 1932 White Prince

Submitted by William Smith on January 6, 2012 - 6:30pm
Manufacture Year
1932
Movement Model
13AT
Movement Date Code
T
Movement Jewels
15
Movement Serial No.
731532
Case Serial No.
2128015
Case shape
Other
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Crystal details
missing crystal
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

{on front of mvent} Patent {above a little cross shaped sybol,  above another H symbol which looks like a backwards and forwards pair of F's if not a fancy H}.

1932 Jump 13AT 15J
1932 Bulova watch
1932 Bulova watch
1932 Bulova watch
1932 Bulova watch
Bulova Watch
FifthAvenueRes…
Posted January 7, 2012 - 5:51pm

Right on, the reverend is sharing some priceless information.

William I believe the technical jargon You're referring to would be the 'balance wheel' and if I've learned anything from the Watchmakers on site a magnetized or sticky hairspring will cause the symptons You're describing.

*note the production Date of the movement coincides with the first numeral of the Case seriel number.

A very nice Watch.

mybulova_admin
Posted January 7, 2012 - 6:12pm

There looks lo be a lot of rust on the balance bridge as well and I would say that a bit of power is probably being lost through the dirty gear train, thus a sluggish balance amplitude. A solid clean and oil should see it right if the hairspring is in good shape.

bourg01
Posted January 7, 2012 - 6:13pm

The fast issue could very well be dried or tacky oil on the hairspring holding a coil or two stuck together. A good cleaning will rectify the problem but if your happy with the preformance, I'd leave it. All too often a good cleaning in an old watch will release the oil and dirt pack around old worn pinions and the watch may stop running alltogether.

stoddrob
Posted January 7, 2012 - 11:05pm

I agree about this comment from bourg01.....this can occasionally occur, and it has happened to me. However, the only way to really find out if there are any issues or problems is to break it down, clean it, inspect it, oil it, and re-assemble. What is the possible interchageablity of other Bulova models for this movement? I understand there is a 10AT (round movement) and a 13AT (Coffin-Shape) for this same watch. Do you need to find a FHF Cal. 29 for parts, or will a Bulova 10A parts work? What do you guys think?

bourg01
Posted January 8, 2012 - 4:25pm

In reply to by stoddrob

My motto, If it isn't broken and your happy, don't fix what already works. If you have issues later than stodrob is 100% correct. Only a full breakout and cleaning will identfy issues with the watch.

As for parts interchange, Hard to say, my part catalogues don't even show the 13AT movement. I doubt very much that 10A parts would work but possibly the 13AR parts would.

Reverend Rob
Posted January 9, 2012 - 12:13am

 The 13AT, 13AL, 13AP, 13AN, 13AB, and 13AC are all FHF 29s. Of course, only the jump hour will have the extra plate with discs, but according to Bestfit, the movts are otherwise interchangeable.  With some possible rare exceptions, these are the only movts Bulova used that are this size, 8.75''' x 12'''. So you should be able to scavenge any parts needed from the rest in the list. 

While it is true that some watches are literally being held together with dirt and gunk, if left to run in that condition, they will soon suffer serious continued damage. At the NAWCC meeting today, a member had boxes of Marvin watches all NOS, and I told all who were interested that they would require a service also, if they were going to be used. Dried up or dirty movts shouldn't be run for any length of time. Dipping them fully assembled won't help ultimately either, the only thing for them is a proper service. I know it is self serving to suggest getting watches serviced, but it is true, these tiny machines will wear unduly otherwise. It took me three months to destroy an NOS Ermano Aquastar.

(It was before I went to school, and was an important first lesson for me) 

bobbee
Posted February 20, 2013 - 1:07pm

 

                               I give you the "WHITE  PRINCE", Sept. 1933 ad.

    

                        

                 

William Smith
Posted February 25, 2013 - 3:21pm

 

Resubmitted for ID review based on new "White Prince" ad.  There's no other ad for this Jump case style, and the new ad is within 2 yrs of subject watch date.  Maybe they didn't get named the "White Prince" untill Sept 1933- but we have no ad indicationg they were simply called "Jump Hour" in 1932.

I'm good with 1932 White Prince ID.

mybulova_admin
Posted February 27, 2013 - 3:18am

Tentative ID of White Price for me.

Geoff Baker
Posted February 27, 2013 - 5:56am

White Prince works for me