Bulova 1951 Wilshire

Submitted by PastyDuchy on
Manufacture Year
1951
Movement Model
8AD
Movement Jewels
17
Case Serial No.
4731971
Case shape
Rectangle
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Puzzle for you, it's not a Wiltshire (pretty confident the 51 "Wilkshire" posted is a spelling mistake as there's no such place and I can see in the comments someone else has come to the same conclusion). It does have a moustache and is a L1. Everything matches up although I think the dial is refinished as the minutes track has hour markers. 

 

21/10/2020
10/21/2020
10/21/2020
10/21/2020
neetstuf-4-u
Posted October 22, 2020 - 10:36am

I agree the dial has been re-done. The minute marks don't quite line up with the hour gold hashmarks.

Question: are there rough marks on the insides of the lugs indicating the ball decorations were lost? I believe the Wilkshire had only one attachment point for the balls (on the mustache and not to bezel). The plating wear spots on lugs almost suggest mechanical buffing as opposed to wrist wear.

PastyDuchy
Posted October 22, 2020 - 12:30pm

In reply to by neetstuf-4-u

No noticeable roughness but there is a brassy spot on both moustaches where you would expect the balls to be attached. More obvious on one than the other so perhaps one came away and one was removed to balance up. I've taken a pic but having no url I can't upload it here. Could do via my laptop later if you want? 

Certainly lost balls is the most logical explanation 

Geoff Baker
Posted October 22, 2020 - 8:51pm

Hey Luke - glad to see you're still kicking it over there, wow do WE have some politics to laugh about!  ......lost it's balls, oy vey! (Silence of the Bulovas)

I too think it's a WILTSHIRE (name correction needed). 1951 Bulova Wiltshire

PastyDuchy
Posted October 23, 2020 - 4:37am

In reply to by Geoff Baker

Hey Geoff 

Glad to see you still have your sense of humour in these ever crazier times. Hope you're well sir! 

neetstuf-4-u
Posted October 24, 2020 - 9:21am

Agreed with the name change in Db. When discussing "missing case details" I controlled myself from making the obvious jokes..........drat!

Sounds and looks to me like one was lost in some sort of mechanical buffing accident and the other surgically removed for aesthetic balance (yikes!). There, I said it :o)

1951 WILSHIRE noting "case modification"

Comments on this one as well as ads shown published a few years apart seem to indicate WILSHIRE is the name, with WILKSHIRE a potential ad text mistake.

On the keyboard, "k" and "L" are next to each other - fat fingered ad text typist

JimDon5822
Posted October 25, 2020 - 10:23am

1951 WILSHIRE noting "case modification". Note the 1950's sales books only list Wilshire as a name. 

mybulova_admin
Posted October 27, 2020 - 4:01am

Thanks team, I'll update the model listing to be Wilshire and publish this watch according.