I recently acquired this 1954 Mr. Universe or at least I hope it will be eventually. Presently it has a 1948 7AK 21 jewel movement in it that needs work, but I'm wanting to put a correct movement in it if you guys can help me determine what that might be. I have only seen a few of this model and I think it will be worth the effort to put it back to original again. The hands should be the dauphine style and I'm not sure about the dial. I've seen them with all numbers and with 3 numbers and hash marks like the one in the 1955 ad I'm posting.
WOW, I am not going to argue with that advert Alan. We have a Miss Universe and now it appears we have MR.! I see that the dial doesn't match the advert but this case is too unique to be confused with any other model.
Mr Universe, first of his name.
Nice. Now we have Mr U too! Are those articulating lugs?
In reply to Nice. Now we have Mr U too! by William Smith
Yes Mr. Smith. It has swinging lugs.
Mr Universe, good find
I am seeing two models that could fit this id; the Mr. Universe in the ad already posted or the Commuter in this 1953 ad
I also do not see the hinged lugs in any of these ads, and it would seem that this feature would be something to advertise. We also have another 1953 record id'd as the Commuter and another Mr.U ad from 1955. They both look the same with the exception of the expansion band. Both of these models were available at the $71.50 through 1961 at least; w/o the original band it could be either model, plus this watch has an earlier movement with the wrong dial (per the ads available). Could be one or the other, but Mr.U shows up in the 1955 pricelists NEW section - which could be a new model or something else undertermined. I am leaning towards a tentative Commuter based on the year of this case or until a more distinguishing factor comes up between the two models
Now I gotta recheck some ads.... Thanks Ken for the info!
I'm now at 1954 Commuter, as per details above.... but it's a close one when we have a 1953 Commuter ad, 1954 watch, and different 1955 ad (Mr. U) and "new/updated" section of price list from 1955 showing Mr U.
Isn't this fun!
I guess I'll go with the 'Commuter' logic as well. Amazing that a watch we've only seen a couple times comes back with two names in the same two year period. It seems like Bulova thought the name was wrong (Commuter?) after the first round of advertising.
I'm currently at Non-conforming as I believe that this watch has the wrong dial, movement and hands for either the Bulova Commuter or Mr Universe.
I do see hands and dial are different than the ads, but the jewel count matches.
To date:
1954 Commuter: Will, Ken, Geoff
Non-Conforming: Admin,
Mr Universe: Jabs,