Bulova 1945 Cadet

Submitted by Bob Bruno on March 22, 2010 - 12:13pm
Manufacture Year
1945
Movement Model
10BC
Movement Date Code
Triangle
Movement Jewels
15
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
5293019
Case shape
Tonneau
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

After seeing the 1944 Montgomery Ward ad listed on this site, I've decided to change the model from Aviator to Cadet. This is the most conclusive proof I've seen as to which model this is. Thanks to Jerin for providing the ad and Stephen for posting it.  NOTE: The dial on this watch has been refinished and the numbers on the sub dial were left off by the refinishing CO. This seems to have added to the confusion as to the model of the watch.      Confirmed with 1944 Montgomery Ward ad

 

Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova Watch
Bulova Watch
Stephen Ollman
Posted September 26, 2010 - 5:34am

In reply to by Bob Bruno

Hmmmm, this confusses things even more. I'm almost 99% sure the movement is 1945 as the 10BC seems to have been used from 1944 onwards, as all the records I have and all the 10BCs on ebay show 1944 to 1950 date stamps.

10BC movements I have seen and recorded: 1944 = circle, 1945 = triangle, 1946 = 46, 1947 = 47, 1948 = 48, 1949 = J9.

I do think that the '7' on the dial holds the key to the model.

Bob, I didn't realise you have a Hamilton Piping Rock!!! A dream watch of mine....very nice.

Bob Bruno
Posted September 26, 2010 - 9:03am

In reply to by Stephen Ollman

Stephen,  Even though Bulova and Lord Elgin is my favorite brand, the Piping Rock is the pride of my collection. I got a good deal  and the watch is in excellent condition. I just couldn't pass it up.

Bob

rsmith
Posted September 25, 2010 - 11:10am

In reply to by Stephen Ollman

What a mystery. If mine was 1949 then won't it have a 2 character code stamped on the back? Mine is still out getting cleaned up but as I recall there is only a serial number on the back. Is there any way of relating the serial numbers to a particular year?

Rick

Bob Bruno
Posted September 25, 2010 - 11:29am

In reply to by rsmith

Rick, I'm not sure about this but I think the case s/n was only used for inventory purposes.

Bob

Stephen Ollman
Posted September 26, 2010 - 5:38am

rsmith - your movement is date stamped J9 which indicated to me 1949. I'd say that Bulova transitioned betwen the date shapes and the 2 digit date codes from 1946 onwards.

Bob - I tend to agree, whilst the movments were often made off shore is Switzerland (by Bulova still) the cases were made in the US. Whilst I don't find a great deal of correlation between serial number and date of release I do see it more with the model of the watch.

GVP
Posted September 26, 2010 - 9:04am

The 10BC movement was definately not made in 1935. If it was a 1935 model it would have a 10an/10ae movement. The 10bc was in production from around 1943 onwards.  I would say this watch is definately a 1945 model. 

Is it not an Aviator? The dial certainly is the one used in the Aviator rather than the Cadet. Could it be that the Cadet case has been used to house the Aviator Dial/Movement which has been switched at some stage?

Bob Bruno
Posted September 26, 2010 - 9:22am

In reply to by GVP

G J Watches,  Thanks for joining the conversation. I reluctantly agree with you and Stephen that the watch is a 1945 model. I really wanted the WWII story to be true. The Aviator hmmmm. Another leed to follow. Did you see the ad from 1946 that Stephen posted ?  He thinks the model name starts with CAMB or CAMD. The only thing I can come up with Cambridge or Camden , but no such model exists on a google search. Thanks again for your input.

Bob

Bob Bruno
Posted September 26, 2010 - 9:43am

Just looked at the two 45 Aviators on this sight. Both have a 10AK movement rather than  the 10BC that are used in our mystery watch. Our watch has tear drop lugs, the Aviator dosen't. The bezel on our watch is engraved with some sort of black inlay, the bezel on the Aviator is smooth, and finally that darn number 7 is different. I think we can rule out the Aviator.

Bob

 

GVP
Posted September 26, 2010 - 3:22pm

In reply to by Bob Bruno

Hi

I can also only come up with the model range "Cambridge", If anyone has the 1952 G-s Crystal Catalogue the Cambridge A model has a crystal on pg24 cx873 (x873) although i think this will be a rectangular style. Thats not to say that the Cambridge doesn't have a B,C D E etc though

rsmith
Posted September 26, 2010 - 8:50pm

In reply to by Bob Bruno

Here is a link to an expired ebay auction listing what they call a 1949 Aviator. It has the 10BC 15 j movement and a stamped date code of "A9" (I'm assuming its a stamp on the back of the case and not the one on the movement). Looks like our mystery watch. Looks like it has a replacement strap on it as I believe mine has the original expansion bracelet. When I get mine back this week I'll check to see if there is an A9 (or any other date code) stamp on the back of the case.

Rick