Bulova 1973 Ambassador

Submitted by Krenov on September 15, 2021 - 6:38am
Manufacture Year
1973
Movement Model
11ADACB
Movement Jewels
23
Case Serial No.
3-664294
Case shape
Cushion
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Crystal details
30mm Diameter
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

My partners uncle bought this watch from a charity shop in Manchester, where he lived. No idea how much he paid for it but he was a canny Scot and old school so it would have been no more than £20. I know he did a bit of research so he would have had some idea of what it was or he wouldn't have bought it. He passed away before I had a chance to talk to him about it so I don't know weather he intended to keep it or sell it. The watch has been passed to me. Im going to restore the watch and I'm looking for as much info as is available. I would love to find an image of the watch in its original state. I have searched the site and this exact model is not listed. As I understand it -  from watching a similar watch being repaired - this watch should have two brackets/case clamps held with screws. Are they missing or am I wrong? Left hand side of image 2. Other side is hidden by rotor. Any information regarding this watch would be gratefully received.

Kind regards - Paul Murdoch

Dial of the watch showing the Bulova, Ambassador, 23 jewels, Automatic and Swiss Made info. Gold/cream dial with day and date and markers, not numbers, denote the time. Gold watch case, lugs and winder also shown.
Image of rear of watch with the back removed showing one side the movement with the rotor.
Image of the inside of the back piece displaying info: Bezel gold plated 20 microns, M.R.P, 7632-1, Swiss.
Image of the back of the back piece showing info: Bulova, N3, Stainless steel back.
Magnified image of the Back of the back piece showing the serial number: 3-664294
Image showing side of the watch including the crown wich has no detail or logo.
Krenov
Posted September 15, 2021 - 3:52pm

This watch is obviously an Ambassador. There was no option to add this when uploading the watch details or I missed this option. Is there a way to edit this?

mybulova_admin
Posted September 15, 2021 - 7:08pm

All watches added to myBullova are manually reviewed by the panel to ensure the model ID is as close as possible to beng correct. It also allows the panel to identify any variants for the model.

However with that all said, I've not been able to find and linebook or advert match to nominate a variant.

1973 Bulova Ambassador

JimDon5822
Posted September 15, 2021 - 7:57pm

I have not been able to find a variant match either.

1973 Bulova Ambassador

Geoff Baker
Posted September 15, 2021 - 10:09pm

Clearly an Ambassador but if we can' find it in our catalogs we have no way to know if it was mounted on a strap or a bracelet. my guess would be a bracelet because of the slight curve of the case but it's really just a guess. Sorry, I cannot answer the 'missing screws' question. 

1973 Bulova Ambassador

WildThng
Posted September 15, 2021 - 10:36pm

The screw and clamp were not used with this type of plastic movement ring. They can be added but not necessary. 

mybulova_admin
Posted September 15, 2021 - 11:02pm

In reply to by WildThng

Can you please clarify what you are referring to, as I feel we have our wires crossed here.

Are you referring to the bracelet mount or something else?

WildThng
Posted September 16, 2021 - 12:28am

Paul is asking about the small hole and recessed slot at about the 9 position in the movement pic. It is for a case clamp and screw which is not needed in this situation. 

mybulova_admin
Posted September 16, 2021 - 12:31am

In reply to by WildThng

Sorry, I'm still not comprehending. Can you please highlight the area of interest.

Krenov
Posted September 16, 2021 - 3:15am

Hi all, many thanks for the replies. I should say right away that I know nothing about watches. I have decided to repair and restore this watch but I will be teaching myself using YouTube and any cheap watches I can find that are similar in design to my Ambassador. Once I feel ready I will tackle the Ambassador. My partners uncle never used the watch as it was broken and he had no emotional attachment to it other than the thrill of finding a hidden gem, so I have decided to restore it to its original state.

The watch winds and works but the hour and second hands cannot be set. They engage on the first few turns of the crown but then the friction is lost and the crown turns without moving the hands. You can feel something trying to turn the hands and then it becomes totally frictionless. Cannon pinion perhaps?

I will try to post some images showing exactly what I’m referring to when I talk about clamps and screws. If anyone wants to see the video I was referring to, the link is below and shows exactly the clamps and screws in question.

YouTube channel: My Retro Watches
YouTube video: Bulova Watch Restoration
Link to the video: https://youtu.be/IYBXWzZk5HU
The segment of interest starts at 6.08 

Andersok
Posted September 16, 2021 - 6:37am

Unable to find a variant; Ambassador

As for the clamp and screw, as mentioned these are not required with the existing movement ring. Once the back is on, it will press into the ring, which will hold the movement and dial in place. Ensure that a gasket it used. Here is a photo of the clamp and screw.

caseclamp

Your movement uses a frictionless cannon pinion on the center pipe. There is a separate driving wheel as part of the train of wheels that has the friction cannon pinion. These wheels are very tricky to get right, not too tight and not too loose where the hands are either difficult to set or do not move when running.

In my experience, this movement is more complicated than your basic manual wind or even automatic to work on. I would get plenty of practice working on simpler movements if you are just learning. Assuming this is very similar to the 11AOAC#, there are good service manuals available.