Case measures 41mm lug to lug x 25mm non inclusive of the Crown using Calipers. White Dial shows applied Gilt Arabic numerals and Bulova signature, tracks are printed in Black. Hour and Minute Hands are Gilt Modern style. Caseback is Gold and stamped as shown. as found. *Vintage display ad Dated 1941 in the database.
Possibly "ARNOLD", same page 5, image 9, 1941.
In reply to Possibly "ARNOLD", same page by bobbee
Hey bobbee, Mark's nailed this one bang on the ID. Definately the Bruce, The Arnold is thinner and wider.
Yes, have looked at other ads with the Arnold and it doesn't have the three ridges either side like the Bruce. My bad.
Arnold has "white metal back" in 1944 ads too. Duh!
You may have been thinking of the Dean, Bobbee. The Dean and the Bruce have the same case and take the same crystal. The only difference is the Bruce has an engraved bezel. In later years, the Dean had a stainless back, but ealier versions were all gold, per the adverts.
As for the Arnold, the very similar model you have to watch out for is the Norman, but that's another story for another post.
As for stainless backs, keep in mind that they aren't seen before 1940, so models dated prior to that--even if the same model as one seen later with a stainless back--will have a gold back. You can see that in the ads for the Dean, which starts out all gold, then changes to stainless. I also believe that's the story with the late 1930 Lone Eagles that we see, as they have an all gold case, whereas the later version has a stainless back, per the 1940/41 ad for the LE A.
So, is the database ad Dated incorrectly as it states 'new' Bruce - ad Dated 1941.
The example Watch is Dated 1938, twice.
In reply to So, is the database ad Dated by FifthAvenueRes…
Great question. I'm not that familiar with Banker or Commodore so I got to go check examples and other ads.
Mark, do you happen to know the crystal number/s for the Bruce ?? I have just acquired one an the plastic crystal is just too scratched up to clean up and use.
John JP
John,
I forgot to note but almost pretty sure I fit a Watch Craft 3MC241-178 to this bezel, almost.
I think it may be the WC 4MC242-190. It's more barrel shaped than tonneau.