Bulova 1935 Champ

Submitted by esk51 on
Manufacture Year
1935
Movement Model
13AP
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
5258933
Case shape
Tonneau
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Crystal details
5258933
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Self-Winding movement with Patent No. 166843  (31-01-1934).  Movement Calibre: 28-20

FOR SALE
1935 Bulova watch
1935 Bulova watch
1935 Bulova watch
1935 Bulova watch
1935 Bulova watch
mybulova_admin
Posted January 12, 2018 - 9:29pm

What a great rare watch. I love the flipped dial layout. 

I'm assuming that the back plate part swings side to side ever so slightly with movement of the watch, in turn winding it.

Geoff Baker
Posted January 13, 2018 - 7:39am

I love this watch, I do not recall seeing anything like it. Ed (owner) and Reverend Rob refer to it as "Champ", but I'm not sure where that name comes from. Could ths be the earliest Bulova kinetic wind movement?

What will we call it?

Reverend Rob
Posted January 27, 2018 - 10:29am

'Champ' is the Bulova name for this model, and it is based in no small part on the company that supplied the ebauche: Farbrique d'Horlogerie la Champagne. Champagne also made watches complete, and  had names like 'Aster'  also on the dial. 

The automatic winding system is the 'Pendule' type, and it acts exactly as you might think- it swings back and forth, with small blade springs as dampeners, like a bumper. It would have been amongst the earliest Bulova automatics, there were also 'wig-wag' style movts. As I've said elsewhere, these are rare indeed. 

esk51
Posted January 13, 2018 - 12:19pm

I am trying to figure out how the case stamp could be 1929 but the patent not granted or applied until 1934 ? Am I missing something. Could this have been a prototype. ?  Thanks to everyone who has chimed into this thread. I look forward to all the comments.  Ed

Daca102090
Posted January 13, 2018 - 7:03pm

The case serial number you listed is 5258933which would most likely be 1935 and not 1929.

This was an extremely limited run movement and I think it was most likely just that one year as this was the height of the Depression and anything that was more costly to produce didn't sell many units.

mybulova_admin
Posted January 14, 2018 - 12:07am

The stamp you are seeing on the outside case is not the normal date code stamp. They were only used on the movements. That stamp relates to something else we do not yet understand.

neetstuf-4-u
Posted January 14, 2018 - 7:19am

Very cool, never seen one of these or even heard of such a thing. Make sure you add this movement to the database.

mybulova_admin
Posted January 14, 2018 - 12:09am

Here's the updated entry for the Bulova 13AP in the movement database.

esk51
Posted January 14, 2018 - 6:40am

Some very good information is being found on the watch. I appreciate everyone's input. What I was referring to on the case was the upside side down bell like stamp with the line on top which according to  the Bulova codes would date the case  or movement to 1929?  That was in conflict with the patent date? I was trying to square that circle so to speak.  Thank you everyone ! 

Daca102090
Posted January 17, 2018 - 2:57am

The symbol codes for the dates only apply when they are on the movement.

That bell type symbol appears on at least some of the cases in the 1930s and as Stephen said we are not sure of its significance.