Hi there.
I'm turning 40 this year and was hoping to purchase my first Bulova watch. I'm doing a bit of research and hoping to find something that was made at the Sag Harbor factory.
Excuse my ignorance, but were there actual models that can be traced to that specific factory? I'm sometimes confused whether they only made parts/pieces that were then shipped to other factories for assembly for the finished product.
If they did make complete watches, is there any easy way of knowing which ones? For example, are all watches made between 19__ and 19__ watches from the SH factory? Or are all Sea King watches? Or any watch that features a whale? I'm hoping to know that "key" so that way I can research further.
I grew up down the street from Sag Harbor--it's whaling history is very important to the town. I'd love to have the chance to wear a watch that came from my corner of the globe. Thanks so much for any and all guidance.
Andrew
PS--and bonus, if there was any Sag Harbor built watch that came out in 1981...that'd be a near-instant purchase.
Bulova closed their Sag Harbor factory in 1981, so there is a chance that one of the last watches produced came from that factory.
I'm not aware of what watches were produced, assembled in Bulova's many factories. Not sue if t was just cases, or just movements or the assembly of both.
In reply to Bulova closed their Sag… by mybulova_admin
Here's a little history of the Sag Harbor facility.
In reply to Here's a little history of… by Geoff Baker
from what i gathered the logo of the " WHALE" was Bulova's response to the change from WATERPROOF to WATER RESISTANT, they used the whale instated of the text water resistant the company had a good sense of humor or odd ball quality much like when they printed 666 on the dial of their divers watches
In reply to from what i gathered the… by camu
In reply to 666 (feet) was the depth… by FifthAvenueRes…
In reply to Might be worth asking… by mybulova_admin
In reply to The possible, but very… by FifthAvenueRes…
here it is 4/20/2012 https://www.mybulova.com/node/4290
I may have to play 420 as a lottery # today as it's 4/20
ha!
In 1966 the citiens of Sag Harbor erected a memorial dedicated to the local whaling industry.
https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=133842
In what Year does the Whale first appear on Bulova dials? .......original Bulova dials.
From what I can see with watches in the database the earliest use is 1969. There are a few 1967/68 cased watches, but for me they seem to have later 69 and 70 stamped movements, suggesting the movement/dial is still 1969 and onwards.
This isn't 100% confirmed, just what I've seen here on site. The first linebook that shows the whale is 1970, but they could be showing 1969 models.
Also first whale logo advert in the 'Vintage adverts' secton is 1970.
In reply to From what I can see with… by mybulova_admin
Stephen,
We see some watches bearing the Whale while others do not, same Year, same model.
What is Your opinion on the Whale being an identifying factor for a Sag Harbor cased watch?
I'm curious.
Personally, I think it's a very strong possibility given the history of Sag Harbor and it's relationship to Bulova Watch Co..
In reply to Stephen, We see some… by FifthAvenueRes…
I've also been curious as to its usage.
I always put it down to certain models having a different waterproof depth rating than others, but if we can say that the logo appears on watches of the same model and year, then there must be another reason.
I certainly like the idea that the logo symbolises that the watch was produced in the Sag Harbour factory.
Now to prove or disprove.
Searching for a correlation between Bulova, the Whale and 1969, yet...but it appears that the Whales' familiar image preceded Bulovas use on its dials.
Video clip of the 1969 Old Whalers festival, no mention of Bulova but our Whale can be seen at several moments floating in the harbor.
In reply to There's no denying, that's… by FifthAvenueRes…
1968 Old Whalers festival
https://youtu.be/PLzUcnxz1q4?si=kqeF6yet1grcOkTb
a good look at the festival Whale and a description at around 5:36
1968 was the first Year the festival had these Whales??
Here's a prime example of the same watch model, same yeat, but with a different case back and movement.
1969 Bulova Sea King "CD"
- https://mybulova.com/watches/1969-sea-king-cd-5734
- https://mybulova.com/watches/1969-sea-king-cd-13397
One has the whale stamp, the other does not. Why?
In reply to Here's a prime example of… by mybulova_admin
In reply to Good stuff, also 1969 - '70 by FifthAvenueRes…
In reply to Here's a prime example of… by mybulova_admin
Several theories have been floated about the Bulova Whale through the Years, one being that the Whale indicated a 'SEA KING' model. We now know that isn't so. We also now know that the Whale image, logo, silhouette whatever You want to call it isn't Bulovas' at all. It belongs to the citizens of Sag Harbor in Long Island, NY.
A good question raised in the original post is did Bulova case watches at the Sag Harbor facility or simply produce watch cases there?
Postcard circa 1912
Note sure if we have seen or posted this before, but I've just come across this 2001 article from The New York Times.
Sag Harbor Factory's Toxic Legacy Lingers
Some key statements:
- BUILT in 1881 by the son-in-law of a whaler on the site of a cotton mill built by out-of-work whaling captains, the Bulova Watch Case building once anchored Sag Harbor's industrial economy.
- 1881, when Joseph Fahys, a German immigrant, married a local woman and moved his watch-making business from Queens to Sag Harbor.
- Bulova bought the factory from the Fahys heirs in 1936 and closed its operation there in 1981.
- Watchcase Factory Associates, which bought the building from Bulova for an undisclosed sum, remains the owner.