Bulova 1935 President

Submitted by Jim Townsend on July 14, 2014 - 5:33pm
Manufacture Year
1935
Movement Model
7AK
Movement Date Code
Triangle
Movement Jewels
21
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
5493053
Case shape
Round
Case color
Yellow
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

 I belive this to be a 1935 Bulova Minuetman B. Thoughts? 21 jewel 7AK Movement Triangle date symbol on movement 10kt gold filled. Triangle date symbol could be a 1926 or a 1935 i think 1935

Jim Townsend 1935 Bulova president 08 10 2014
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Jim Townsend
Posted July 16, 2014 - 5:14pm

The only thing i have is a tape it is in inches i have nothing to do mm.

bobbee
Posted July 30, 2014 - 5:34am

Give it your best shot in inches then, we'll try to convert it to mm.

lug-to-lug and width please. We will then try to find a match.

Thanks.

William Smith
Posted July 30, 2014 - 6:10am

Jim and gang;

I bet we find the 7AK is from 1945.  We have lots of watch records w/ 7AK and the earliest (short of your watch here) are from 1945.  Probably a movement swap with a latter (1945) 7AK.  This kinda negates or minimizes the chances that we rule on jewel count for Pres vs MM.  I have not checked Ranfft or Lisa's site yet to see if they have a start date for 7AK before 1945....but I will check soon.

 

William Smith
Posted July 30, 2014 - 3:56pm

Thanks Bobbee   I checked Doc's link, and while his start date is 1936, his representative example is 1947.  

I also checked Lisa's movement DB, and while her start date is also 1936, i checked through many of her watch records, and didn't find an example listed as pre-1945 for 7AK.  Maybe this earlier start date is in error?  

I've gone through most if not all of the 7AK watch records on MyBulova, and the earliest found with a "photo" of 7AK have a triangle date code and have been housed in a 1945 watch case/model .  If there is an earlier example 7AK, I'd like to see a representative ad indicating the corrisponding model and jewel count and a picture of the movemet date symbol.  

Also checked Lisa's end date, and while Lisa has several Academy Awards model records housing 7AK listed as 1950, all I checked housed a 1949 7AK and her record date is from the case.  Same for all 7AK's on MyBulova.

Would a 1935/36 7AK example be "U.S.A." made?  

I'm thinking the 7AK was made between 1945 through 1949.  I have yet to see one with an "L0" anywhere.  I also hope someone can prove me wrong with a documented example from earlier than 1945 housed in a known ad documented model w/ matching jewel count in ad (this would help rule out movement swap).

...but I've been wrong before....

bobbee
Posted July 30, 2014 - 8:25am

Looking at the case back, with the length of movement being 25 mmX17.55mm, say back is about 35 mm. long, then lugs are about 5 mm. long each, that gives a total length of around 45 mm.

Without any real measurements this is my best guess, giving us a Prez-size case.

mybulova_admin
Posted August 1, 2014 - 7:28pm

 

We have determined in the past that the Minute Man's of this era had a slight curve to the sides. I'm not seeing this on this watch and the measurement now seems to confirm a President model. PMs can I please get you vote so we can move this from the red zone.

 

 

bourg01
Posted August 1, 2014 - 9:00pm

My call would be a President but the 7AK throws me off as I believe it should be a 7AP for the30's. A few things just don't add up with this one. For now too many factors to say unless we just go with case and dial. Unknown for me.

William Smith
Posted August 2, 2014 - 3:48am

I'd go tentative Prez.  Not on the matching jewel count necessarily, as I think the movement is from 1945, but the case (size) and dial are tentative President.  
And all of the "other" Presidents from this style/era in our watch database have a 6AE or 7AP movement....