Bulova 1951 Thayer

Submitted by thegoi31 on
Manufacture Year
1951
Movement Model
10BRC
Movement Date Code
L1
Movement Jewels
17
Case Serial No.
3794797
Case shape
Round
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Worn, Bulova watch. Inside case 10k rolled gold plated bezel, stainless back, New York. Case back 3794797 Bulova (possibly L1). Watch movement 10BRC, which I have not seen, Bulova watch co. 17 jewels. Round, self winding 

02/12/2025
02/12/2026
02/12/2025
02/12/2025
JimDon5822
Posted February 12, 2025 - 7:03pm

Thank you for posting your watch.  Based on ads I believe this to be a 1951 Bulova Duo Wind "F"

 

thegoi31
Posted February 13, 2025 - 12:17am

And thank you! What a beautiful strap they had in the ads. I'm assuming leather 

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted February 13, 2025 - 4:51am

Yes Leather.

The 'DUO-WIND' has Duo Wind printed on the Dial and had an 11AAC movement.

The subject watch has selfwinding printed on the Dial and a 10BRC movement which I believe makes it the 'THAYER'. 

 

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted February 13, 2025 - 7:16am

if I'm not mistaken the 'DUO-WIND' has a bi-directionally winding movement, the rotor winds the watch in either direction while others have an omni-direction automatic winding mechanism. (winds in one direction only)

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted February 14, 2025 - 5:09am

JimDon5822
Posted February 14, 2025 - 3:34pm

It looks like we need to do a complete review of the Duo Wind vs Thayer watches.  We seem to have both dial and movement configurations named for both.   And to add confusion see this 1952 ad showing the Thayer name with the Duo Wind dial.    Do we call all Self Winding dial watches Thayer and all Duo Wind dial watches Duo Wind or default to one name for all?

 

 

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted February 15, 2025 - 4:54am

The ads are confusing and possibly an error.  The definitive answer to which is which is in the Watch movement. 

11AAC - 'DUO-WIND'   -   10BRC - 'THAYER'    -   another clue is the case dimension, the 'DUO-WIND' being the slightly larger of the 2.

1955mercury
Posted February 15, 2025 - 7:44am

According to the movement data base, the 11AAC was made from 1948 to 1950 and the 10BRC was made from 1951 to 1952. So maybe the movement does determine the model name. 

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted February 15, 2025 - 11:28am

Certainly.  As I mentioned the 11AAC is a bi-directionally winding movement, hence 'DUO-WIND',  also the Case of the 'DUO-WIND' is larger in diameter.  These old ads are not Gospel, they are created by ad agencies for whoever the customer is.  If an image can be used 2x why not?

Here's one from 1950, note the lack of Duo Wind or Selfwinding on the dial. 

1955mercury
Posted February 15, 2025 - 12:00pm

That's odd. Says gold filled case with stainless back. Most of the vintage Bulovas that I've seen with a stainless case back have a rolled gold plated bezel.