Bulova 1935 Nurse

Submitted by dhhirsch on November 10, 2013 - 12:51pm
Manufacture Year
1935
Movement Model
10AN
Movement Date Code
Triangle
Movement Jewels
15
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
5045153
Case shape
Square
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Here's a fun one.  I was surprised I was the only bidder, and fifty bucks seemed reasonable for such an interesting watch.  Anyway, I assume an early center sweep second hand like this is pretty scarce.  I've looked at the past discussions on center sweep watches and the hinged case matches this one, with the word "Bulova" above the 10k rolled gold marking:

http://www.mybulova.com/node/3349

Also, the movement has two date codes. An omega, so 1930, and a triangle for 1935, which is consistant with the case number beginning with a five.  There is also a number on the movement thats hard to read, since its partially covered by the wheel.  It looks like 5953*7...  The movement is 15 jewels, 4 adjustments...   The case does look like the Trident to me... So, the movement was made in 1930, but not used until 1935??  I assume its an early doctors watch, but the dial and markings are quite different from my 1938 Physician and my 1947 Surgeon...  It's running and keeping good time.  On my wrist as I write this...

Bulova watch
1935 Bulova watch
1935 Bulova watch
1935 Bulova watch
Geoff Baker
Posted November 11, 2013 - 5:58am

This is a enigma, I really like this one. We have a couple examples of these 10AN's with center sweep in a different case style, I have one from 1929. What fascinates me is the minute/seconds chapter. This one is also broken down to 1/5 of a second. There is no reason in medicine to regulate or time anything below one second so I wonder if these have a more of a measuring task in mind, like race timing. Or, perhaps Bulova just 'filled in the space' between the seconds markings on dial.

'Unknown' to me.

Daca102090
Posted November 11, 2013 - 2:23pm

In reply to by Geoff Baker

The marks are not just a fill in.

When running the second hand does tick 5 times per second.

mybulova_admin
Posted November 11, 2013 - 3:40pm

That didn't occur to me, so maybe it's a sports watch. Would make perfect sense having the ability to time to 1/5 of a second. Standand 5 beats per second (300 beats per minute) movement.

bobbee
Posted March 17, 2015 - 6:09am

This 1914 advert I found shows that the watches using sweep second hands/fifth second gradations was intended for medical use.

 

JimDon5822
Posted May 4, 2020 - 10:09pm

Here is a 1935 ad expressly saying this is a nurses watch.  "Especially made for nurses or professional men".  The ad appears to show engraving or shadowing on the watch vs this version.  Based on this ad to we dare call it a

1935 Bulova Nurses Watch

The Knoxville Journal (Knoxville, Tennessee) · 8 Nov 1935

1935 Nurses watch

mybulova_admin
Posted May 5, 2020 - 3:27am

Looks like a good ID to me.

JimDon5822
Posted May 5, 2020 - 4:04pm

In reply to by mybulova_admin

Great.   It  does expressly state "several models" to choose from.  I would assume an engraved case version as the ad seems to show and an un-engraved as the subject watch.  

dhhirsch
Posted May 5, 2020 - 2:12pm

Wow, I posted the watch in 2013.  Great find after all these years!!

neetstuf-4-u
Posted May 15, 2023 - 7:32am

I just stumbled across this one while researching another "Trident" watch (engraved case) and agree based on this ad, ID this one per the ad. Ad states several models available, which likely indicates not only engraved/unengraved, but also the "new improved" center sweep dial markings potentially in other cases that are sized unisex.

1935 Nurse Watch