Bulova 1938 Physician

Submitted by dhhirsch on February 1, 2013 - 12:06am
Manufacture Year
1938
Movement Model
7AC
Movement Date Code
Cresent Moon
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
8277525
Case shape
Rectangle
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

1938 Physician, with two date codes--Cresent and Square.  I saw the discussion about the 1941 Physician with two date codes, but there didn't seem to be an answer as far as why two...  Also, this has the BXW on the movement, which also was a point of discussion in the thread on the 1941...  I'm assuming 1938, since the first number on the case number is 8?   I just bought this on eBay and it was listed as 1938...  So, why two date codes?  Any meaning to the square date code.  Does it have anything to do with the 7AC movement having started to be made in 1936? BTW,  I'm pretty much a newbie to wrist watch collecting... I've bought a few men's Bulova's and a couple lady Bulovas for my wife... I'm also buying a couple for my daughters, for Valentines Day (I've snagged one on eBay so far, and hope to get another soon...)

Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova Watch
bobbee
Posted February 1, 2013 - 7:19pm

Sound theory, I spotted the date codes on the other movements shown by other members had the double date stamp too, as well as the double stamped BXW.

Lovely looking watch, good condition too for an old fogey!

dhhirsch
Posted February 1, 2013 - 8:21pm

Thanks to everyone for all of the responses and information.  I was out all day today and was  really surprised when I went online and saw I had all of these great responses.  This is really a great site and its wonderful to be able to connect with all of the experts on the panel and get your insights...

David

Silvercloud
Posted March 8, 2019 - 1:04am

I have a Physician 13AL movement (only) with a triangle symbol so it is from 1935 which is a few years earlier than ones listed here.

Silvercloud

Reverend Rob
Posted March 8, 2019 - 11:18am

I have another theory as to the date stamps being different. 

The date stamps on this watch are on the barrel bridge, and curiously, the train bridge and the balance bridge both carry the Bulova import code BXW.

For whatever reason, it is possible that the barrel bridge was produced using the earlier date, yet ended up fitted to the same or interchangeable movt with a later date. Basically what I'm saying is that maybe the movt itself is the later date, with an earlier bridge.

I have no idea why this would happen, maybe it was the end of a run and they had spare parts they wanted to use, maybe there was shortage of certain parts. Bulova would have produced enough for a typical run, with many spares for parts for dealers and repair shops. Even after the discontinuation of a model, Bulova produced parts for the movt, for an unknown period of time. It really depends on the movt, what ebauche it is from, and what mods Bulova themselves did to them. 

As mentioned, it is also possible the movt was fully assembled but not used until the later date, and was stamped again at time of casing.