Another example for the big debate. Knickerbocker, Clinton, Chief or Comptroller ???? For mine, I'm going with Knickerbocker. I take this position because in my research the only real thing I can see that differentiates them is the bracelet type (and maybe the region in which they are being marketed ? Maybe). In an advert you can clearly see many different bracelet types these were offered with and in the only one I can see labeled the 'Knickerbocker' you can clearly see my bracelet type. That ad is however from 1946 and my watch is of coarse a '47 model. That little anomaly doesn't bother too much though. Now lets get to the watch. Ahhh, the infamous Bugsy. This is what I am going to refer to as a poor mans variant of the famous watch owned by Las Vegas Gangster Bugsy Siegel. His watch said to be made of 18k solid yellow gold, mine is 10k Rolled Gold Plate (hence the 'poor man' moniker). It has a 47 marked 8AH 17j movement, square body with very distinctive and prominent lugs. I love them. It has the original Kreisler mesh bracelet (matching Bugsy's sans the clasp. maybe the 18k came with a more secure clasp??) which is of coarse way to small for my 8-3/8 wrist so I cannot wear this one. the 15mm lug makes it a bit narrow on my wrist anyways, but if it fit, I would take a trip to Vegas just to wear it around the craps table. If you have something more solid to positively ID this model, I am all ears.
Was really hoping I could get support for it being a Knickerbocker. I would have settled for Chief or even Comptroller. But we cant change what is I guess. I find it odd that all the '47 ads listing as a Clinton show it with a different bracelet. But hey...who's to say that the bracelet that I have on it now is the original? It could have very well been a later replacement. The '47' on the movement is much more solid ground that the bracelet type it currently sports. I will have to search again and see if I can find more of the old discussions and examine what has been hashed out already, but for now, I will bow to the more the more seasoned base and accept it as a Clinton.
I do see one little difference between my watch, and the real deal 'Bugsy', the watch owned by Bugsy Siegel that is on display at the Mob Museum in Las Vegas. I mean one difference other than the obvious 18k solid vs 10k RGP discrepancy. I can see the second hand is slightly different. On the real deal Bugsy, the second hand has a 'tail', mine does not. The photo in this comment is of the real deal watch. Thoughts on what that? and if the second hand may be an indicator of model ?
Well, now I'm wanting to revert back to my original opinion. Thanks for the backup. lol I really think it is a knickerbocker and that the bracelet is the tell. Every ad I see with the Kreisler mesh bracelet it shows as a Knickerbocker and now I am seeing ads from two different years, 46 and 47.
In reply to Those little sub-second… by Reverend Rob
I was just browsing the Bulova catalog archives and found that the style of hands commonly seen on this model. and seen here on mine, are called "modern". The "modern" second hand does include a tail. There is another style called "index" that goes with the "index" hand set. This is the second hand that I have on my watch. Now that I have the correct technical data for the second hand I can start my search for proper part.
There is a short video on YouTube called "Top 5 Gangsters & Their Watches". There Bugsy Siegel is the first one covered. This link should take you straight to the start of that segment https://youtu.be/muh6TJmgPbA?t=81 . The entire video is very interesting.