Bulova 1923 -Non-Conforming

Thank you for posting your watch.  This certainly looks to be an exact match to the case in the ad for Model #470.   I cannot explain the Elgin on the inside of the case though.   I will have to defer to the other panel members if this is something that was done.   

Unfortunately I don't think we can ID as a complete Bulova model. I'm not aware of Bulova using Elgin cases to house their movements. Case styles of the time were very similar so there is no surprise that it resembles the 470 case.

The movement itself would have been top of the line for the time period and is the first AAI 17 ligne so very rare.

1923 Non-Conforming unless anyone else can show that Bulova did in fact use Elgin cases.

Nice watch! Curious that it is case marked "Elgin", as it appears to be an ad match. There are currently 2 model 470's in the database.

This one is case marked "Cashier AWC Co". (flying wheel)

This one is case marked "BWC Co" (dog bone mark)

I am not well versed in early Bulova pocket watches, is it possible they subcontracted some of their cases for pocket watches during the early to mid 1920's due to the growing popularity of wrist watches in a shift to focusing on the latter? Could this be a Cashier, BWC or unknown maker case that was destined to go to Elgin and got mis-shipped to Bulova, or did Elgin only produce their own cases in house? Was there an affiliation between Cashier or BWC and Elgin? We may never know.

I could go either way on this one. Based on the scarcity, I think I would be fine with an ID of Bulova  470 (for now), based on past identifications and noting this case discrepancy.

Based on ad date, as well as movement signature of "Bulova W. Co", I think 1923 is a good date.

General consensus? 

Beautiful pocket watch but I would have to say Non-Conforming on this one.

Non-Conforming... While Bulova used several different case manufacturers during this time period, Elgin (a major competitor) was not one.

Steve brings up an interesting fact that Elgin Giant watch case company is not affiliated with Elgin.  I therefore think this is another supplier to Bulova.  Based on this I am good with 1923 Bulova Model 470

I am going with Non-Conforming as well. In the 1920's Bulova was not buying watch cases from anyone outside the New York Jewelry District.

Here is a great legal article on this very matter. See the numberous mentions of "Elgin Giant"

Elgin Nat. Watch Co. v. Illinois Watch-Case Co., 89 F. 487 (1898) | Caselaw Access Project

I do not see Bulova using this company to house their movements, but would agree that someone could have married the two to form a completed watch, or perhaps as a replacement for a broken case.