Bulova 1965 AeroJet

Submitted by Reverend Rob on July 3, 2012 - 12:45pm
Manufacture Year
1965
Movement Model
11ALC
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
J286986
Case shape
Round
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

I wanted to get this one in before the deadline also, it is as found, I haven't done anything to it yet. A nice 1965 AeroJet with an 11ALC in good condition. The dial is ok, and the expansion bracelet is of course not original. 

The movt is stamped 64, and while I was cleaning it I noticed the case is stamped "Germany" on the inside case wall, where it is hard to see. I don't remember having seen this on a Bulova case before. 

Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova Watch
bourg01
Posted July 3, 2012 - 4:19pm

Safe to say it's an Aerojet as marked on the dial.

Reverend Rob
Posted July 4, 2012 - 11:24am

I think this will turn out to be a good result after resto, I'm going to relume the hands and dial.

William Smith
Posted September 18, 2014 - 3:58pm

We had briefly discussed the leading letters on case serial numbers from models apparently made outside USA.  One idea was possibly "I" for "International".  I don't know if that panned out.  I see a "J" for this one, and I doubt its stands for Jermany.  

Am I seeing the Swiss to USA import code BXW near the click wheel?  Or is this a Swiss movement which may not have been imported to USA and was finished off in Germany?

After checking the 1964 Cumulative Price list (the latest we have) there is no indication of "Aerojet" If this watch was put together in Germany with the intent to market overseas (as was suggested for some of the "International" models or model lines), it may not show up in the USA price lists.  ...however I believe we have other watches which were finished off overseas which do show up in the price lists by model name and unique bulova model number.  Can't remember which now, but my point is the Aerojet is possibly a model series (like Excellency).  We have straps made by Bulova which say "Excellency" on the inside of strap, so I can't rule out a model name of Aerojet based on a strap printed Aerojet.  But we do see names printed on other Bulova straps that are model series, not particular model names.

With no ads for Aerojet in our database, it could be that this is a series, and we don't see ads because these watches have unique model names (and variants).  Remember Duowind on dial turned out to have a representative Model named such, so sometimes there are model nanes based on or the same as something like a "function" like duowind technology/feature.  But we have other examples where the function printed on the dial turns out to not be associated with a model name (I don't remember if it was "day/date" or "dual time" or some such function which was not uesed as a model name based on ads showing unique name and/or price list references).

There's a pretty good chance that the Aerojet was a series, with members thereof having unique model names (or numbers).  Not sure about the "Germany" on case in subject example, but same logic if these were completed overseas for overseas market.

I'm two ticks tentative on ID of Aerojet.  I believe we based this model name on what was on the dial, and we have been incorrect in doing so for some other models of similar time period.

bobbee
Posted September 18, 2014 - 4:30pm

Three ticks for me.

Madison Wisconsin Journal, Jan 1st, 1968.

 

William Smith
Posted September 18, 2014 - 4:38pm

Disregard my "model series" only discussion. The ad images from the 1960's threads were not loading for me while researching.  It just appeared the acutal ads were missing or gone.  I see now we do have Aerojet as a model name based on at least one 1967 ad and Bobbee's example above.  This model must have been released after the Spring 1964 price list release, so it wouldn't be in the list.  

neetstuf-4-u
Posted February 25, 2020 - 10:06am

1967 Line Book BAWD0165

This one appears to be Aerojet "B" on original band

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