Bulova 1938 -Non-Conforming

Submitted by Daca102090 on February 10, 2017 - 5:53pm
Manufacture Year
1938
Movement Model
10AE
Movement Date Code
Cresent Moon
Movement Jewels
15
Case Serial No.
-
Case shape
Round
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Other
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Picked this up a couple of years back as part of a lot purchase. Has the 1938 10 AE 15 jewel movement. The case is sterling silver and the maker is ID. I don't know if Bulova ever used this case maker or not. I was thinking that this was a version of the Wate rtite model as the screw on movement cover mates onto a rubber gasket and the crystal (missing right now) appears to be a press in using a gasket as well. Sending is in this week for a service. Have at it guys, I know it has been a while since I have posted any watches. DACA

1938 Bulova watch
1938 Bulova watch
1938 Bulova watch
1938 Bulova watch
Reverend Rob
Posted February 14, 2017 - 11:31pm

ID was a New York based case company that was relatively short lived, 1930-1942. I have not run across any reference to Bulova using these cases, and the ID company sold to a variety of brands. 

The crown may belong to the movt but this may be a non-conforming watch due to the case.

Daca102090
Posted February 11, 2017 - 12:24am

Possible non-conforming came to mind as well.

Reverend Rob
Posted February 11, 2017 - 1:42am

Water resistance was a major goal of many brands, and to that end there were companies that would get specially designed cases from manufacturers they didn't normally use. Borgel is such a casemaker, and many years ago I saw a Bulova in a Borgel case. It was a "Swing Ring" case with the FB trademark, and it was shown to me by an enthusiastic Borgel collector in Toronto. 

It is possible that there are unknown and small quantities of watches out there that do not conform but are legitimate- they represent an experiment of sorts by Bulova. Many other brands did this, including Rolex, who also issued a quantity of Borgel cased watches before the development of the Oyster case. The earliest of these cases is from 1905. 

I've seen a few very unusual Bulovas, (I have one here in the DB that is a hermetic type compressor case, very fiddly and possibly a Surfmaster) and it would not surprise me if like many other companies, Bulova had brief flirtations with other case makers and case designs. Just speculation at this point.

Geoff Baker
Posted February 12, 2017 - 7:35am

Dave (and Camille?) welcome back! I wondered if you were still hanging around these parts, good to hear from you again, I hope al is well.

I think this is a Non-Conforming watch. We just ID'd another Non-Con here that's in a mid forties/fifties case made by the Diel Company of New York. For some reason I think Diel and ID were related. This is an article I found online confirming it (I think).

PS - I'll send you my email address, if you have the larger photos from the first two here I can insert them for you.

Geoff Baker
Posted February 17, 2017 - 5:47am

Panel - any other suggestions? 

Andersok
Posted February 17, 2017 - 7:34am

I believe Non-Conforming would be appropriate.

Reverend Rob
Posted February 17, 2017 - 10:15am

I'm going to have to go with Non Conforming at this point.

jabs
Posted February 17, 2017 - 1:58pm

Non Conforming for me too

mybulova_admin
Posted February 17, 2017 - 8:35pm

I can certainly appreciate the notion of Bulova or a jeweler toying with the notion of producing/testing the production/sale of a truely waterproof watch.

Non-conforming for me too at this stage.

Daca102090
Posted February 17, 2017 - 9:06pm

Well, that changes the plan to not having this serviced at this time.

I will be making a "Franken" later as I have a flashy case, but otherwise I want to keep to genuine models.

 

Thanks to all for the input.