Bulova 1943 American Nurse

Submitted by Pandaroyal on
Manufacture Year
1943
Movement Model
7AM
Movement Date Code
X
Movement Jewels
17
Case Serial No.
3533362
Case shape
Square
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Ladies
Watch Description

Hi Bulova fans !

Here is my new bubu, I think it's a  1943 Bulova American Nurse ?

I don't know if it's me but I can see two differents code dates on the movement ( the cresent moon and the X).

I checked the start date and end date for the 7AM :

start date :1937

End date: 1946

Is it possible that the movement was created in 1938 ( cresent moon ) then use for the American nurse in 1943 ( X code ) ?

Other things, looks like it miss the second sweep hand, I don't know if I can put a sweep second hand from another movement like the 6BKC, is it compatible ?

PS: the bracelet is not the original.

Thank you in advance.

Regards,

Ben

front_30032021
back_30032021
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JimDon5822
Posted March 30, 2021 - 9:01pm

Thank you for posting your watch.  Based on the serial number and this 1943 ad from our archives this is a 1943 American Nurse.   As an interesting footnote I found the following marriage announcement for Janet Van Eck's brother which indicates in 1944 she was a Nurse in England.  So she was on the frontlines of WWII and most assuredly was wearing this watch. 

1943 American Nurse

Janet Van Eck

mybulova_admin
Posted March 31, 2021 - 4:08am

In reply to by JimDon5822

WOW that's next level research!!

1943 Bulova American Nurse looks to be a good ID to me.

Pandaroyal
Posted March 31, 2021 - 5:21am

Wow, @JimDon5822 it's awesome honnestly ! I bought the watch on the UK e Bay make sense now...

Thank you very much for this footnote !

Ben

neetstuf-4-u
Posted March 31, 2021 - 6:43am

In reply to by Pandaroyal

Great watch, Ben. I love watches that can be pinpointed to a specific person (well done, Jim). The number under her name is likely her military serial number, which made her watch a 3rd dog tag. For me, the fact that it was owned by an American Nurse puts this one over the top.

1943 American Nurse

 

Pandaroyal
Posted March 31, 2021 - 9:01am

In reply to by neetstuf-4-u

Thanks @neetstuf-4-u , I like watches with history and this one has a nice one for sure !

At the beginning I was thinking about a date ( finish by 48 ) but now I know that it's not at all a date, thanks all for your comments, mybulova is really a source of knowledge !

Regards,

Ben

Kathy L.
Posted March 31, 2021 - 8:51pm

Fantastic watch and cool to know it was actually worn by a nurse in the day!  One of my favorite models.

1943 Bulova American Nurse

JimDon5822
Posted April 1, 2021 - 12:30am

I did a little more research on Newspapers.com and Ancestry and found a few more details about this American Hero.  On her grave stone it lists her as Captain US Army and her obituary says she was an operating room nurse.   She also was married in England.  Interesting that the watch remained in England.  I wonder if she lost it or if had been giving away or stolen.  To think this watch was in the operating room while she worked on saving service men during WWII.  No telling how many lives she saved.  Cherish this watch. 

Janet Gladys Van Eck Smarr 

BIRTH 23 Mar 1921

Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, USA

Marriage to Wyatt Cecil Smarr

14 Apr 1945 • Cirencester, Gloucestershire, England

DEATH 24 Mar 2016 (aged 95)

Colorado, USA

BURIAL

Fort Logan National Cemetery

Denver, Denver County, Colorado, USA

PLOTSection 20, Site 524

MEMORIAL ID160028398 · View Source

Janet Gladys Smarr, 95, of Aurora, passed away March 24, 2016.



She was born March 23, 1921 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the daughter of Thomas and Janet (Klomp) Van Eck. She was a graduate of Kalamazoo High School. She served in the United States Army from September 1943 to August 1947 as an Operating Room Nurse. On April 14, 1945 she married Wyatt Smarr, of Macon, Georgia.  



Janet is survived by three grandchildren, Vanessa M. Reid, Sarah (Lonnie) Schultz, and Michael (Kim) Smarr; eight great-grandchildren, Marissa Pacheco, Joshua Schultz, Christopher Schultz, Jacob Schultz, Madyson Smarr, Hunter Smarr, Annamae Smarr, and Tessa Smarr. She is preceded in death by her husband, Wyatt Cecil Smarr; daughter, Janet Reid; son, David Smarr; parents, Thomas and Janet Van Eck; and nine siblings. 



To share a memory of Janet or leave a special condolence message for her family, please click the Share Memories button above.

 

 

Janet Gladys Van Eck Smarr

Janet Smarr Gravestone

Pandaroyal
Posted April 1, 2021 - 6:02pm

In reply to by JimDon5822

Honnestly, thanks for  your comments and shared informations about this American Nurse. Few days ago, when I bidded on eBay for this Bulova, I was thinking maybe the watch was use in the WWII etc. But I would never imagined have all these informations about her original owner.

Thanks for Janet Gladys Van Eck Smarr , I will Cherish this watch for sure and tell this the awesome story.

 

Best regards,

Ben.

Geoff Baker
Posted April 1, 2021 - 9:33pm

In reply to by Pandaroyal

.....and now Ben, I challenge you find one for Janet's Grand or Great Grand children to return the watch to. 

(PS - I already found her Grandson Michael, both his phone number and home address)