Bulova 1943 Blackout

Submitted by Brian-C- on February 24, 2014 - 12:52am
Manufacture Year
1943
Movement Model
8AH
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
3658676
Case shape
Rectangle
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Doesn't look like a redial and I can't see a movement symbol.  Looks like a senator but is it a 1943 or is it 47  both years used they movements the radium is still on the hands and numbers.

 

Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova Watch
Brian-C-
Posted February 24, 2014 - 12:53am

Sorry about the bad pics it's not a good camera and I ain't a good pic taker.

airborne
Posted February 24, 2014 - 5:30am

Radio City ? Senator ? or a Blackout. Is the back case in steel ?

Geoff Baker
Posted February 24, 2014 - 6:15am

Gosh, I was was afraid we'd need a passport to ID this one. Brian? Papers? 

airborne
Posted February 24, 2014 - 7:31am

Yes this is a tricky one...

Brian-C-
Posted February 24, 2014 - 1:04pm

I don't have any papers for it but I can tell you it came from the U.S.   
This is the listing from the bay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111268855915?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid… think I got a nice little bargain for 3 watches)

What year do you guys reckon?   I'm swinging towards 43/44, although I do think it's slightly crazy to have a glow in the dark watch during a war lol.

Brian-C-
Posted February 24, 2014 - 2:12pm

Seller said he thinks it's the blackout and is American.

Reverend Rob
Posted February 24, 2014 - 3:51pm

Radium was restricted during the war years, but not sure when and by how much. If an watch co. had surplus Radium paint, they would have used it on the watches, but Bulova was one of a series of companies manufacturing with contracts for the military. This probably meant the MilSpec ones got the Radium first and foremost, and the Civvy ones didn't? This may put it at post war, at least for the dial and hands, but wartime production was probably not consistent, and gaps between the movt and case would have been common. 

 

Brian-C-
Posted February 24, 2014 - 4:17pm

There is what looks like a service mark with the numbers 811228 the 8 at the start could possibly be B or at a stretch 0.  Another one with just 1 and 4 (I think) and the last is 71.

One is neatly engraved just under the bulova stamp in the case the others are pencil or lightly scratched on.

Perhaps I think to much but your more likely to take a newish watch to a really good jewelers for it's first service (I think), so my Sherlock Homes type deduction thinks that's the first because it's neatly engraved?  It's also more than likely that I'm miles out lol.

 

Reverend Rob
Posted February 24, 2014 - 6:01pm

Those are marks left by the watchmakers, and some just have tidier engraving hands. All are different, in that some are job numbers, guild numbers, or dates. I use dates, and your 811228 could be 1981 Dec 28. The first service for this watch would probably have been in the 50s or 60s. They should be done every 4-6 years, but this rarely happens.