I just found this forum today, and already I think it has helped me identify my mystery Bulova. I have had this watch for almost 10 years-- I think I paid $29 for it on eBay! It has served me well up until just recently-- it is running and stopping. Anyhow, based on the info here, I believe it is a 1931 Lone Eagle. Interestingly, it has a 10AN movement that is 21 Jewels-- in my limited experience, the only one I have seen. Anybody else out there have a 21J 10AN? The hands are obviously wrong-- I know because I put them on! Anybody know of a source for accurate ones?
Here's pix:
The hour hand is correct..but I can't really see the end of the minute hand. If its a longer version of the hour hand then it too is correct.
There are 2 versions of this 3rd series. (see them here) This one and another that has raised gold numbers and small gold hands.
Bulova started to produce 21J 10ANs around 1935.
In reply to Welcome aboard gnemersma! I by Wayne Hanley
Hah, they are indeed as rare as hens teeth.
Currently I only have 1 hour hand and am myself hoping to find a stach as I also need a minute hand to bring a 1929 Ambassador back to life.
You'll also note that on this version in question the 'cathederal' hour hand is a stumpy version.
In reply to Hah, they are indeed as rare by Stephen Ollman
For the OP running and stopping is cured by a simple cleaning of the movement. Take the watch to a reputable watchmaker.
A tad of info I recently learned from a horologist that may help in the hunt for hands. Parts of this era were packaged in off white or almost light Yellow packages. Not the Blues and Pinks or bright Whites commonly seen on ebay, those parts were packaged in the late 30's '40's and on. I almost rolled the dice on a 100 package mixed lot of 'vintage' Bulova hands, with hope lol, until the Seller passed on this morsel of knowledge. Happy hunting!
In reply to For the OP running and by FifthAvenueRes…
Thanks for the information and the greetings! 1935 for 21J 10AN's -- I wonder if this is a "Frankenbulova" of some sort-- Was this particular case design produced beyond 1931?
About the hands-- the ones that were on it when I got it were ugly, stick- straight things that just looked, well, wrong. I picked up a $20 non-running women's round-face Bulova off eBay (also a 10AN-- I'll have to finish looking through this website to try to figure out what it is) and used the hands from it. Having absolutely no training in watch work, and demonstrating a phenomenal lack of common sense, I failed to consider the fact that a round watch face has much more clearance at the three and the nine, and consequently broke the end off of the too long minute hand whilst setting the watch...