Bulova 1931 Allerton

Submitted by FifthAvenueRes… on December 18, 2010 - 11:47am
Manufacture Year
1931
Movement Model
10AN
Movement Jewels
21
Case Serial No.
1087027
Case shape
Stepped
Case color
Yellow
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Hinged Yellow Gold Case measures 36mm lug to lug x 25.5mm wide non inclusive of the Crown using Calipers.  Original Butler finish Dial shows Radium Arabic numerals, Bulova signature is applied Gilt and tracks are printed Black. Hour and Minute Hands are 'Cathedral style' and a Modern style Seconds Hand appears on a sub Dial partially obscuring the 6.  A dust shield and Gold retaining ring appears over the Movement.  Movement block is Gold.  Crown is original.  Caseback is stamped as shown.  * Year of manufacture based on Case seriel number.

1931 Bulova watch
1931 Bulova watch
1931 Bulova watch
1931 Bulova watch
Stephen Ollman
Posted January 3, 2011 - 5:50am

Mark, just confirming the inside back case markings. Its Bulova right?

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted January 3, 2011 - 11:12am

Stephen,

Yes.

Bulova Quality - upper arched.

Pat. Jan 1927 - lower arched.

1087027 - lower arched.

In that order, no indication of case construction.

I have to pick up a couple of watches today from the watchmaker, I'm going to take this in for a closer look at the movement onfo.

mybulova_admin
Posted January 3, 2011 - 6:22am

The Series III LE case I have has a case serial number of 1222170, so I'd say that certainly puts yours prior to the series III.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted January 8, 2011 - 3:18am

admin,

The case is very similar to the Gladiator of the same period, as Wayne mentioned the only stepped case in Bulova's line at the time, apart from the glass opening which Wayne mentioned again is identical to the Lone Eagle III's and the vertical carvings pattern which is identical to the Lone Eagle II.

The watch's design in general is identical to the Lone Eagle III,  minus the horizontal carving enhancement and the vertical pattern difference, which is identified and previously mentioned as Lone Eagle II.

Q: When was the first LE III produced, I'm also wondering if the Gladiator appeared post that date?

It's looking very possible that the Gladiator was transitioned into the Lone Eagle III much like the Conqueror was to the original Lone Eagle prior, even more so if the Gladiator model discontinued production as the Lone Eagle III's began. This unnamed design being the link. 2 + 2

*1/3/2011

Movement is a definately 10AN 21 Jewel 6 adjustments, no serial #, no datecode visible.

Left to Right: 1930 Gladiator - Unknown/Unnamed model - 1931 Lone Eagle.

I do appreciate the wealth of knowledge being shared by the admin and members of the site on this.

ML.

WatchCrystals.net
Posted October 14, 2011 - 3:13am

In reply to by FifthAvenueRes…

And I show the same crystals for BOTH a "Gladiator," and the "LE 3..." (Plus the Allerton and Edwin...)

AND the LE No. 1 and 1st Gladiator  took the same crystals... Perhaps there is ALSO a Gladiator 2 then...  that??? (OK... now that's a S T R E T C H ?!)

 

:-)  Scott

Wayne Hanley
Posted October 15, 2011 - 12:43pm

In reply to by FifthAvenueRes…

Watch on the left is not a Gladiator. Pictured below is the 1930 Gladiator. On the right is a 1931 Lone Eagle III. At a glance the crystals don't look like a match as stated in comment above.  

I also doubt that Bulova would name a watch Atherton in the same group as the Gladiator & Lone Eagle.

 

Wayne Hanley
Posted January 13, 2011 - 1:33am

ML

Left to Right above 1st watch is a Lone Eagle varient with no horizontal bezel markings

This is Bourg01s 1930 Gladiator

Bulova watch

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted January 13, 2011 - 6:09am

In reply to by Wayne Hanley

 

Thanks for pointing that out Wayne, although the Dial / Hand combination on the watch You show would more likely be 1931 or later model as it is inconsistent with the Sept 1930 Bulova ad shown and a 1930 Gladiator on file in the database. 1930 Gladiator would have luminous numerals not raised Gilt. IMO

http://www.mybulova.com/watches/1930-gladiator-791

Back to square one.

Wayne Hanley
Posted January 16, 2011 - 3:32pm

Mark

The Gladiator was only produced in 1930.  In 1930 Bulova provided a choice of dials with luminous numbers & hands, along with several of the same models with applied gold colored numbers. I have a 1930 Sky King with applied gold numbers in the database. Heres is a 1930 Banker with the dressier look. Same thing in 1931, I have a Sky King & a Lone Eagle series III with applied numbers in the data base.  We are learning heaps about Bulova watches. Let's all keep an open mind.

Wayne

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted January 25, 2011 - 6:36am

In reply to by Wayne Hanley

1/25/2011

2nd identical Model found - also a 21J 10AN

Owners description:

THE MOVEMENT HAVE ENGRAVE BULOVA WATCH CO. [10AN] 21 JEWELS, 6 ADJ, INSIDE  THE CASE  HAVE ENGRAVE BULOVA QUALITY PAT. JAN 11 1927. SERIAL CASE 1250460