Bulova 1947 Garfield

Submitted by kiloyankee on April 14, 2018 - 12:57am
Manufacture Year
1947
Movement Model
10BC
Movement Date Code
47
Movement Jewels
17
Case Serial No.
7334262
Case shape
Square
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Crystal details
2cm x 2cm
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

This is my father-in-law’s watch.  He piloted B24 Liberators in WWII in the South Pacific.  His plane, the Bird of Paradise, was shot down in early 1945; he broke his back and he and the other survivors were rescued by a PT boat.  He lost three of his crew in the crash, including his best friend and navigator. Jim wore this every day until he died in 2006.  I am curious to know if the Navigator model was made in 1947.

1947 Bulova watch
1947 Bulova watch
1947 Bulova watch
1947 Bulova watch
1947 Bulova watch
Andersok
Posted April 14, 2018 - 9:33pm

Closest match I can find is the American Clipper, but it appears to have a plain bezel, whereas your watch has an engraved bezel.

Geoff Baker
Posted April 15, 2018 - 6:48am

Neat story KiloYankee, I love the family history we hear about the watches and the people who wore them.

I'm with Ken, I just don't see anything to match it to yet but I keep looking, for now....

1947 Bulova Unknown

neetstuf-4-u
Posted April 15, 2018 - 7:50am

No match for me yet either, still looking.

 

Unknown for now.

plainsmen
Posted April 15, 2018 - 12:52pm

Unknown watch for me... though I've seen it a few times.

jabs
Posted April 15, 2018 - 1:06pm

Unknown

kiloyankee
Posted April 17, 2018 - 10:39am

Thanks, everyone.  

 

mybulova_admin
Posted April 21, 2018 - 2:23am

American Clipper is very close, down the matching bent lugs. Time period is spot on to 1946 advert.

American Clipper Bulova watch

plainsmen
Posted April 21, 2018 - 2:32am

I'm good with the American Clipper... via that ad.

neetstuf-4-u
Posted April 21, 2018 - 9:15am

Ad is indeed close. Only question is the engraved case vs. unengraved and what appears to be a stepped case side in the ad.

Geoff Baker
Posted April 21, 2018 - 10:03am

I think the advert shows engraving, and it does appear to step down slightly. In retrospect I'm tentative to the American Clipper as well