Can myBulova.com help Bulova?

Submitted by mybulova_admin on February 13, 2013 - 6:35am

Can Bulova help myBulova.com?

I've recently been in contact with staff from Bulova's Social Team who are keen to collaborate with myBulova.com members to see how we can help one another to further enhance the unique passion and commitment to this wonderful watch brand.

Bulova have a rich history of being innovators and have always looked forward for ways to better their product. But as we all know they also have an amazing history and as we here at myBulova.com tend to be looking backwards I'm hoping that together we can help one another complete the circle...Bulova's Past, Present and Future.

I invite myBulova.com members to post their thoughts and ideas on what we can do in collaboration with Bulova to help make this happen.

Please post below any comments you'd like me to put forward when I next talk to Bulova. I'm really looking forward to hearing what you have to say, as I'm sure are Bulova.

Stephen.
myBulova_admin

mybulova_admin
Posted February 13, 2013 - 6:42am
  1. I'll kick off by saying that it would be great to seek access to any of Bulova's archival stores and to have a contact in this area. We know that limited information exists and it would really help us with the work that we do here if we had better access to that information.
  2. A stronger focus on the rich diverse history showcased on their main website. Expand on the timeline idea that they currently have.  Grow the appreciation for Bulova's amazing history.
  3. Continued re-releases of popular vintage modules simialr to the Astronaut, Spaceview and Lone Eagle models.
bobbee
Posted February 13, 2013 - 8:25am

Do they have a link on their site to myBulova.com?

They could tell anyone who asks about their vintage watch to come here if they lack any substantial answers, we are only too happy to help.

JP
Posted February 13, 2013 - 3:33pm

Great ideas all. It would be nice if we could get a list of the living instructors from the school and a possible introduction to them or their survivors. Larry, the instructor I have a connection with tells me that in most cases if the instructor has passed on, his heirs have either kept or sold the materials their beloved left behind and in most cases those survivors would be willing to pass along the names of the people who purchased the materials or if they still have the stuff they are generally willing to share it with an organization such as ours which exixts not for financial gain but the perpetuation of the great name of Bulova. Just a thought.

William Smith
Posted February 13, 2013 - 4:24pm

It's great Bulova is listening and talking about these possibilities. The brand recognition must surly be strengthened by past success, and any efforts to help clear up some of the past would certainly help with their bottom line in future Bulova watches - be they "Citizens" or not.  
1. Updated timeline would be a great suggestion.
2. Possible collaboration with someone at Bulova -someone from the "Social Team" or in their archives dept- or the formation of a position of archivist based on this rich (lost) history more so than it's impact on future sales boosts.  Then someone in marketing could take the spin on the "history" and apply it to current/future sales & marketing.  This would certainly make since to Bulova IMO.  It seems it could warrant a full time position for only the lost history part-or allocation of half time for an existing "Social Team" employee.
3. JP's suggestions are good, and are in line with Admin's #1 "kickoff suggestion" above. If someone could contact previous "Bulova school" graduates or older Bulova distributors/jewelers, the history could be enriched by their knowledge- even if this knowledge came out of boxes of "Bulova stuff" in their heirs basement.  There may be a problem with providing this contact info to us/others- a breach of confidentiality- but perhaps Bulova could start the communication w/o giving the info out. They if they get a reply, they can ask about putting "the three of us" in contact with each other.
4.  A request to gain access to some of their present "archival stuff".  Like when OT and Lisa got in touch with the Bulova employee who scanned in a few watches from their old catalogs they had on hand- and that info helped clear up some misconceptions we had at the time.  The first step in getting this info into a "sharable format" would be suggesting Bulova scan these documents into PDF's for portability.

Thanks for starting this thread Admin.  I love collaboration....and there exists all these potential sources we have not yet tapped. Sources which could be tapped for the common good of Bulova.   

Richard Callamaras
Posted February 15, 2013 - 2:22am

I know the manager of the only Bulova store in Lancaster PA. Hehasrecently told me that Bulova is currently trying patent there own movements again with hopes to push themselves forward in the luxury watch segment. This is why they have done the remakes. to stir some of its past success into the present day. I am currently working with him to get a section of the store to represent the vintage line. It does not shock me that they are interested. I think this is an amazing opportunity for all of us and I agree with Will especially with point #4. Can be great opportunity for Stephen to get some answers and access. together I believe we can piece together the past so that we can build a future for bulova built on a stronger foundation of its rich history. I also believe that is what they want. There new lines are incredibly beautiful and some of there most popular lines have strong design cues to there 1920 thru 1950 lines. We both have a lot to gain. I would be willing to help in any way with having such a close proximity.

mybulova_admin
Posted February 15, 2013 - 2:44am

In reply to by Richard Callamaras

Thanks Richard, I too am hoping to talk to my local Canberra dealer of Bulova watches here in Australian, to see if they would like to put together a vintage showcase in their shopfront window. I can only see this as benefitial to both the jeweler (to attract the attention of passers-by) and to help promote Bulova's fine history. I'll let everyone know how I go. I've got plenty of items they can use as a showcase.

Richard Callamaras
Posted February 15, 2013 - 9:05am

The store I am speaking of is a corporate bulova owned and operated site. the only one outside of new York. It is not a jeweler or watchmaker shop. a corporate officer from bulova New York funnels unsold watches and buy backs from jewellers to this single unit to be sold at practically cost. So the person who works at the shop is a Bulova employee. The good news is they are the ones considering painting a time line and pushing that needle. He approached me to set up the display. last year patched a very large number of accutron including some of the new remakes that I I matching to the originals. so they want to put the original alpha spaceview next to the old, etc....Bulovas only concern was insurance for my product. I told them I would sign a waiver if necessary, so they are trying push that too corporate now. I obviously only have 5 items to display but they seem excited all the same. I was shocked that they were not able to provide the original items themselves. if true it seems they lost more than records of there past. good luck and I too well let you know if anything materials with the display. whether they use my watches or not. exciting to know corporate is trying to resurrect the glory days!

Richard Callamaras
Posted February 15, 2013 - 9:22am

Iwant to thank JP for fixing up my recent acquisitions for display, and Will for giving me the opportunity to locate a few more pieces to complete the sets. This site and all of its members are extremely dedicated, knowledgeable and committed to the cause. but better yet, you are all willing to freely share your talents and knowledge to help a new collector like myself. Thank you Stephen for all of your hard work and sacrifice as well. I am shocked at how quick you respond and how much effort has been put into making this site the greatest compendium of Bulova watches ads and forums in the world. As my knowledge, collection and abilities grow I look forward to paying this wonderful community of collectors back in any way I can. If there is anything I can do currently please do not hesitate to ask. Thank you all!

mybulova_admin
Posted February 15, 2013 - 5:49pm

Richard, I hope for Bulova's sake, they take you up on your wonderful offer and I for one look forwrad to seeing pictures of the display if it happens.

If I can help in any way please don't hesitate to ask.

Best of luck and thank you for your kind words.

bobbee
Posted February 15, 2013 - 6:43pm

Ditto!

Good luck Richard.

William Smith
Posted February 15, 2013 - 6:46pm

I'd been talking to Richard about this possible display at a Bulova-ran business.  He had wanted to buy a few Lone Eagle series watches and boxes to use in the display...  I always say "I'm gonna sell one of these, since I have a couple..." but I never seem to end up selling.

I'd be willing to send a few of my watches to be displayed.  I sent part of my Lone Eagle collection to display in a hotel in Maui (part of some aviation/Lindbergh dispaly they were doing), and the hotel said they had insurnace for the watches.  It went off without a hitch.  

Richard, keep me posted, as if I don't sell, I may loan for display.

Stephen et. al., Bulova Company reports. Both those generated for the shareholders since the company was publically traded (mid 1920's???) through the transition to Lowes.  There shoudl be internal reports which were used by Bulova but not necessarily supplied to shareholders.  These would be useful too.  I found a snippet of one company report to shareholders from 1930.  It's posted somewhere on site.  I've seen there are other reporst "out there", and while Bulova may have lost some records like old matt ads and model ID's etc... I bet these Company reports were not lost.  There's places that these things have to be filed and archived for some period of time, and that government "office" must archive old reports from now-defunct compaines too.  I saw an snippet of a table of contents from one of these reports, and there were subsections on past, present and future marketing....and you know what they were marketing? - models with known names, or proposed future model series with proposed names......

mybulova_admin
Posted February 15, 2013 - 7:30pm

myBulova.com members exhibition showcasing ineresting items from their collection. possibly held in one of Bulova's dealer NYC stores.

William Smith
Posted February 15, 2013 - 7:47pm

....and the NAWCC in PA is constantly looking for "period displays" or "featured watches" displays in their museum.  I've talked to them about this possibility.  They have interest. A "display idea" is presented to the museum, and if there's interest, they give approximate dates when they may take the display.  ...and I'm pretty sure things done there are somehow insured :).  

Problems/barriers do exist:  1. enought watches which warrent a fairly unified-theme display 2. getting them there and set up.  3. getting them sent back to the lenders once the display runs its alloted timeslot.

Seems like if there were a display at the venue Richard mentions- Lancaster PA, perhaps it could travel on to NAWCC museum for a while, before the watches make their way back home. A lot of "trust" involved in something like this, but there's a lot of folks I trust to undertake these possibilities...
Both places are in PA and I'm in Hawaii....but we know folks in PA- like Richard and others.....:)

Reverend Rob
Posted February 15, 2013 - 9:09pm

I am a Bulova dealer, although I do not have retail access to the main watch line. (the jeweller in town is the watch store) I sell their clocks and Harley Davidson watches. In my displays, I have vintage Bulovas alongside the newer watches. Right now, I only have a couple of models, but I'm trying to present a timeline to show the past and present. Most of the clocks and watches in my shop are vintage and antique. My original contact with my rep was to set up as a Bulova repair centre, but so far I'm still working on that as a sideline. There does seem to be an increasing interest in the watches Bulova currently sells which have elements of past designs, like the Stratfords. I'll get a few pics to show what I'm up to. 

I think it's encouraging that the company is interested in linking past and present with an eye to the future. An in house movement would go a long way to re-establishing the brand as a modern and innovative force in the industry. 

Geoff Baker
Posted February 16, 2013 - 9:46am

 

What can we do for them? - really only help them connect to their past as we have a great deal of it in our collections and in this data base. If they want to see some stunning examples of their past, this is the place to come. If they wanted to 'advertise' their deep history or expand it in photos they could make available to the public, they would need to start right here, at myBulova.com

What can they do for us? Quite a bit I expect. They could provide us with a resource who was historically minded. Someone in their organization that could hunt stuff down or look in the back cupboards or the basement. Someone from the repair department that might come up with old stuff. Someone who could contact their old school dealer network to find out if they have any Ephemera (old catalogs, price books, ad copy etc). Someone who could contact their advertising agency to see if THEY have any old ad copy. And most of all, a dedicated resource within their organization to whom we could reach out if WE had a question. I know they have stuff we want, I really think they do, we just haven't found that right person yet to ferret it out for us.

bulova.fan@phil
Posted February 8, 2017 - 12:33am

I don't know if the recent curved quartz movement and the Precisionist sweeping quartz are steps in the right direction, but it is an interesting development nonetheless. 

 

I hope Bulova will continue to explore re-issuing its iconic models from the late 20s and 30s, albeit with more modern watch proportions.  An innovation in the movement, say, manual wind with extended power reserve, would be a definite selling point for me. 

 

Reverend Rob
Posted February 8, 2017 - 1:03am

My customers are very keen to see in house movts return to a lot of the watch brands that originally had them, and also as a step forward to those brands that didn't. 

While the Precisionist line is impressive, and the Curved series doubly so, (the only improvement in quartz technology in many years) these watches scratch the surface of what could be the renaissance of Bulova. The older models, especially the iconic and well known ones, are timeless and make a fitting vanguard to build upon as the company moves forward with re-issues and modern versions of watches like the Snorkel and the Moon Watch.

It is possible that Bulova was restricted from tooting their own horn as to their contributions to Space travel, as this has always puzzled me. Accutron was on the dashboards of those first planes and spacecraft, and Commander Scott's watch is the most famous Moon watch you likely have never heard of in the MSM.

I wear my Moon watch constantly, and it never fails to garner attention.

If there is anything we can do to help, Bulova need look no further, and let's keep this thread up to date with any news.

mybulova_admin
Posted February 9, 2017 - 9:19pm

There are plans afoot to build a museum to celebrate the history of this great watch company. Stay tuned...

Mindless
Posted February 14, 2017 - 8:08pm

I would try to visit it. It'd be nice if they had a traveling exhibit.