OK so 1945 is the year of manufacture for the watch.
We have the following adverts:
1943 Comptroller, 17J, leather strap, sub-dial number - unsure, plain 7
1945 Knickerbocker, 17J, basket weave band, sub-dial numbers - yes, plain 7
1946 Knickerbocker, 17J, basket weave band, sub-dial number - unsure, plain 7
1946 Knickerbocker, 17J, basket weave band, sub-dial number - no, plain 7
1947 Clinton, 17J, basket weave band, sub-dial numbers - yes, curved 7
1948 Chief, 17J, basket weave band, sub-dial numbers - yes, curved 7
1949 Chief, 17J, basket weave band, sub-dial numbers - yes, plain 7
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All versions post the Comptroller came with the basket weave band. Mounted on the leather strap we could say its a Comptroller, but as we have 1945 adverts showing this as a Knickerbocker I would be more inclined to ID it as such. The Clinton came into play in 1947.
We have no adverts for the watch in 1944, so it is entirely possible that it was still called the Comptroller in the 1944 and part of 1945, or was re-badged the Knickerbocker in 1944.
Previous discussion can be found here: http://www.mybulova.com/node/1738
I found another post on mybulova, but I'm slower, I salute experts:
- 1943 - Comptroller (17J, yellow gold filled case, gold hands and numerals, leather strap)
- 1945/46 - Knickbocker (17J, natural gold, basketweave band)
- 1947/49 - Clinton (17J, yellow gold, basketweave band)
- 1948/49 - Chief (17J, yellow gold, basketweave/seed band)
In reply to I found another post on by jabs
don't recall where the image below originated but is Dated 1947, which I can neiter confirm or deny at this time.
The only ad showing and describing the subject Case on a Leather strap is for the 'COMPTROLLER'.
Was this combination Manufactured and Sold in 1945 alongside the 'KNICKERBOCKER' which is shown and described as being Sold on a 'Basketweave bracelet' .
?
Might I suggest that the subject watch band is not original, so the basket-weave band may have been removed.
If we can prove that the band made the difference only then yes I agree that it would be a Computron. BUT, the name change might simply be down to the year of release, which would make this subject watch a Knickerbocker without its original band.
Seeing that this watch had 4 names over as many years I'd suggest that it's down to the year and not the band.