The myBulova.com Panel

Stephen Ollman (mybulova_admin) - Founder of myBulova.com

When looking to buy myself a vintage watch back in 2005 I came across a number of Bulova watches from the late 1920s. One watch in particular that really caught my eye was the 1927 Bulova Lone Eagle. From that moment on I was hooked and I wanted to know more about these amazing watches and the history of Bulova. Whilst searching the web I found there was little to no information out there. I had a light bulb moment and myBulova.com was born.

My passion and knowledge is really focused on the 1920s and 30s watches. I love the art deco style!

I live in Australia with my beautiful wife and three kids.

Geoff Baker - member since November 2010

I am the son of a lifelong watch collector. I have been collecting in earnest since the 1980's. My father blessed me with many of his own attributes, including watch collecting. In addition to three of his pocket watches, I am still in possession of the first Bulova he gave me back in 1974, it’s a 1960 model (STILL UNKNOWN) that I treasure highly and is the root of my current affection for the brand. He and my mother also gifted me a new Caravelle on the occasion of my graduation (no, I don’t and am truly sorry I let it go).  My collection is currently split about half and half with an assortment of NOS (New Old Stock) models from the 1940 through the 1970’s and a variety of ‘gently used’ beauties  from the 1920’s and 30’s. Like most of my peers I buy many more than I sell although I let a dozen or so escape the collection each year.  Currently it contains about 150 watches, about 125 of them Bulova's. What tightens my mainspring? - The styling of the 1920’s and early 30’s along with any and all chronographs. Having found myBulova.com more than 10 years ago I feel right at home with in an eclectic band of collectors who are passionate about advancing the lost history of this wonderful brand AND helping folks around the world learn something about ‘this nice old watch I found……..’.

Plainsmen - member since October 2010

I graduated University  in 1997 with a BS in Criminal Justice.  Since then I’ve worked in Law Enforcement at the local, State, and Federal levels in the USA.  I currently hold an executive level leadership position in a federal law enforcement agency.  When I was in college my father gave me an old Bulova in a box that was his fathers.  He had never seen it run, nor did he know much about it.  I forgot about the watch until 2010.  Having a young son, I decided to find out a bit about this watch so I could let him know about his great-grandfathers watch.  A bit of search on the inter-webs led me to MyBulova.  Although this seemed to be about the only place on the web that had any information, there were huge knowledge gaps in the information/advertisements we had.  Being as my personality is very inquisitive in nature I took this as a personal challenge to find out as much as I could.  I started “investigating” Bulova’s if you will.  In the last three years I’ve poured through hundreds if not thousands of magazines, periodicals, and advertisements.  I’ve helped rediscover a ton of the model names and information of our beloved lost Bulova’s.  I currently buy and sell Bulova’s on the side as a hobby, not really for profit but because I need that steady revolving door to buy new/old Bulova’s!  I’ve been through hundreds of Bulova’s in the last three years.   I quickly found that my Grandfather’s watch was a 1940 Bulova Ranger with the original gold plated band with leather insert!  I’ve since had it refurbished and have been super hooked on these Bulova’s since!  That was what inspired me to keep collecting and serving as a panel member.  It’s that personal connection with a Bulova that first sparked my interest and what I hope will spark for others coming here to look for some information on a loved one’s timepiece.

Reverend Rob - member since November 2011

Jabs - member since 2013

I started collecting watches in 2013 when I bought my first Bulova as a gift for my wife. Finally it happened that my wife got other watches and I started to build a collection. When I saw the collection of other collectors I thought what fools. Now today I have more than 130 watches and I still think that I'm just getting started. So my collection builds and once I stop working for my employer, I would like to spent time restoring some of the watches in my collection. I am 64 years old and from the Czech Republic, the birthplace Joseph Bulova. I have been trying to find some historical information about Joseph, but he emigrated to the USA at an early age and his family did not leave many records behind in Bohemia. Although I am retired, I'm still working as a business developer specialized archiving programs.

Andersok (Ken) - member since 2013

I am a Bulova enthusiast and I enjoy restoring these wonderful watches in my spare time.  I was raised in a family that typically only wore Bulova watches; and although times and watches have changed, I find myself continuing that tradition.  I still possess a couple that have been passed down to me, as well as the first one that I purchased, a 90s Marine Star.  Though I occasionally wear that quartz watch, I have recently developed an interest and a passion for the older mechanical and Accutron Bulovas; which has also driven my dedication and interest in their research and restoration.  My collection is usually temporary and changing (with a few exceptions), as I will often restore and enjoy a watch for some time and then pass it on to a new owner to enjoy.  I tend to focus more on the watches from the 50s through the 70s, but I am also working to expand my knowledge into the earlier decades.  I reside in Virginia, USA, and spent my youth growing up in Illinois. I am a US Navy veteran and currently work as an Accountant for the government.  I look forward to the new postings of Bulova watches by all of the members, and I appreciate the sharing of knowledge this site provides.

Alex – member since June 2015

Like most panel members, there is this one particular Bulova watch that gets you hooked onto the brand. In my case that was the Bulova Theodora, a 14K ladies watch from 1926 with 6 emeralds. I found it in a bucket with hundreds of these tiny 50’s ladies watches, all without straps. I went through this bucket with my hands and let the watches slide through my fingers back in the bucket. And suddenly I had this Bulova in my hands. I had no clue what it was, but I loved it. I always have liked the Art Deco style of the 20’s. And this watch is a fine example of that. In my search to try to identify the watch, I discovered the myBulova website and found out the name: Theodora! I still remember vividly the happiness I felt when I was eye to eye with the ad that identified this particular watch. It started a passion that continues until this day. I am honored to be a panel member now myself and help others in identifying their watch. I am specialized in early ladies Bulova watches from 1922 to around 1930.

neetstuf-4-u (Bob) - member since May 2015

My fascination with mechanical watches started when I was in grade school; they are like living things with a heartbeat. My collection and weakness for Bulovas actually started in 1975, when my Dad gave me his 1968 Oceanographer Snorkel because I needed a good watch, in his words "so I wouldn't be late for work" at my first high school summer job. He loved a good watch and passed that trait to me. I still have it, and it's one of my most cherished possessions, along with his 1953 Omega that he bought in a PX in France.

I've been actively collecting watches since the mid 1980's and currently own around 250 gently worn to New Old Stock watches; about 140 of them are Bulovas. Other brands come and go, the Bulovas are permanent in the collection. The variety of Bulova models is exceptional. Most of my collection ranges from 1940 to 1970 and I'm drawn to unusual case shapes and interesting lug designs.  My wife has been bitten by the "Bulova bug" as well, and actively searches for "ones we don't have". Much to my delight, she has become an enabler and encourages me to buy.

When I found myBulova, it was a magical moment. It amazed me that folks with the same slightly eccentric passion as me actually banded together to compile this amazing research site. I consider it an honor to be included as a panel member to assist others in identifying their treasure and documenting more information about this great brand for future generations of collectors.

Kathy L - member since February 2018

My interest in collecting vintage watches started with my grandmother’s 1932 graduation watch. I started my collection with a couple of 1920's and 30's watches. When I got to the 1940’s I fell in love with Bulova’s elegant styles, especially anything in pink gold.

When I found the myBulova.com website I was thrilled to find a forum with so much information and helpful members. A 1947 Her Excellency “N” was my first vintage Bulova purchase and I was hooked! My primary interest now is in collecting 1940’s and early 50’s ladies watches.

I am honored to be a part of this wonderful community of collectors. I really enjoy trying to help others find an ad to name their heirloom watch or new addition to their collection.

JimDon5822 - member since April 2017

I have always been a watch guy since I received a really cool dive watch packaged in a bottle of water on Christmas in the 1970’s.  I remember it stopped working after about 6 months and I took it apart and ruined the hairspring.  I then inherited my Grandfathers gold Zenith pocket watch which interestingly has the same initials as me since we share the same monogram.  Most of the 80’s was Swatch and Timex for me except for this one year I had a fake Rolex Day Date that I am not proud of.  LOL.  My watch collecting started when I went to a thrift store a few years ago and purchased a 1951 Bulova His Excellency for $0.25.  After that I started going to thrift stores, flea markets and yard sales looking for watches and amassed quite a few great watches and many more non-runners.  On a whim one day I watched “the Watch Repair Changed’ on YouTube and started to repair my hoard of broken watches.   Over the first year I destroyed quite a few hairsprings, lost parts and made mistakes, but now I am getting quite proficient at servicing and repairing my watches.  I am an opportunistic collector as I buy what I can find and in a way I take immense pleasure in finding old broken watches and restoring them. I feel I am giving them second lives and keeping the memories alive of the people that wore them.   I started finding more and more Bulova’s and just loved the large number of styles they came out with each year and now it is the largest brand in my collection.  I am especially fond of personalized engraved watches, military ones and any watch with a story.  My plan is to become a certified watchmaker when I retire which is still a few years off.