Bulova 1937 President

Submitted by Wangbow on June 3, 2015 - 9:28pm
Manufacture Year
1937
Movement Model
6AE
Movement Date Code
Arrow
Movement Jewels
21
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
7138811
Case shape
Rectangle
Case color
Yellow
Crystal details
Thin curved glass
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

21 jewel 6AE USA movement with arrow date stamp. Case has very thin scroll work to the left and right of crystal. Case is gold filled and slightly curved. Inside case back reads Bulova New York. Case back reads the serial numbers between the bottom lugs and B-10K Gold Filled between the upper lugs. Band is a Benrus expandable 1/20-10k GF w/ stainless steel bottoms. Research led me to two contenders; Treasurer or President. I'm leaning towards President because of the 21 jewel movement. Update: Case length to ends of lugs: 1 3/4" approx 44.45mm Case width: 3/4" approx 19.05mm Crystal length: 1" approx 25.4mm Crystal width: 9/16" approx 14.29mm

1937 Bulova President
1937 Bulova watch
1937 Bulova watch
1937 Bulova watch
Bulova Watch
Wangbow
Posted June 9, 2015 - 2:17pm

I have reviewed all the partial ads from the 30s on here and looking at all the era Treasurers, I have not seen any mention of a 21j Treasurer. When comparing this watch to all the other Treasurers on this site, there is a distinctive thin rectangle that can be seen on all Treasurer dials (except the one with a re-dial) that borders the exterior of the hours markers. This can also be seen in the ad posted by Admin. The watch above watch features an incompelete rectangle that would bisect the hour hands if it was complete.

Size is not a match for this Treasurer model, http://www.mybulova.com/watches/1936-treasurer-5172

But could be a size match for this model, http://www.mybulova.com/watches/1936-treasurer-2305

The measurements I took were with a measuring tape in inches, which is the only means I have to measure at this time.

bobbee
Posted June 9, 2015 - 3:58pm

President cases average 45 mm.

President, unknown variant.

mybulova_admin
Posted June 10, 2015 - 6:51am

Which is more plausable? A dial swap or a movement swap.

I'm tentative Treasurer based on a perfect match for the dial and case. I think that the dial is the telling factor. (my opinion)

William Smith
Posted June 12, 2015 - 1:18am

In reply to by mybulova_admin

I think the owner compared case measurement of this watch to a known Treasurer watch in database, and said its not a size match.  
If we have a match to size of President....well.... 
Agree it's treasurer dial match, and case looks same, but if measurements are not Treasurer....

bobbee
Posted June 12, 2015 - 3:43am

In reply to by William Smith

[quote=William Smith]

I think the owner compared case measurement of this watch to a known Treasurer watch in database, and said its not a size match.  
If we have a match to size of President....well.... 
Agree it's treasurer dial match, and case looks same, but if measurements are not Treasurer....

[/quote]

 

It's not an exact match for the dial. The OP posted a pic showing that the line around the outside of the numbers on the Treasurer in ads/watch db actually intersects the numbers on his dial.

 

EDIT- Could this actually be a wrongly refinished President dial, using a Treasurer template?

That would account for both the similarity AND the position of the outer line, along with the fact that this line is only partial, and is poorly positioned in places. Bulova wouldn't let one through where the inner track touches the marker batons on one side, and the outer line touches the markers at the top.

 

 

President with (wrong) dial refinish.

William Smith
Posted June 12, 2015 - 4:04pm

In reply to by bobbee

I had looked for those notches which Rev Rob and others noted are often placed on dials when refinished.  Don't remember if they were placed on all redials, or if they were notched on back of dial.  
Agreed with the track fit of dial not being something Bulova would release Point of Sale.

Geoff Baker
Posted June 10, 2015 - 7:40am

President - JP, Will, Bob, Ken & Geoff

Treasurer - Stephen & Jaroslav

Panel members?

edited 6/13/15

Andersok
Posted June 11, 2015 - 7:21am

In reply to by Geoff Baker

I would be inclined to go with President for this one; though we don't have an exact match to any ad, it most resembles the characteristics of the Presidents. Tentative Pres