Bulova 1958 Military Issue

Submitted by Robert Baker on July 27, 2019 - 7:22am
A-17A
Manufacture Year
1958
Movement Model
10bnch
Movement Date Code
Circle
Movement Jewels
15
Movement Serial No.
-6433A
Case Serial No.
25290
Case shape
Round
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Star
Watch Description

1958 Bulova a17a 10bnch type w- 6433a Navigator. Was my Dads hack. J.A.Baker(USN ret.)USAM. Small and built to last. Still runs after 50+. Has its share of scuffs. No papers of last service. Can't make out the movement symbol, looks like an apple. Obvious patina. 12 and 24 hour numerals. Leaf shaped hour hand. The minute hand has a dividing line. White second hand. Luminescence has degraded but you hit it with a camera flash and the numerals and hands glow green. Missing band. The watch has detonate history.

1958 Bulova watch
1958 Bulova watch
1958 Bulova watch
1958 Bulova watch
mybulova_admin
Posted July 28, 2019 - 4:57am

I think that these will be more and more sort after. It's a great that it's your dads. That makes it all the more special  and valuable.

We ID these as a Bulova Military Issue, and with a variant of A17A.

Once you get a nice band I'm sure you'll enjoy wearing this everyday.

As you say they we built to last!

Kathy L.
Posted July 28, 2019 - 10:44am

Welcome to myBulova and thank you for sharing your father's watch with us!  What a wonderful heirloom for you to have.

Bulova Military Issue A17A

Geoff Baker
Posted July 28, 2019 - 10:30pm

How exciting to have your father's watch, you must be very proud. I'm curious as to how it dates to 1958. A circle date code was last used for 1944 and this case don't have date codes. Is there perhaps an alphanumeric date code on the movement? No question it's an A17A, I'd like to get confirmation on the year.

1958 Bulova Milatary Issued Type A17A - (Updated to 1958 based on owners response below)

Robert Baker
Posted July 31, 2019 - 5:04am

In reply to by Geoff Baker

I'm curious as to what the marking is I thought to b the movement symbol.

Robert Baker
Posted July 29, 2019 - 9:14am

My apologies. I located the L8 stamp on the inside. As for the symbol I can't make out what it is. I'll post a better pic maybe you can tell me. Thank you for the Intel.

Geoff Baker
Posted July 29, 2019 - 10:17pm

In reply to by Robert Baker

L8 is fine Robert. There won't be any other date codes as Bulova discontinued the date code markings in the late 40's and went to the alphanumeric code they use to this day. I'll edit my ID suggestion to model year 1958. Congrats again, very cool keepsake from your father.

Robert Baker
Posted July 31, 2019 - 5:57am

In reply to by Geoff Baker

Thank you for educating me. I'm learning on the fly. I don't even want to touch it anymore. There's so much to learn just about handling an old watch. I have a few other Bulova dive watches of his. A Snorkel 666ft that needs work and another that runs and I think hasn't been opened. It's just a Bulova 666ft not a snorkel. But there almost identical.

Robert Baker
Posted July 31, 2019 - 6:00am

In reply to by Geoff Baker

The symbol I thought was a circle is located just to the left of the date code.

Robert Baker
Posted September 7, 2019 - 8:56am

In reply to by Geoff Baker

Question. Should the A17A have cathedral hands? This is what I heard off site "A17A should not have cathedral hands. Instead it should have syringe. Maybe the caseback was swapped with a 3818A or the hands got replaced. Note that the second hand is A17A." What's the Standard?