This submission for identification contains a Bulova 15 jewel Swiss 6F (FHF 47) marked with a circle (1925), s/n 53227. The case interior is marked "Bulova, 14K, Gold Filled, American Standard, s/n 5204738". The bracelet is white metal marked "Japan, Stainless Spring, Stainless Steel Top and Back" and is clearly not original.
After service on 1/04/2024, Weishi 1000 T/G values were: +/-5sd rate, 270° amp, 0.3ms/be, which is amazing for a watch which is 101 years old!
I believe it to be a 1925 15jwl Pater, or possibly 1925 15jwl Patria.
Yes that ID looks right to me, like this one https://mybulova.com/watches/1925-pater-8011 (Pending confirmation from Alex and Stephen on early or late 1925 production. If early production it will be Patria like this one if my understanding is correct https://mybulova.com/watches/1925-pater-8011)
1925 Bulova Pater
This watch was called Patria in ads from December 1924 until September 1925. No ads are found in October. In November the name changed to Pater. The serial numbers in 1925 ran from 500 (first 3 digits) to 525. The subject watch has case serial 520. Assuming a linear distribution through the year places it in . . . . October. I am fine to go with Pater.
In reply to This watch was called Patria… by Alex
You could update that 525 to 538 as per this example: https://mybulova.com/watches/1925-pater-10320
Alex, how did you determine that 500xxxx was the cutover from Patria in September 1925 to Pater in October 1925?
It would seem that we might need to update this entry to a 1924 Bulova Patria: https://mybulova.com/watches/1925-pater-5914
In reply to You could update that 525 to… by mybulova_admin
The 538 is a so called exception serial number, likely used to do a trial run to test the Dustite early 1926. All movements of the few examples of the 538 are from 1926. See my book where this is explained in detail.
For the cut over date, I checked the ads as published on newspapers.com. And then I created an excel sheet to calculate the week this 520 case would have been produced based on a linear production spread during the year.
In reply to The 538 is a so called… by Alex
Started life out as a Bulova 6513 (1923-24).
We have this Burlington Daily News advert dated 19 December 1925 showing the watch as a Patria.
This Saturday Evening Post dated 26 September 1925 confirming the name Patria.
This The American Magazine dated 1925 (?) showing as a Pater.
This Saturday Evening Post dated 12 December 1925 also showing as a Pater.
Are we seeing the same watch with a name spelling variant?
In reply to Started life out as a Bulova… by mybulova_admin