There has been talk of the Lone Eagle being the first Bulova Presentation Watch, but wasn't the President model the first?
Here is the earliest mention of the Bulova presentation watch I can find, September 6, 1925. The next mention of the new President model is six days later, and has no picture.
This is "the same model as President Coolidge presented to Bucky Harris", another ad from the same paper dated to September 11, 1925 says "is an exact replica as the one presented.."etc.
Daily Ardmoreite, Oklahoma Sept. 6, 1925.
Nothing like the President model as we know it, is it?
So this is the presentation model, and the one Bulova released "in honour" of this watch is the one we know of.
Also came across this statement in another 1925 ad that cannot be downloaded, but found it interesting.
Here is a link to it: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/new-mexico/roswell/roswell-daily-record/…
"BULOVA DIALS Are made of Sterling platinum finish The numerals are baked hard enamel The dials can be cleaned and polished and numerals will not wash off Bulova will always retain their finish."
In reply to Looks like the one. by bobbee
I was looking on the NAWCC wrist watch forum, and saw this thread.
http://mb.nawcc.org/showthread.php?118212-Coolidge-to-Stanley-Harris-Bulova
He found the watch in a dealer's lot 25 years ago!
Here is Coolidge presenting the watch to Harris, May 4th 1925.
Amazing, and here is the watch found by the OP Kevin Scott.
Not a Senator, but an "Executive" model.
The case dates to 1924, here is an internal pic. The private internal inscription makes this more believable, as Harris appears to have been friends with Coolidge. The President even went to Harris's wedding, not something you would expect unless they were close.
This from a Mr Kevin Scott, the owner (at the time of the case). He wrote:
I bought this empty case in a large lot over 25 years ago from a watch dealer who worked the Baltimore Washington DC area that bought watches, watchmaker estates, and jewelry stores.
At the time did not know who Stanley Harris was. Did some research on the net a couple years ago and found out Coolidge and his wife where big baseball fans, and Stanley Harris who was known as the boy wonder managed and played for the Washington Senators. But did not find any news accounts about this day and a presentation at the white house.
My theory is that this watch that I have was never given to Stanley Harris. Maybe the engraver made a mistake, maybe the white house changed the date of the presentation, or who knows.
The movement was then used for parts at some time.Theory is based on the engraved lines through the engraving, can't confirm date, and the watch has an inscription on the inside "from his friends", which does not make sense with the inscription on the back. Maybe the engraver used the inside back for practice. Also the case shows no wear,or signs of use. The case is gold filled.
History suggests that the actual watch presented was a Bulova President (shown here), so the notion that this Executive example was possibly a test case for the engraving has weight.