Bulova 1953 Jefferson

Submitted by plainsmen on June 3, 2012 - 3:41pm
Manufacture Year
1953
Movement Model
7AA
Movement Jewels
21
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
680365
Case shape
Rectangle
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Sorry this has taken me so long to post it up after I got it but as most of you know I've been pretty busy the last few months.  Well.. this is the first one I've gotten... I believe this is NOS.The Jefferson.  We don't have an advert for this yet other than a very horrible catalog ad someplace you can barely make out it looks something like "Jefferson".  Well low and behold inside the case was the original hang tag! This watch is in pristine mint condition.  I haven't had one like it and certainly haven't seen one from the 1950's in this good a shape except for a couple that Oldticker had found in parts and was fixed up by Mike. I'm adding a few more pics just because I think this will be the primere go-to for this model in the future

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1953 Bulova Jefferson
1953 Bulova watch
1953 Bulova watch
1953 Bulova watch
1953 Bulova watch
Bulova Watch
bobbee
Posted June 3, 2012 - 3:49pm

That is so AWESOME! Great find plains!

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted June 3, 2012 - 4:33pm

Very nice!

I have a special request for a pic of the box lid.

I know, the request sounds crazy but I have My reasons.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted June 3, 2012 - 5:41pm

In reply to by plainsmen

Jerin,

Thank You.

Note the characteristics of this Watch. 21 Jewel 7AA, Gold filled Case, Gold Caseback and a Dial showing no Minutes register, an open Seconds register and numeral placement all indictive of an 'ACADEMY AWARD'

Now note the display box, particularly the outer lid. - Curtained as on the 'ACADEMY AWARD' series display boxes.

IMO, these Watches were originally designed to be 'AA's, but with the advent of the lawsuit settlement in 1952 could not be advertised as such.

Nice piece.

plainsmen
Posted June 3, 2012 - 6:37pm

In reply to by FifthAvenueRes…

Yeah I've thought the same thing for awhile now.  There are several of them that I think are transitional pieces from these two years.

NOVA
Posted June 3, 2012 - 6:45pm

In reply to by FifthAvenueRes…

What lawsuit settlement would that be?  Do you have any evidence of a lawsuit between the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and Bulova?

And what about the advert we have for an AA dated 1953?

I can't believe we're having this discussion again.

plainsmen
Posted June 3, 2012 - 6:47pm

In reply to by NOVA

I'm not talking anything about the suit... I'm saying when they got out of making the AA there were several watches I think were sort of transitional.... like they were going to be AA's.  Then they stopped with the line.

NOVA
Posted June 3, 2012 - 7:02pm

In reply to by FifthAvenueRes…

The boxes are similar.  The watch designs have long been known to be similar to other watches, such as all the His Excellencies.  If you've got something that works, why not stick with it?  

There is no evidence of a lawsuit between the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and Bulova.  There is a 1952 FTC stipulation involving Bulova and the Academy which effected the way Bulova could advertise the watches.  It did not require Bulova to stop making the Academy Awards.

The contract between Bulova and the Academy is believed to have run through 1954 and to have terminated naturally, but that is, as far as I'm concerned, unconfirmed rumor which I hope to confirm or deny very soon.  We do have a 1953 ad for the an AA.

I have never seen any reference to a lawsuit or other legal matter requiring Bulova to quit making the AAs or terminating the contract early.  The lawsuit that is typically cited in this regard did not involve the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, but rather a wholly unrelated, sham company.  That lawsuit is public information available for anyone to read, as is the FTC stipulation.

The 1952 end date is unsupported by the known facts.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted June 3, 2012 - 7:50pm

In reply to by NOVA

One small detail.

The 'EXCELLENCY' series of Watches of this era have Dials that show a Minutes register...and a closed Seconds register.

NOVA
Posted June 3, 2012 - 7:59pm

In reply to by FifthAvenueRes…

I said the Excellencies were quite similar to the AAs, not identical.   When you consider all the elements that are identical between the two lines, the absence of a minutes register is a minor difference.

And that doesn't speak at all to your incorrect statement that a lawsuit settlement required Bulova to stop making the AAs in 1952.  I'm still waiting for facts to back up that statement.  Where's your research?