This was my Fathers watch, it has been sitting at the back of a drawer since he died in 1967. My wife recently found it, wound it, and it is keeping perfect time. The inscription on the back more or less gives the date away and looking at the resources on your site I think I have identified it as a Lone Eagle although it would appear that at some point in its life, pre 1967, it had acquired a wrong replacement face and a replacement winder. I do not intend having it restored, it is what it is and that is all part of its history but it would be nice to have the indentification confirmed with any details of its non-conformance.
Now it is rediscovered and working I do intend wearing it.
I have not seen any other faces where the infills in the letters have gone. Could this be a fake face?
Welcome and thanks for sharing. I'm a big fan of heirloom watches and personally agree with you. Leave it and it's history w/your Dad as-is. The casing and movement dates coincide, so I would call it a
1942 Lone Eagle "F",
by case s/n with a 1941 movement which is not unusual. noting it has the dial from a different Bulova of the same time period that was more tonneau shaped judging by the minutes track; and a replaced minute hand. Crown is likely original, with the gold cap missing. We see that quite often. Band is same period as watch, and the metal components are likely original. Don't you wish it could talk?
Thank you for that. It was a huge surprise to find it after over 50 years and even bigger surprise that it still works and keeps perfect time. Working things backwards and using the inscription as a reference my dad had it from new when he was stationed in Newfoundland which was not actually in Canada then which makes the inscription even more intruiging. I know it was something he treasured and he wore it every day for 25 years until he died wearing it. I certainly do wish it could talk I don’t know why he had it, was it bought for him or did he chose it, and why that one? I only know I am now going to enjoy wearing it and keeping it just as it is. Things were just repaired and kept going in the 50’s and 60’s without any thought for originality and for me that is part of its charm.
Thank you once again for helping with the identification and understanding of its own history.
I would agree that the watch looks to have started out as a 1942 Lone Eagle, but I do feel that the movement and dial (and hour hand) have all been replaced.
As you say back in those days' originality wasn't necessarily a big deal, as long as it did what it was meant to do....tell time.
It's interesting that we see a variety of case combinations with these 1939-41 LE, some with a stainless-steel back, some with gold filled backs.
Normally we'd ID a watch such as this a non-conforming, as it looks to have a mixed bag of parts from different watches, but do agree it was probably once a 1942 Bulova Lone Eagle "F".
In reply to I would agree that the watch… by mybulova_admin
So.....final answer? Non-Conforming?
In reply to So.....final answer? Non… by Geoff Baker
I'm inclined to tag it a LE, as it is a stand alone case not used for any other model, noting replaced dial.
I think non-conforming is a better call for this watch as there are a number of non original components
I think only the case is the original part.
Non-conforming for me acknowledging what we have already discussed above.
I am inclined to go Non-Conforming