Bulova 1945 Minute Man

Submitted by Einsteiger on
D
Manufacture Year
1945
Movement Model
10BC
Movement Date Code
Triangle
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
5728333
Case shape
Tonneau
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Crystal details
11/16" x 9/16"
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

I found this piece in my fathers old tool box, buried beneath some misc. tools.  It may have been my mothers - uncertain.  Poor condition.  Stem gone.  Crystal hazed.  Based on the band and folding clasp I'm assuming it is a ladies model.  Case # on the back is the only identifier on the outside.  Inside, the movement has a small triangle symbol which I will assume means 1945.  Movement # is 10BC.  Inside of the case cover has stamped lettering: Bulova - stainless steel back - New York.  Also on the inside of the case cover is a hand-etched marking : K397 - above the stamped lettering.  Validation of model and date is appreciated.  Thanks for your time

1945 Bulova watch
1945 Bulova watch
1945 Bulova watch
1945 Bulova watch
Kathy L.
Posted June 6, 2019 - 1:00pm

Welcome to myBulova!  What a fun find for you.  This watch is a mens watch.  The watches from this time were smaller than the watches of today.  Although it is possible your mother wore it of course.  It looks like a Minute Man to me, like this one and others in the DB https://www.mybulova.com/watches/1946-minute-man-5841 I will find an ad and attach it in a bit.

1945 Minute Man

Einsteiger
Posted June 6, 2019 - 1:12pm

That makes sense...it was in his old tool box after all.  Had I known it was there 50 years ago, I would have taken better care of it!!  Thank you for your time.  

Kathy L.
Posted June 6, 2019 - 1:21pm

Here are a couple of ads.  The first one from 1945 and the second from 1948 showing that the yellow gold filled version is a "D".

1945 Bulova Minute Man "D"

Einsteiger
Posted June 6, 2019 - 4:27pm

Awesome.  Thanks very much.  I didn't think that I would find anything at all.  Appreciate the effort.

Geoff Baker
Posted June 7, 2019 - 7:19am

Great Story - I just love these old family pieces.

1945 Bulova Minute Man D - Nice match Kathy

Reverend Rob
Posted June 7, 2019 - 11:13am

1945 Minute Man 'D'.

mybulova_admin
Posted June 8, 2019 - 9:52pm

Parts should be easy enough to find on eBay. Always great to hear a wonderful story like this.

I hope you are able to get it serviced and up and running again so that you can wear it.

I promise you it'll be a great feeling when you do :-)

neetstuf-4-u
Posted June 9, 2019 - 6:46am

1945 Minute Man 'D'

Heirloom watches are the best!

Einsteiger
Posted June 9, 2019 - 11:18am

There is a shop not far from me that specializes in watches.  I'm going there next week to see if they would do some restoration work - replace the winding stem and maybe clean up the crystal - and then deceide whether to display it or wear it occasionally.  

My guess is that this Minute Man was either a gift or a reward to himself after VE day.  $39 was a lot of money in 1945. 

Somewhere in the house is his tiny old Timex with a half-rotted leather band that he wore all during WWII.  He was in the 82nd & 101st Airborne and that little watch flew over Normandy [ he was in a glider going inland with his unit during the invasion ] and was with him through the Bulge and on into Berlin.  Not a Bulova, but a keepsake nonetheless.  :)   

 

Thanks again to everyone for their help and comments. 

Kathy L.
Posted June 9, 2019 - 3:10pm

Wow, what a wonderful story.  It would be so worth getting both of them restored and serviced so you can enjoy them and think of him often.