Bulova 1923 -Unknown

Submitted by JimDon5822 on October 10, 2021 - 9:47am
Manufacture Year
1923
Movement Model
10AI
Movement Jewels
15
Movement Serial No.
78443
Case Serial No.
207
Case shape
Cushion
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

I received permission from the seller of this watch to post it on mybulova.com. It appears to be a 1923 military watch with sterling silver hall marked case and a 15j 10AI movement.  It has NO center second hand,  a round dial with radium Arabic numbers and lumed hour and minute Hands. Dating from the ad referenced in this listing as there is no date code that I’m aware of.. Interestingly the Ad specifically markets this watch towards military men, motoring or golf which I think is really cool. I don’t see a model number so do we want to call it an Unknown or 1923 Bulova Military.

1923 Military
1923 Military
1923 Military
1923 Military
1923 Military
1923 Ad
plainsmen
Posted October 13, 2021 - 2:51am

Dec-14-1923-Nevada-State-Journal-p-8

Doesn't name it.. but says it's a military watch.  I also think "descriptor"... I'm at Unknown as well.

Dec-14-1923-Nevada-State-Journal-p-8

JimDon5822
Posted October 13, 2021 - 9:50am

I do find it interesting that a military watch would not have a second hand.  

mybulova_admin
Posted October 13, 2021 - 11:24pm

In reply to by JimDon5822

I rhink it's fair to say that they were not being sold or issued to the military (although maybe they were) and as such probably didn't need to have the second hand function. I also doubt that watches of this era were precise enough as to co-ordinate attacks or movements to the second. You can certainly however see a need for a second hand for medical purposes.

Interesting that Plains advert above also states 'military' in the description. Again this is the main prupose of the 'Military non-issue' model name and to be used when a non-specific model name is available.

Geoff Baker
Posted October 13, 2021 - 9:43pm

At this time I have 3 for Military and 2 for Unknown.

Jim - Ken, votes please?

Alex
Posted October 19, 2021 - 6:06am

I think the reference to "Military" was just a marketing term used to make the concept of a wrist watch palatable for men, still an issue then in 1923. And given the "Bulova W. Co." signature on the movement, it could even be older than 1923. I would go for "unknown".

Reverend Rob
Posted October 19, 2021 - 12:22pm

Unknown for me as well. 'Military' in this case might only be a reference to the fact that it is the larger round style as well as lumed? It was likely popular with service personnel. It was a loosely used descriptor, especially at the time. 

mybulova_admin
Posted October 19, 2021 - 10:38pm

Ok so the consensus is in. Do we therefore need to remove the 'Military non-issue' category from the model list and update the 4 current watches ID'd as such back to unknown?. That would seem the logical thing to do.