Bulova 1951 Beau Brummell

Submitted by josé serra on
Manufacture Year
1951
Movement Model
8AD
Movement Date Code
L0
Movement Jewels
17
Case Serial No.
4730256
Case shape
Rectangle
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Bulova Beau Brummell

Bulova_4730256_1951_20240421_front.jpg
Bulova_4730256_1951_20240421_back.jpg
Bulova_4730256_1951_20240421_case int.jpg
Bulova_4730256_1951_20240421_movement.jpg
Bulova_4730256_1951_20240421_box.jpg
Beau Brummell_feb.1950
1955mercury
Posted May 4, 2024 - 8:56am

In reply to by mybulova_admin

That's sort of an oddity. Beau Brummell's have always been a Bulova model with decorative stones on the dial and then the linebook shows another model with this feature in the 1950 linebook and doesn't show a Beau Brummel. The newspaper ad referenced in this post seems to have a date of 1950 with a Beau Brummel in it and Bulova sent these ad blocs out to their dealers with a space left blank for them to insert their store name and have them printed in  their local newspaper. I know they came from Bulova because I have several that came from a former Bulova employee when he retired. I'm going to suggest that in this case it's possible that the linebook is a misprint. 

JimDon5822
Posted May 2, 2024 - 11:36pm

I default to the linebooks as we know the newspaper ads sometimes took liberties with the naming.   1951 Cambridge.

Andersok
Posted May 4, 2024 - 10:22am

The model # for both of these models is the same, 38723; as is the 71.50 price. This model number was in the 1950 pricelist as Beau Brummel (I don't know if we have more of this pricelist showing Cambridge also, but I do not see it at that price). 

I don't think we can rule out this model as a Beau Brummell for 1950.

How was it determined that the second half of linebook 132 (first half is 1957) belongs to 1950?

mybulova_admin
Posted May 5, 2024 - 6:31am

In reply to by Andersok

The 1950 determination came from me as I was finding we were able to ID watches from that linebook that were dated 1950 and 1951. Although my thinking is now that the original filename was 1953-57 (I think I previously stated 1950-57 which is wrong), and could have covered some of the 50/51 models that were possibly sold in 53 as well.

Someone at Bulova in January of 1953 was doing drugs as the Price guide on page 3 lists 38723 as a Cambridge,  but then later in the exact same list for January 1953, goes on to list the 38723 as the Beau Brummell ($71.50) and the Cambridge as 38725 ($47.50)

It's worth noting that the page that lists this watch as a Cambridge (as per my previous linebook image), also shows 5 other correctly named models suggesting that it wasn't an error....BUT

I'm torn with this mystery. We would have to assume that the linebook is incorrect and both the price guide and newsprint are correct, unless in 1951 there was no such model as the Beau Brummell and that is was (at that time) called the Cambridge. The Beau Brummell came in 1953.

As usual Bulova keeps us guessing.

mybulova_admin
Posted May 5, 2024 - 10:20pm

In reply to by mybulova_admin

Replying to my own post....the second sign of madness (we all know the first).

Below advert shows the BB model was certainly being sold as early as 1949.

mybulova_admin
Posted May 5, 2024 - 7:18am

Found some new adverts to confirm the Beau Brummell ID. Interesting an early date of 1949.

Gettysburg PA Times 1949-10-06

1949 Bulova Beau Brummel + Heather

Gettysburg PA Times 1950-02-23

1950 Bulova Beau Brummel + Heather

josé serra
Posted May 6, 2024 - 3:43am

In reply to by mybulova_admin

Agradeço muito ao Administrador e a todos os membros do painel "myBulova.com" pelas importantes informações e comentários. Estamos sempre a aprender.

mybulova_admin
Posted May 6, 2024 - 4:37am

In reply to by mybulova_admin

Oh and I've just realises the 1949 advert stays "Glamorous New Bulova Rhinstone Dial Watches", indicating the BB model name does in deed cover 1950 and 1951.

josé serra
Posted May 6, 2024 - 9:37am

In reply to by mybulova_admin

Obrigado Administrador pelas vossas pesquisas. Continuamos então a considerar um "Bulova 1951 Beau Brummell".

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted May 6, 2024 - 11:12am

the watch is 1951

(L1 on the caseback)