Bulova Watch Company History
The Bulova Watch
Company had its start in 1875 when Joseph Bulova,
a 23-year-old Czech immigrant, opens a small jewelry shop on Maiden Lane in
New York City.
By
1911 Bulova begins manufacturing and selling boudoir and table clocks as
well as fine pocket watches. These pieces are sold in unprecedented numbers.
1912 Bulova sets up its first plant dedicated to the production of watch
components and their assembly into jeweled movements in Bienne, Switzerland.
1919 During World War I, the convenience of wristwatches (as opposed to
pocket watches) is discovered. In 1919 Bulova introduces the first full line
of men's jeweled wristwatches.
1923 The name Bulova Watch Company, Inc. is adopted. Bulova perfects a new
concept in the watch industry with total standardization of parts. Every
part of a Bulova watch is made with such precision (standardized to the ten
thousandth part of an inch) that it is interchangeable with the same part in
any other Bulova watch. This revolutionizes the servicing of watches in the
industry.
1924 Bulova unveils the first full line of ladies' watches, including
diamond accented pieces.
1926 Bulova produces the nation's first ever radio spot commercial, "At the
tone, its 8 PM, B-U-L-O-V-A Bulova watch time."
1927 In honor of Charles Lindbergh's transatlantic solo flight from New York
to Paris, Bulova ships 5,000 Lone Eagle watches, packaged with pictures of
Lindbergh. The supply is sold out within three days. During the next few
years Bulova sells nearly 50,000 of these commemorative watches. 1927 is
also the year Bulova Watch Company goes public on the American Stock
Exchange.
1931 Bulova conducts the watch industry's first ever million dollar
advertising campaign. Throughout the Depression years, Bulova supports
retailers by offering Bulova watches to buyers on time-payment plans.
1935 Joseph Bulova, founder of Bulova Watch Company, dies.
1941 Continuing its tradition of advertising firsts, Bulova airs the first
television commercial: a simple picture of a clock and a map of the United
States, with a voice-over proclaiming, "America runs on Bulova time." 1941
also marks the year that the Bulova Board of Directors adopts a resolution
to manufacture products for national defense at actual cost. Throughout
World War II, having perfected the skill of creating precision timepieces,
Arde Bulova, Joseph's son, works with the U.S. government to produce
military watches, specialized timepieces, aircraft instruments, critical
torpedo mechanisms and fuses.
1945 The Joseph Bulova School of Watchmaking opens its doors to help
disabled veterans learn watchmaking skills.
1948 Bulova begins developing the Phototimer, a unique combination of
photo-finish camera and precision electronic timing instrument.
1950's Bulova develops a dating system for their watches. A letter followed
by a number indicates the year of manufacture. L4=1954, M7=1967, N2=1972 and
so on.
1952 Bulova begins developing Accutron, the first breakthrough in
timekeeping technology in over 300 years. Accutron, the first fully
electronic watch, promises to keep time to within 2 seconds a day.
1953 Recognizing a new trend in the watch industry, the self-winding and
shock-proof watch, Bulova adds more of this type of watch to its line. Also
added this year is the Bulova Wrist-Alarm, an entirely new kind of watch.
1954 Bulova introduces the "Bulova 23," a self-winding, waterproof ,
23-jewel watch with an unbreakable mainspring, made entirely in the United
States.
1955 An A.C. Neilson Co. Survey reveals that Americans see more national
advertising for Bulova products than for any other products, in any other
industry, in the world.
1956 Bulova completes negotiations to co-sponsor the Jackie Gleason Show, a
one-hour live television show airing Saturday nights from eight to nine
o'clock. This is the first time in history that any watch or jewelry allied
industry has made a sponsorship commitment of such magnitude.
1959 Bulova offers an unprecedented 1-year warranty on all of its clock
radios.
1960 NASA asks Bulova to incorporate Accutron into its computers for the
space program. Bulova timing mechanisms eventually become an integral part
of 46 missions of the U.S. Space Program. Also in 1960, Bulova reintroduces
its redeveloped Phototimer clock, improved with updated photographic and
electronic technologies. It features an infrared sensing element patterned
after those used on heat-seeking missiles. Mounted on the starter's pistol,
the Phototimer senses the flash of the gun and starts a timer clock at the
same instant that the runners leave their marks.
1961
Accutron, the first watch to keep time through electronics, is
introduced. It is the most spectacular breakthrough in timekeeping since the
invention of the wrist watch. This revolutionary timekeeping concept of a
watch without springs or escapement is operated by an electronically
activated tuning fork. The Accutron watch goes on to become a presidential
gift to world leaders and other dignitaries. President Johnson declares it
the White House's official "Gift of State."
1962 The Accutron Tuning-fork watch becomes the first wristwatch certified
for use by railroad personnel. 1962 is also the year that Bulova introduces
its Caravelle line of jeweled watches. Designed to retail at $10.95 to
$29.95, Caravelle competes with non-jeweled watches in the same price range.
1967 Accutron clocks are the only clocks aboard Air Force One.
1968 The Bulova Satellite Clock, the world's first public clock to display
time controlled by time signals broadcast by orbiting satellites, is
inaugurated by Gustavo Diaz Ordaz, President of Mexico. The clock is
installed atop the Torre Latino Americana, Mexico's tallest skyscraper. 1968
also marks the year that Caravelle becomes the largest selling
jeweled-movement watch in the United States.
1969 An Accutron watch movement is part of the equipment placed on the moon
by Apollo 11 astronauts, the first men on the moon. A Bulova timer is placed
in the moon's "Sea of Tranquility" to control the transmissions of vital
data through the years.
Bulova acquires certain assets of
Heirloom, a custom woodworking company specializing in the manufacture of
grandfather clocks. Operating as a Bulova subsidiary under the new name, Art
of Time, Ltd., the Kitchener, Ontario-based facility begins producing
high-quality, custom-made Bulova grandfather clocks for sale in the U.S.,
Canada and Mexico.
Bulova also launches a comprehensive international
operating strategy to enhance its global positioning while protecting the
integrity of the Bulova name by reasserting control over development and
marketing worldwide. A key component of the program is the opening of
European headquarters in Fribourg, Switzerland, marking Bulova’s return to
full proprietary operations in Europe after nearly a quarter of a century.
Made in Switzerland, with product development at both Bulova Swiss, S.A. and
Bulova’s home office in New York, the Bulova European Collection is set to
begin distribution on January 1, 2003.
History is from Bulova's public information.
More Bulova Watches: Because
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we have listed these on our Buyers Guide so
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