I believe this to be a 1937 MInute Man model C based on the advert here: http://www.mybulova.com/sites/default/files/vintage_ads/bulova-ad-1937-… This was purchased on ebay and is in beautiful shape I think. The side of the case had one little dent which I was able to massge mostly out with a pointed piece of wood. Only a slight interruption in reflection betrays it now. The face is a slightly yellower patina than my pics show me on my monitors. Kind of a slghtly gold-toned off-white. It's just beautiful. The bracelet is what came on it and looks to be old but I'm not completely enthralled with it and it's a bit small for my wrist. I see in some of the 1938 adverts that the Minute Man was provided with a leather strap. I'd rather go that route and if someone could show me a good pic of an example strap, style and color that would be period appropriate I'd really appreciate it. I'll look through the adverts and member watches too. So do I have it right? 1937 Minute Man? And am I really going to wear an 81 year old watch to work occasionally?
Thanks!
Bulova Minute Man it is. Movement date stamp is indeed 1937, but serial number starting with an 8 indicates it was cased in 1938, so technically it's a 1938. I agree with Geoff on band choice - brown pigskin leather would be really nice. The original style link bracelets are still out there. Unfortunately, by today's standards, most that survived as new old stock are a little short to wear if your wrist is 7" or bigger. I would personally go the route 5th Ave. did, like this one.