Bulova 1940 Ranger

Submitted by plainsmen on
Manufacture Year
1940
Movement Model
10AX
Movement Date Code
Omega
Movement Jewels
17
Case Serial No.
078231
Case shape
Stepped
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

My grandfathers watch that was passed to me about 10 years after his death in the mid-1980's.

The dial has been untouched for sentimental purposes, though a new crystal has been fitted as the original was missing.

The band is the original Kreisler gold plated with leather band instert that is advertised with this particular model.  It's been restored to a worn but very servicable band with new leather.

It's sporting a professionaly cleaned and serviced 10AX, 17 Jewel movement

This is my VERY FIRST BULOVA... and the watch that started it all for me!

Bulova 1940 Ranger
Bulova watch
Bulova Watch
JP
Posted July 3, 2012 - 12:31am

I can certainly see why you got so into Bulova. The watch is magnificent and would make any one who was lucky eenough to own it want to find out more about the manufacturer. Mine is a similar story only it was my father in law who left me his Bulova Accutron Rail Road watch, a 214 model and I had to have it repaired and when I got it back I was hooked too.

John JP

OldTicker
Posted July 3, 2012 - 12:42am

Very well stated JP, this is what this site was intended for...hopefully we can keep it going!

William Smith
Posted July 3, 2012 - 3:13am

Great watch. Great story.  Love that band. I have a couple similar....and now we have an ad showing and stating "on expansion w/ leather center"  or very similar wording.  I see why you got interested in Bulova....

colorodo
Posted November 26, 2014 - 10:45pm

Your Ranger is beautiful.  I also wanted to keep my watch original for sentimental reasons.  I wanted to look at the dial my grandfather looked at.   But the crystal had 2 large cracks that caused the dial to corrode.  It looked nasty.  I struggled with the decision to have it restored.

 You are lucky to have such a fine time piece.  I am jealous....

plainsmen
Posted December 22, 2014 - 1:58pm

In reply to by colorodo

Thank you sir.  Now looking back at this watch after owning so many other Bulova's it's still my favorite.  

To bad I see some of the pictures look like they may have corrupted.  Wonder if Steve can fix it or I can go way back in my archives and see if I still have the pictures that will fill in the gaps.

mybulova_admin
Posted November 20, 2024 - 2:24am

Revisiting this watch and wondering how we determined the Ranger ID.

Geoff Baker
Posted November 20, 2024 - 9:26pm

Fourteen years ago we didn't have much to go on, in fact early on a user could assign the ID themselves. I suspect we'll be revisiting this one and many others as we go forward.

mybulova_admin
Posted November 24, 2024 - 5:44pm

From 1938 to 1941 there seems to be 3 different variants of the Ranger model. I think we need to dig a little deeper into this as well as how the Chief plays a part in this.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted November 25, 2024 - 5:39am

In reply to by mybulova_admin

The 'CHIEF' has a partial 6 numeral below the sub-seconds dial (as on the subject) 

The 'RANGER' does not, according to the ads.