Bulova 1948 Director

1948 Director ad indicates this case is not a Director. There is a bit of controversy of exactly what your watch is. I have the same watch and the same problem. I believe my watch is a Commodore, but I have no ad for proof.

Hi Wayne,

Is it possible that the first part of 1948 Bulova was using the old style (1941) case and came out with the new case towards the end of the year?  I mean the 41 and this one (48) look identical to me.

Terry

Terry,

NOT if the first display ads for the (illustrated 1948) model was likely published pre Christmas, 1947? (Meaning the watch would have almost certainly have been manufactured in say 1947, in this case. (Punn intended...)

:-)  Scott

According to our 'on site Watch Crystal expert' there are 2 late 1940's models which accept the same Crystal to fit this case.

One is the 'COMMODORE' the second is the 'BROKER'. Below is the 'COMMODORE'

There are three 1941 Bulova Director watches in our database, that are suppoerted by a 1941 ad. Our on-site ads do not depict a Director model again until 1946. However, the 1946 Director appears in an updated case different from the 1941 case design. See ad directly below.

In 1947 Bulova changes the name of this model Director to Excellency SS. See as directly below.

In 1948 Bulova introduces an updated Director. See ad directly below.

In 1947 & 1948 Bulova was producing a Commmodore & a Broker model that are not shown in any of the on-site ads. However, the crystal catalogs does support these two models. Confusing thing is that the Commodore has a case that is a dead ringer for the 1941 Director. The Broker has the same shape as the Commodore but has an engraved case. The naming problem had developed because the only ad that shows a case shaped like the Commodore & Broker is the 1941 ad with the name Director. If we follow the ads above we see that Bulova assigned other entirely different shaped cases with the Director name.

I would rather see these beautiful 1948 Commodore below on the left & 1947 Broker model on the right, labeled Unknown due to the above facts, rather than have them mis-labeled Director.

The Commodore ad above this comments box states late1940's, but it actually a 1949 ad in the on-site database & should have no part in this discussion, except that a Commodore model did exist in the 1940's.

Wayne,

The above ad is dated 1947.

You can't say that "the Commodore has a case that is a dead ringer for the 1941 Director"

Where is the proof that Your statement is correct?  There is none.

Based on the information We have the late 1940's 'BROKER' has a case which is a dead ringer for the earlier 1941 'DIRECTOR'.

The 'COMMODORE' is shown to have a similar case dimensionally but with entirely different lugs.

Here is the ad from our on-site database dated 1949, check the image properties.

Here is a 1941 Director on the left & a 1948 Commodore on the right. The cases are the same.

The proof in my statement is right in my comments if you follow them correctly and read the text and look at the pictures.

Who is we? The information I have is that the Broker is engraved. Below is a picture of one of our members 1947 Broker. Sure looks like it's engraved to me.

I believe I have refuted everything in your last comments. Let's see what our other panel members think about calling Terry K watch a 1948 Director. 

Image properties for the cropped version of the 'COMMODORE' ad state 1947

.

I don't think terry's Watch is a 1948 'DIRECTOR' either Wayne, IMO and based on the info at hand it's a 1948 'BROKER', above is the 'COMMODORE'.

as discussed here: http://www.mybulova.com/watches/1941-director-2535