Bulova 1953 Squadron

Submitted by spudslatte on June 18, 2013 - 9:51am
A
Manufacture Year
1953
Movement Model
not certain
Movement Jewels
Unknown
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
8087346
Case shape
Rectangle
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Hello Folks and thank you for the help - I have just joined your forum, as my 85 yr old father has several Bulova watches he is now passing down to me to keep. I have the following that is a Fifth Avenue L3 model that he purchased a few years after coming out of the Navy after his WWII service. I have spent time researching your extensive materials, especially the original '53 ads, and we are not sure if it is a President, Delegate, Byron, or just a generic dept. store model. We were hoping you could help us ID it, as it "sort of" works when you wind it, and I want to take it to a jeweler to get it fully functional. My father and I really appreciate any help you can offer us. Thanks, BC

spudslatte 1953 Bulova Sqadron01 23 2014
1953 Bulova watch
1953 Bulova watch
1953 Bulova watch
1953 Bulova watch
OldTicker
Posted June 18, 2013 - 10:30am

Welcome aboard!

This watch is known as the "Squadron" model.

JP
Posted June 18, 2013 - 10:34am

and a fine Squadron it is.

Geoff Baker
Posted June 18, 2013 - 10:42am

Yes, a fine example of the Squadron model, I would agree.  Look back into the 1950 and '51 ads, you'll see it in several adverts.

You are most fortunate BC, to have your fathers watches. Most of us agree that among the most valuable watches we have are those passed down as family heirlooms. Your father obviously took very good care of this beauty. To be able to research it with your father and hear the stories must be a real joy. Congratulations - we're anxious to see the others.

William Smith
Posted June 18, 2013 - 5:20pm

1955 Squadron "A" ad snippet from the ad Fifth linked above.
Glad you got your Pop's watches. Hope you can enter them all and we can help with the IDing.
 

bourg01
Posted June 20, 2013 - 11:40am

In reply to by William Smith

Well that was easy. Movement is probably an 8AE but I have seen these with the 8AH and 8BA movements.

spudslatte
Posted June 20, 2013 - 11:57am

Thank you so much everyone!!!  That gem will sit proudly in my room next to his service awards.

P.S. can the L3 designation ever mean any other year than 1953, say '52 OR '54?

BC

 

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted June 20, 2013 - 3:15pm

BC

L3 is always L3 (1953) but in some circumstances the Movement inside will be Dated differently from the Case.

ie:

L3 stamped Case with L4 stamped Movement.

The example above would indicate a Watch manufactured in 1954 (L4 on the Movement) even though the Case dated is '53.