This is a 1951 Bulova with a 10k RGP case and an 8AC 17 jewel movement with an "L1" date code. I bought it because I had never seen one like it before even though it was in rough shape. It was sold for parts because it was missing the crystal, the minute hand and was extremely dirty. I wasn't even sure it was legit, but since then I've seen there is another one on the site in the "unknown" category. Finding a crystal for it was time consuming. None of my crystal catalogs listed a crystal for a Bulova in the correct size. They listed one for a Benrus and a Gruen in the correct size. I ordered the one for the Benrus first and it was the correct size but the curvature didn't match this case. So I ordered the one for the Gruen and it fit perfectly. It's a faceted crystal and I don't know if this watch came with that kind of crystal or not. I put a new pair of hands on it and got it to keeping time perfectly. The crown is not correct but it came on it and does the job. I think it is legit, since now seeing 2 of them. The dial is in bad shape but I'm going to leave it that way for the time being.
In reply to I'm stumped, 1951 Bulova… by Geoff Baker
I affectionately call this one the "Batman" . Unfortunately we do not have an ad match to this model. UNKnown like this one. https://mybulova.com/watches/1950-unknown-12125
In reply to I affectionately call this… by JimDon5822
This model must have not been very popular for some reason. It wouldn't have been a real expensive model. It's just RGP with a 17 jewel movement. I'd never seen one like it until after buying it and then I saw there was one on here in the "unknown" category. I couldn't even find a crystal for it listed for a Bulova. I forgot to mention the back of the dial has "51" inside a circle stamped in ink on the back of it. Does that have any meaning?
In reply to This model must have not… by 1955mercury