Bulova 1936 Evangeline

Submitted by tshanno on April 10, 2020 - 2:43pm
Manufacture Year
1936
Movement Model
6AE
Movement Date Code
Square
Movement Jewels
17
Case Serial No.
6607152
Case shape
Tonneau
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Ladies
Watch Description

I'm really not too sure about this one.  I'm calling it an 1936 Evangeline but the ad doesn't have the filagree on the sides of the bezel. The case is 10 K rolled gold plate, Bulova Fifth Ave New York.  The movement: is a 17 jewel 6AE with a square date code. After failing to cut down the lug attachments for these old watches that Kathy L. so kindly gave me, I just wrapped some gold wire around the permanent lugs.  It doesn't look to bad as long as you don't get too close. Its funny.  I saw 6AE on this movement and I was sure it was a mistake.  95% of the watches in the database that pop up on a search are men's watches.  But sure enough there are a couple ladies watches as well.  Must have been two 6AE movements?

face
side
case back outside
case back inside
movement
Evangeline Ad
neetstuf-4-u
Posted April 10, 2020 - 4:49pm

I think 1936 is a good call. I find one ad dated 1937 that I believe shows your watch as a Vivian.

Full ad here appears to show identical dial and engraving. Here is a single example in the database

https://mybulova.com/watches/1937-vivian-2036

My vote is 1936 Vivian noting difference in jewel count

tshanno
Posted April 10, 2020 - 7:46pm

In reply to by neetstuf-4-u

That's a fantastic find on the ad and I'm open to that identification.  However, I would like to point out an issue that I have.  Here is the Evagaline ad (left), my watch (middle) and the Vivian as (right):

side by side comparison

Notice that the steps on both my watch (middle) and the one in the Evangaline ad (left) come to a point on each side.  The one in the Vivian ad (right) has steps that are flat.  The sides on the watch in the database that you linked to also come to a point and the ad cited there is very similar to this Vivian ad.  The watch in that Vivian ad also has flat sides.  I also can't see the filigree in the Vivian ad very well but it looks like it might be a little different.  I don't think it narrows to a point at the top and bottom.

I think between the slight discrepancy in the shape of the case and the discrepancy in the jewel count, I'm inclined to lean against both watches being Vivians.

Just my two cents.

mybulova_admin
Posted April 11, 2020 - 12:00am

It also looks to me like the Vivina has a slight curve to the sites although that could be the angle. Advert indicates a 15 jewelled movement on the Vivian and a 17 jewelled on the Evangeline.

I'm all in for a 1936 Bulova Ebangeline.

I also think we should update https://mybulova.com/watches/1937-vivian-2036 to be the same.

neetstuf-4-u
Posted April 11, 2020 - 6:32am

Tom and Stephen - I think you are right about Vivian. My search was apparently tainted (and rushed) by the previously named example. After much closer scrutiny, neither appears to be a Vivian (per crystal shape for starters.) Next question is, what is it? Is it an Evangeline with engraving or something else that is an unknown. I know we see mens watches from this time period that are either engraved or unengraved with the same name , so I guess it's possible. I'll follow general consensus on this one and the update.

mybulova_admin
Posted April 11, 2020 - 11:06pm

In reply to by neetstuf-4-u

1936-37 is certainly the time we see models released as non-engraved, engraved, white dial, black dial, white gold, yellow gold....all with differing variant letters. The 1936 American Clipper series is a prime example.

I strongly suspect that the subject watch is a letter variant of the Evangeline.  

Geoff Baker
Posted April 11, 2020 - 10:04pm

Just based on the lug it's Evangeline to me, not Vivian. 1936 Bulova Evangeline