Bulova 1936 -Unknown

Submitted by plainsmen on January 6, 2015 - 9:48pm
Manufacture Year
1936
Movement Model
10AE
Movement Date Code
Square
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
6262060
Case shape
Other
Case color
Yellow
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Seen this guy's like a few times.  Though I think this might be the only one we have in the database now.  I'll have to look. As this is from 1936 and Bulova seems to have made two different versions for the watches during the late middle to late 1930's both engraved and unengraved with the same model name, I believe this is the "Handcock" engraved version.

1936 Bulova Handcock
Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova Watch
Bulova Watch
Bulova Watch
1955mercury
Posted January 7, 2015 - 10:23am

Very nice example of some model Plainsmen. The case is a 1936 and the movement is a 1936. That would seem that it's a highly likely possibility that they belong together. The ad shows the Hancock had a 15 jewel movement. And yours has a 17 jewel movement. It may be some other model instead of Hancock. What are the crystal measurements?

plainsmen
Posted January 7, 2015 - 10:27am

Hrmmm well there's the Commander, lets look at that. Good catch on the jewels.

Welp... that's also showing 15 jewels. As is the Goldcraft.

I dunno.

bobbee
Posted January 7, 2015 - 10:49am

Cavalier has engraving, Hancock/Commander has none. Still 15 jewels. Ads are from 1936 top, and 1938 bottom.

Wrong dial!

 

William Smith
Posted January 7, 2015 - 11:44am

This will be a fun/challanging one to ID.  Jewel count diff from ads above, and same year for mvnt and case.  Still checking ads and other records etc...

1955mercury
Posted January 7, 2015 - 11:55am

I've been searching also. Nothing yet.

plainsmen
Posted January 7, 2015 - 10:42pm

Seems legit. Lisa has the exact same dial, case, and 17 jewels. Though hers might not match perfectly for years, but within our set 2 year standard.

Reverend Rob
Posted January 7, 2015 - 10:49pm

We have one other in the db, also at unknown. The 10 AE came in jewel counts 7, 15, 17, and 21. 

I'm at unknown.

William Smith
Posted January 7, 2015 - 11:05pm

Yea...for now I'm at Unknown too.  Very nice watch!

Andersok
Posted January 8, 2015 - 7:16am

This has been mentioned a time or two before, but I'm wondering if one could have gone into  a jeweler's store and say "Give me the Hancock dial in that engraved Cavalier case, and upgrade the movement to 17 jewels". Very nice looking watch, Unknown at this time.

Geoff Baker
Posted January 8, 2015 - 7:31am

I think it's a Cavalier case, no question. Either it was married to a Hancock dial/movement somewhere along the way or to Ken's point it just plain came that way ( could a watch maker inadvertently switched them?)

The challenge will always be how to accurately ID them for future reference. It really seems that, post this discussion, we might consider it Non-Conforming? I hate to split hairs but it really isn't a Hancock or a Cavalier. The actual jewel count might be overlooked as a movement replacement and I don't think that alone should impact an ID but the dial stops the show for me.