21 Jewel 8 Adjustments Bulova AAI Movement. Model 470 ? 14k White Gold filled, Elgin Giant double stock case. Not sure of the year, movement has a triangle with 20 inside.
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?
In reply to Nice watch! Curious that it… by neetstuf-4-u
I just found out that 'Elgin Giant Watch Case Co.' was a name used by the Illinois watch Case Co. and that neither was connected with Elgin Watch Co.
Info came from this link https://mb.nawcc.org/wiki/Encyclopedia-Subjects/American-Pocket-Watches…
Steve
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.