Early American Maid with porcelain dial. Movement marked “Maxim” 15j 3 adj. Case marked “warranted 25 years” over “American Maid” with no serial number. Back of case is deeply engraved with initials “EJG”?? Watch arrived in running condition and has not been touched.
Definitively an interesting watch but at this moment I wouldn’t know what to say about it. We have seen Maxim movements in American Standard cases with Rubaiyat on the dial. We have seen American Maid on dials on Rubaiyat movements sitting in cases of American Standard. But I have never seen an American Maid dial on a Maxim movement in an American Maid case. What to make of this?
Alex you may have missed my watch posted perviously.
Same 'American Maid" watch in an ASWCCo case with a Maxim movement:
https://mybulova.com/watches/1915-american-maid-14034
I didn’t miss it. I am actually referring to it in my above message.
In reply to I didn’t miss it. I am… by Alex
Ahh I see, I misread your comment 'But I have never seen an American Maid dial on a Maxim movement in an American Maid case. What to make of this?'
I have seen 2 of these American Maid watches with the name on the dial and case before. I wasn't sure what to make of them, still aren't.
It's certainly possible that Bulova was producing these all under the branding of 'American Maid' before starting to use parts from other manufactures (including those they owned) which eventually morphed into the Rubaiyat, Lady Maxim and finally Bulova branded watches.
This feels like a piece of the puzzle and certainly contains components that fit into the make-up of known names that make up the watch.
Based on the name, enamelled dial and Maxim movement I have to agree that it would date to around the same time as my American Maid.
1915 American Maid seems the most logical call.
In reply to Ahh I see, I misread your… by mybulova_admin
It definitively is a piece of of the puzzle. Just don’t know yet where to place it. It seems indeed pre-Rubaiyat.
In reply to It definitively is a piece… by Alex
Agreed
Noting that the 'Maxim' vs 'MAXIM' on mine.
Whilst very similar the 2 watches nearly differ in every aspect.
Was this Bulova using various dials, cases, movements and hands to assemble the watch, with the only common denominator the name in the dial. The Maxim movement does seem to tie a bunch of pieces to the puzzle together.
Personally, the case and the dial are a non-issue for me. The Maxim movement for me pesonally isn’t an issue since the American Maid and Maxim are both associated with Bulova.
Other caveat is how many American Maid watches are documented? There are a couple on this site, I personally own 7. There are 4 in my ownership that do not conform to the standard you mentioned and 2 of the 4 have been in my possession over 50 years. Doesn’t imply they could not have been modified but I would have my doubts.
So little is positively confirmed for anything pre-1920 with Bulova.
I would love to see all 7. The more examples, the more we hopefully can discover!
I brought home a few boxes of watches recently from storage, pulled about 50 or so of these early convertible “Bulova” watches from the boxes but can’t figure out how to post more. Was able to post this one but can’t find the button to add others.
Other point is I didn’t create a title but it shows “Bulova 1915”, how do I change the title to “American Maid 1915”?