This one is a bit of an enigma. I purchased it from an antiques mall in Summerville SC for $175. Everything I can find about it suggest a 1947 Craftsman or Tuxedo. The inscription on the back reads FROM DAD TO SON - 1943 TO SON - 1968. The band is labeled Speidle. 14k Gold, fairly heavy. Solid gold back with Bulova New York on the inside. Not sure if the band is original. USA Movement. Wants to run, but is in line for servicing.
You are in my neck of the woods! Howdy neighbor. What an awesome double inscription. It is super rare to find a watch with a record of father to son to grandson. What a treasure. Based on this 1946 ad your watch with out the gold mesh bracelet is a
1947 Bulova Craftsman "A". (I believe the watch with a gold mesh bracelet would be a Tuxedo)
In reply to You are in my neck of the… by JimDon5822
Based on the advert above I would agree with the Bulova Craftsmen, but I did just find a advert reference in the 1946 Bulova Annual Report that implies the Tuxedo was also release with a leather strap.
Hands on the subject watch do vary from both adverts.
Great inscriptions on this one, I like it! I am inclined to agree it's a Craftsman.
The band on the watch is likely a replacement installed the second time the watch was gifted. Speidel didn't introduce the "Twist-O-Flex" band until 1959. The new style was referred to as "tank track". Prior to that, expansion bands were "scissor".
1947 Craftsman, noting hand discrepancy with ads.
This being a 1947 model, it would fall under the His Excellency line.
Pre-1947 it would be the solid gold with strap Craftsman 'A' (model# 37174) at $125 (or Tuxedo with the gold mesh band); this strap version model # changed to the His Excellency 'PP' in 1947.
Model numbers/names/variants listed in the 1955 pricelists.
My vote would be for the His Excellency 'PP'
In reply to I tend to agree that the… by V.Scott
Possible date discrepancy explanation: Case and movement both date 1947. Inscription printing all matches, which would seem to indicate it was all done at the same time (in 1968). It's possible that 1943 was a guess based on fading memory or family oral tradition. That makes the most sense.
Example: Dad passes away in 1968 and Mom finds watch in his things. hands it to her son and says "Your father got this from his father in I think 1943 and he wanted you to have it." Son takes it and has it engraved.
In reply to I tend to agree that the… by V.Scott
In reply to The date of 1943 is strange… by JimDon5822