1965 Engineer "G"
Checking the ads we now have, the price lists, and discussions of other examples for Engineer "G" (and info for possible Engineer "H"), I was unable to distinguish between the "G" and "H" variants. While the ad says "yellow or white", the price lists from 1964 show a "G" variant and "H" variant with same $45 price. There has to be some way for Bulova to ship either the Yellow or White version, and this method is unique Bulova model numbers. These model numbers often have different variant letters, but sometimes don't. They may have same prices, or different prices. For the "G" vs "H", the price is the same, the model numbers are unique.
We have some crystal specs for "G" and "H". They take the same crystal, and the crystal package says "Engineer G,H"
We could not determine if others in White or Yellow were "G" or "H", but at that time we only had an ad for the "G", so we voted to ID as "G", noting it is just as likely to be the "H". We decided this conveyed more information about the watch than ID'ing as "Generic Engineer (w/o variant letter)"
Some may say "...but we have an ad showing this watch as G and noting white or yellow". Yes we do. The original source material for the black and white ad may have been in color. Then we would see the one pictured - the "G"- may be yellow. The color info is often lost when published as black and white. This begs the question "why didn't the text of the ad note one color is one letter variant, and the other color is different variant?" 1. If the source ad was in color, that wasn't necessary. 2. The cost associated with adding more text description drives up the price of the black and white ad. When the person wishing to buy the watch comes into the store, the dealer can then give them either White or Yellow...which in subject example, most likely have different variant letters.
I'll check for any new ads or other info for "H" variant. As in other similar examples, I will also vote for tentative "G", realizing that vote could as easily be for "H". The subject watch most closely resembles the ad for "G", and some of us decided its better to ID as "G", noting it could as easily be the "H".
In reply to Checking the ads we now have, by William Smith
In reply to Will thank you for your by jabs
I can't find an "H" ad either. I'll resend you a link to download the price lists. I think some of them are on site, but I made the files smaller while keeping good resolution. If anyone else wants to downlaod the price lists to their computers, simply Private Message me an outside email address and I'll send on to you.
"G" is a good call based on all of this. I'd still go two ticks tentative, but it's the only ad variant we have.
Engineer = Yes, Variant = No. I cannot differentiate between G & H based on the information we currently have. I have a white gold version of this watch in the dB, it (correctly I think) carries no variant designation. I don't think it makes sense to knowingly enter a 'possible' variant and then mark it as a tentative ID. Our discussion notes that there are a couple variants available but our ID should not assign one unless we are certain.
- for variant "H" we have no advert or comparable watches in db
- for variant "G" we have advert and comparable watch http://www.mybulova.com/watches/1963-engineer-5771 where discussion about this has there
I remember when DarHin, a previous Panel Member, suggested if we know the generic model name, and know it's either the "A" or "B", but we don't know which, lets place "A or B" in the variant field.
It's a little stretch, but for subject Engineer, we could indicate "H or G" in the variant field to differentiat from the other Engineer model variants. Then we could perhaps justify two ticks tentative. It doesn't hold us to an unknow call for a single variant between the H / G, but is more spicific than generic Engineer. We could do the same to Geoff's example, and others which share this "unknown two-variant letter choice".
I've looked through the few price guides we have and seen a pattern that any model that comes in both Yellow and White gold, seems to always list the yellow before the white as in variant 'A' = Yellow and variant 'B' = White.
If other members could double check my analysis and either confirm or not that applying this priciple to the subject watch, variant 'G' would be yellow and variant 'H' would be white.