Bulova 1938 American Clipper

Submitted by neetstuf-4-u on June 11, 2022 - 8:51am
F
Manufacture Year
1938
Movement Model
10AE
Movement Date Code
Cresent Moon
Movement Jewels
17
Case Serial No.
8100944
Case shape
Stepped
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

One of my personal favorite engraved watches from the 30's. I purchased this one cheap as a "parts watch" for the band. It looked bad in photos; had a cracked , scratched and chipped glass crystal and was sold as "overwound/not running".

When I cleaned it up a bit and saw how nice the case, face  and band condition was, my plan changed. Didn't have the heart to cannibalize it. When movement was out of the case, it was indeed holding a full wind, but appeared the second hand was catching the hour hand. Hands were at 5:45 when received. When the watch was reverse set back to 12 o'clock it began to run.  Replaced the crystal, polished it up and after carefully tweeking the hour hand, it runs and keeps time within 2 minutes over 24 hrs. Based on overall condition (note prominent center groove on crown) , my guess it that when the crystal was damaged, it depressed onto the face and bent the hour hand at which point the watch was permanently relegated to the sock drawer as a lost cause....

1938 American Clipper "F" on the original band that actually comfortably fits my wrist

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Geoff Baker
Posted June 12, 2022 - 9:27pm

Nice snag Bob, 1938 Bulova American Clipper F

neetstuf-4-u
Posted June 13, 2022 - 9:49am

In reply to by Geoff Baker

Thanks Geoff. Only problem is I'm still short the band for one I wanted to restore. Wait.......oh well, I got a nice all original one and the one awaiting an original band is no longer an "OCD issue" and  can stay on the replacement scissor band. 

mybulova_admin
Posted June 13, 2022 - 1:10am

Indeed a great original example of a 1938 Bulova American Clipper "F"

It's always an added bonus when they have the original band as sown in an advert. I'm wearing my 36 Lone Eagle today with the original band, and I have to agree there are very comfortable.