Bulova 1954 -Unknown

Submitted by donegd on January 28, 2015 - 9:18am
Manufacture Year
1954
Movement Model
10CSC
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
7447231
Case shape
Round
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Hi All  just received this watch today. I have looked through db but cant find a match. The movement is a selfwinding automatic . Marked L4 for 1954 it is a 10CSC 17J unadjusted. There is no markings on the inside of the case denoting,  gold / gold filled etc. the outside of the case is marked with the number 7447231 (which I presume makes the watch a 1957 model). Bulova , St/Steel back, Water tite , with stars either side, Self Winding, Shock Proof, Anti Magnetic. The case is 30.5mm in dia. excluding the crown.  The case has a seperate outer ring which screws onto the bezel and seals the back.  Would appreciate anyones assistance in helping to identify this watch   thanks George

Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova Watch
Reverend Rob
Posted January 29, 2015 - 3:51pm

Andersok's refererence to a '59 looks like a match to me, so I'm inclined to say American Clipper.

Geoff Baker
Posted January 29, 2015 - 8:07pm

It is a two year difference from the subject 1957 to a 1959 advert. I can live with that,

American Clipper

Andersok
Posted January 29, 2015 - 8:46pm

In reply to by Geoff Baker

Geoff, the watch is marked L4 for both case and movement; should be updated to 1954

mybulova_admin
Posted January 30, 2015 - 11:05pm

 

Both case and movement seem to be coded with L4 (1954)

Geoff Baker
Posted January 31, 2015 - 6:29am

Gosh, what was I thinking? Now that we've established the correct age of the watch, I hereby retract the American Clipper ID I suggested earlier. I am not OK with an ID for a '54 from a '59 ad. If we have no match to an advert (and I didn't find one either) it's Unknown.

PS - George, after the date code switch to Letter/Number we no longer use serial for cases, our theory breaks down at that point. I also updated the date of this one.

Reverend Rob
Posted January 31, 2015 - 10:24am

The difference bewteen the movt date and case date may suggest a swap, but I still think it looks like an American Clipper. Is there no date code on the case back?

William Smith
Posted January 31, 2015 - 6:08pm

Yea I guess Unknown or a much-earlier than advertised (tentative) Am Clipper ('54 watch vs '59 ad).  The price lists suggest no Am Clipper in 1954, so I'm inclined to lean towards unknown, or maybe the owner at some time had a diff dial placed on this '54 case and '54 movement.  Sure has the other case hallmarks consistent w/ Clipper though.

1955mercury
Posted February 3, 2015 - 2:34pm

Lisa has this 1952 model that looks the same to me. She has it titled as "Unknown". This makes me think that it is an original Bulova. But I can't find an ad to identify it.

mybulova_admin
Posted February 4, 2015 - 5:12am

The American Clipper looks to be a good match as pointed out by Geoff., but  I cannot find a reference to it in the 1954/55 price guide. There is the Clipper and Yankee Clipper.

Unknown for me as there are still a few models in the price guides that we have not yet identified.