A Pink GF case, with case back marked 'Bulova Quality' but the serial number scratched away and unreadable. No interior marks to identify the casemaker, just a service mark. 17j 7AN in good condition, I will update this and others as the restoration is completed. It's not clear in the pics, but the dial is copper coloured and works well with the pink gold case. It was re-lumed at some point, and not very well. Crown appears original as it is exactly like the case.
Will - I think we should always ID by case first.
Tentative Lincoln for me.
In reply to Will - I think we should by Geoff Baker
Me too Geoff :)
As Mark pointed out, the dials really aren't the same shape or size, so my dial feet theory may not be valid. I agree on the case first ID.
Panel Members? last call for Mr Lincoln?
The other 3 Lincolns we have in the database are of 1940-41 vintage, this one has a 1945 movement and a dial we have not seen before on this model, while no doubt it is a Lincoln case, the movement and dial would make this a Frankie.
Do we have a ad showing this model produced in 1945? I can't find one...Non-conforming
I've got nothing so far. The only dials I could find that resemble this with the angled numbers were the Spencer and Senator. Case is probably Lincoln, but no idea when it was made. I can tell you that everything fits together really well.
I'm on the fence as I don't believe Bulova was using this movement by then. I think the were only using the 7AK and 7AP for these model types. I'm still thinking it's 1935.
The ebauche, which is ETA 735, dates back to 1935, but Bulova made four versions of this, the 7AP, 7AN, 7AK, and 7AH. I was hoping that the bridge layout might give some clues, as this one shows the earlier extra finger bridge for the escape wheel. However, this same feature is found until at least 1942 on the 7AH. The 1949 President with a 7AP had a similar dial with the same hands. The AP seems to have been the one with the higher jewel count option, and the most different bridge.
The upshot? I have no idea.
Impossible to date the case, so I'd agree with Non Con Lincoln. Would it help to measure the dial? Now I'm curious about what fits what.
In reply to The ebauche, which is ETA by Reverend Rob
Rob,
Does the dial fit the bezel contour?
It appears to be narrower on the top & bottom verses the bezel...It could be the cylinder crystal making it look that way...
OK as the dial seems to match the case curvature it may be original. I'm back to Unknown for now as there are too many differences here in play that we are not sure about.