Here is a head scratcher, got lucky and won this off of the bay yesterday...not in hand yet, but most of the info is in the pictures except the crystal size, which is missing. Most of these old snap-on cushion cases that have the alignment pin are found on early 1920's Elgins, and Walthams, this is the first that I have seen on a Bulova. Case serial would indicate 1922 or 1932, and the movement date stamp would indicate 1931 as far as we know, and maybe the movement serial number will help shed some light to back this up. This looks more like a early 20's watch than a early 30's. Discuss away...
*Update* 9-25-12 Model year changed to 1932
In reply to Missing a wheel? Looks like by Reverend Rob
In reply to Is it under the bridge? by bobbee
On these watches, the centre seconds is a pinion driven in this case by the third wheel, which has a longer arbor you can see sticking up through the jewel. The demand for these came from the Military and soldiers in general. Methinks this is an early unmarked ANC?
In reply to On these watches, the centre by Reverend Rob
In reply to Missing a wheel? Looks like by Reverend Rob
I thought it might be missing a wheel, I compared it to early sweep seconds movements in the database, and seen the difference. That might be the hard part to find for this one.
From looking at the pictures, it looks like the movement is virgin to the case, I see no indicatiion that any other movement has been in this case, it was the unusal case that caught my eye...not your usual Bulova case...
Fantastic watch, Greg. Centre seconds, 1 /5th. Second gradations on the track. Could be a medical or early military style. The case is very similar to early 1920's Elgin cases like you say, but that centre seconds is a real poser. Can't wait for the others to see this.
Lucky find,buddy!
In reply to I almost bid as well. I have by Paleotime