Bulova 1941 Surgeon

Submitted by cko on December 2, 2010 - 1:10am
Manufacture Year
1941
Movement Model
10AX
Movement Date Code
Asterisk
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
1512041
Case shape
Square
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

 I would like to know more about this watch. It belonged to my grandfather. There are some additional numbers etched into the inside of the case. Not sure what these mean. The best I can make out, they read 0178461-F with 3-05 underneath that. And 44012 underneath the stamped Bulova lettering. 

Bulova watch
Bulova watch
WatchCrystals.net
Posted December 2, 2010 - 1:36am

The BULOVA "SURGEON..."

And let me know if you need a new crystal???

 

My Best  :-)

William

WatchCrystals.net
Posted December 5, 2010 - 4:12am

In reply to by cko

CKO,

 

I actually don't sell parts, aside from crystals... The second hands are red, blue, or black, from what I've seen to date. (Generally RED...)

 

Best :-)  Scott

plainsmen
Posted December 2, 2010 - 11:25am

Hey CKO.... as William said, it's a Bulova Surgeon also known as the "Doctor's Watch".  It was one of the first ones to have a large second's hand.  It's called the Surgeon aka Doctor because it was mainly targeted towards physician's and hospital staff needing the large second's hand for timing a pulse I assume.

Here's a link I started about them.  There are a few variants.....

www.mybulova.com/node/784

Great watch to have from your grandfather!  One of the more rare Bulova watches, but priceless for you I'm assuming.  That's actually how I started looking at these old Bulova's... my grandfathers watch passed to me was a 1940 Bulova Banker....

cko
Posted December 5, 2010 - 3:48am

In reply to by plainsmen

 Plainsmen, thanks for the info. It is exciting to learn more about this watch. I looked at the link you provided. Do you think that the leather band is what this watch would have come with originally? Now I realize that I'm missing the second hand. Otherwise, it works great and I wear it daily. For me, it serves as a connection to the past, which in my view is more and more important in this digitized world.

plainsmen
Posted December 5, 2010 - 3:53am

In reply to by cko

I haven't found a picture of an original ad for the watch but I'm betting it was a leather band.  If you think about the comfort aspect... if you were a doctor or a nurse, working long hours, doing very hands on stuff... I'm assuming you'd want a leather band.  A metal band would be bulky, get caught on things, and just be uncomfortable to wear during long hours.

These were working peoples watches.... I'd say we're probably spot on with the leather bands.

1939noel
Posted December 4, 2010 - 3:12am

Hi CKO - I have one of these but it has a black face -  yours is well worth restoring - lovely watch

cko
Posted December 5, 2010 - 3:32am

In reply to by 1939noel

Sir, thanks for your note.  Fortunately the watch is running fine. What could be accomplished with restoration? The face certainly shows it's age. I am also curious to know what type of band it would have come with originally. When it came to me it had a gold colored metal band. The type that easily expands. I still have it but was concerned about its integrity so switched to a replacement.

cko
Posted December 5, 2010 - 3:59am

 I'll post another photo of the face soon, without the crystal. That'll more details to show.

plainsmen
Posted December 5, 2010 - 4:09am

In reply to by cko

Be careful cko... this vintage Bulova thing can become rediculously addicting!!  Two months ago I had my grandfather's 1940 watch..... now I have like 7 vintage Bulova's and I'm learning more and more about them every day!

They seem so... substantial in this day and age of a throw away everything society you know?  These watches are 50-80 years old at times and many STILL WORK!! 

I hate to quote Obi-Wan but they seem to be "An elagant weapon for a more civilized age." to me.  Something just real and salt of the earth type of feel for me.

I really dig these old deco watches...