Please help ID my Grandfather's Watch

Submitted by bparent45 on November 21, 2011 - 10:17am

 

I hope that someone can help me ID this watch.  It was given to my Grandfather by my Grandmother for Christmas in 1930.  After my grandparents passed, my mother got the watch and put the non-authentic band on it.  This watch has great sentimental value to me, so I do not intend to sell it; I would just like to get the genealogy of it, have the second hand repaired, new authentic band, and have it cleaned.

I did a little bit of research and found that the case is identical to a 1930 President but the face and hands are different.

I hope someone can help me out!

Thanks!

 

The second hand has come loose and is wedged between the face and crystal.

Above the SN, there is some faint hand etching.  the best I can make out it is "SU198OH" , can anyone do any better?  Is this normal?

It is faint, but there is some hand etching above the SN-I think it is "SU198OH" is this normal?

Sorry I couldn't get a better picture, the camera wouldn't focus

 

 

OldTicker
Posted November 21, 2011 - 12:12pm

It case looks like the 2 1930 President's that are in the database, the hands may have been replaced at one time or it may be a dial variant that seems to be quite common on many '30 era watches.

The date code on the movement looks like a shield (red circle) which would place the year of manufacture at 1929, and the movement model is a 9AF (blue square).

If you can read the serial number to the right of the movement model that might help confirm it.

There are many watchmaker members here that can help you with any restoration you may need, the tough part will be finding a correct band.

Greg

shooter144
Posted November 21, 2011 - 12:33pm

In reply to by OldTicker

Ive seen a few ladder type bands on the bay lately, correct-ish at least...cant remember if any were white gold fill or white rolled gold plate tho...

shooter144
Posted November 21, 2011 - 12:32pm

The hand scribed info inside the case is a watchmakers service mark, it tells ( in code of some sort) what he did and when. The seconds hand is a simple fix, you could easily do yourself or if your not comfortable, a watchmaker would do for next to nothing, if not for nothing lol. If you have some small tipped tweezers, you can lift the movement out of the case by holding the crown ( winding piece ) and gently work the movement out of the case. Do this over a clean no pile sheet (white preferable) or something similar so you can find the secs hand if it falls out. Hold the movement by its edges and use the tweezers to GENTLY grasp the secs hand ( do not sqeeze hard at all, jusrt enough to grasp it or it will go flying) and set it into the hole in the dial where the secs markers are below the six. There is a very small pipe sticking up that the secs hand tube needs to be placed over, GENTLY. Then just gently replace the movement and dial back into the case as it came out.

It is not difficult, but it is intimidating due to the smallness of the parts and general delicacy of vintage watches, and like I said a watchmaker would do this for you very cheaply if not for free.

 

 

 

 

 

Wayne Hanley
Posted November 21, 2011 - 11:18pm

It is an authentic 1930 president. The dial is what we call a varient. In 1929 many Bulova watches came with varient dials. What confuses some folks is that it doesn't match the ad. During this time the U.S.A & the entire world was in the great depression. Bulova chose to advertise the watches with the luminous dials & luminous hands.

This is the first 1930 President I have seen with a 9AF movement. What is the jewel count?

I am also looking for a band for my 1925 & 1930 President & I expect to find one eventually, so just hang in there.