Bulova 1941 Lieutenant

Submitted by WatchCrystals.net on October 24, 2010 - 3:19am
Manufacture Year
1941
Movement Model
unknown
Movement Jewels
15
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
-
Case shape
Cushion
Case color
Yellow
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

The LIEUTENANT was actually released PRIOR TO the WWII war declaration by the US, following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, on Dec. 7th, 1941... This model first appeared in the BB crystal catalog, in 1942... However I also have the illustration from a May of 1941 vintage ad. (Crops illustrated below...) It is most likely a 10 kt. RGF (Rose Gold Filled) case, and has 15 Jewels...

Interestingly, the namesake was apparently either changed in 1942/3 to the "RANGER?" Or more likely an additional model(s) were added to the roster??? Both sported 15J movements and the Ranger also came in the YGF case option... (THANKS :-) Jerin!)

 

Best  :-)  William

Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova watch
plainsmen
Posted February 6, 2011 - 6:35pm

Intrestingly enough... I just found this 1943 ad for the Ranger....

mybulova_admin
Posted February 6, 2011 - 6:48pm

Notice the ever so slight difference in the lugs.

NOVA
Posted April 23, 2011 - 2:43pm

In reply to by mybulova_admin

According to the ads, the Ranger and the Lieutenant are the same case, just different metal color (Lieutenant is rose gold, Ranger is yellow).  The ads explicity state that they are the same.

plainsmen
Posted February 6, 2011 - 6:52pm

Yeah... the real watch looks closer to the later ad with the roundier lugs than the sharp points of the leuitentant heh....

WatchCrystals.net
Posted March 6, 2011 - 1:35pm

Interesting... This is then likely a model name (and movement?) progression... from the 1941 "Lieutenant," to the '43 (?) "Ranger?" Then onto the "Cadet," perhaps?? And then, there's the Bruce..." and maybe even other/s??? LOL...

I also just noticed that the 15J YGF (Engraved) watch I have here... has the same relief detail on the sides of the lugs... It looks like what Phlip currently has up on eBay, as a (1949?) RGF "Lieutenant..." but rather with a (an otherwise) PLAIN vs. ENGRAVED bezel, as par!

Hmmm... Don't see mention of a "Lieutenant" in the 1949 Perfit, nor the '50 BB catalogs... so it's likely either a "BRUCE," or perhaps a "CADET" from 1949 manufacture, with the fancier lug motifs???

 

 

:-)  Scott

opuslife
Posted April 23, 2011 - 2:22pm

In reply to by WatchCrystals.net

 Sorry - newbie here. Been going crazy trying to identify my Bulova, then I saw that in Scott's last post, that the last photo looks virtually indentical to mine (See Below).  It's a 10BT 15J movement. Can anyone that knows (Scott?) shed some light on this? Either here, or drop me an email note? ( [email protected] ) Thanks  (here it is) :