The original "Presentation Watch"

Submitted by bobbee on June 15, 2014 - 7:57am

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.

bobbee
Posted June 15, 2014 - 8:12am

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."

bobbee
Posted June 15, 2014 - 3:38pm

Looks like the one.

 

Reverend Rob
Posted June 15, 2014 - 8:22pm

The dials might have been cleanable in 1925, but silver oxide coming through the coating many years later is not. Even the 'baked' enamel can and will come off, and any silvered dial, which Bulova used in later years, is uncleanable in the real sense. 

mybulova_admin
Posted June 15, 2014 - 11:05pm

 

I've had no trouble cleaning many of the 1920s dials I've had. They have for the best part all had the baked numbers as detailed in Bobbee's post above. Seems tough as nails.

 

bobbee
Posted November 3, 2014 - 4:37am

This watch looks more like the Senator model, much more apt!

bobbee
Posted November 3, 2014 - 11:58am

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.

 

Reverend Rob
Posted November 3, 2014 - 12:38pm

Now why did someone deliberately scratch that caseback?

bobbee
Posted November 3, 2014 - 1:43pm

I wonder too Rob. One can let the imagination run, and come up with several things.

mybulova_admin
Posted November 7, 2023 - 6:20am

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.

mybulova_admin
Posted November 7, 2023 - 6:23am

Images have gone missing from this post ,so I've added them below for reference.

The addition of the 1927 movement matches the statement by Mr Scott about purchasing just the case.

1925 Bulova Executive watch - Stanley Harris / President Coolidge

mybulova_admin
Posted November 7, 2023 - 6:27am

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.