Bulova 1948 Captain

Member for

12 years 10 months
Submitted by Geoff Baker on July 2, 2012 - 4:55pm
Manufacture Year
1948
Movement Model
10BH
Movement Date Code
48 (A8)
Movement Jewels
17
Case Serial No.
9122125
Case shape
Square
Case color
Yellow
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Never before seen 1948 Bulova Captain model in NOS condition, in period clam shell display case.  ID taken from hang tag as shown.

Added 7/2/2012 Photos Updated6/3/2023

1948 Bulova Captain 1 Geoffrey Baker 6/3/2023
1948 Bulova Captain 2 Geoffrey Baker 6/3/2023
1948 Bulova Captain 3 Geoffrey Baker 6/3/2023
1948 Bulova Captain 4 Geoffrey Baker 6/3/2023
1948 Bulova Captain 5 Geoffrey Baker 6/3/2023

Member for

11 years 9 months
JP
Posted July 2, 2012 - 4:58pm

Holy cow man you have them running out your ears. I like this one the best. Very classy watch my man.

Member for

13 years 7 months
William Smith
Posted July 2, 2012 - 7:42pm

Thanks for getting this great watch in the database.  An ad may surface, or some crystal specs etc... but without an example in database, the Bolova community is at a loss.  Two ticks from me.  Nice tentative ID.  Please keep 'em coming Geoff!

Member for

12 years 11 months
plainsmen
Posted March 7, 2013 - 12:15am

Member for

12 years 10 months
Geoff Baker
Posted March 7, 2013 - 5:58am

Thank you plains, well done and now.....

.....Will - three please?

Member for

14 years
mybulova_admin
Posted March 7, 2013 - 6:45am

Sure gets my three.

Member for

13 years 7 months
William Smith
Posted March 7, 2013 - 3:20pm

I think one of the reasons I went two ticks was we also have newspaper ads from 1948 and 1949 ID'ing this as a Playboy and a Groom?  I'll check those ads. Plains just posted them all together in the 1940's decades thread.  

Member for

13 years 7 months
William Smith
Posted March 7, 2013 - 4:19pm

With the hang tag, I'm good for three ticks for 1948 Captain.  

Below are the three ads for Captain/Playboy/Groom. There was some difference between the three, as evidenced by the 1955 Bulova model price list entries.  



All three models are still in the lists in 1958, but they are not in the lists in Fall 1961.

Blytheville Courier News December 11 1949  "Groom"

New Castle News November 12 1948 "Playboy"

Alton Evening Telegraph November 26 1948 "Captain"

It donsn't look like the Playboy or Captain became the Groom by 1949, as they all three have different unique Bulova model numbers (and prices).  There must be some distinction btwn the three.  I see Captain is on leather-like Geoff's subject watch, and Groom/Playboy are depicted on differnt metal mounts.
Comparing case/dials/hands, the Captain and Groom are the most similar (ignoring mount).

Member for

12 years
bobbee
Posted March 7, 2013 - 5:06pm

The Groom and Playboy have engraved bezel vertices, the Captain does not.

Member for

13 years 7 months
William Smith
Posted March 7, 2013 - 5:08pm

Thanks Bobbee, that makes it even easier.  I didn't see the engraving, but it's evident in the newspaper ads.  My bad.

Member for

12 years
bobbee
Posted March 7, 2013 - 5:29pm

Also, the Groom and Captain share the same unusually numbered dial and "stick" hands, while the Playboy has a more "regular" styled dial and "modern" hands