Bulova Collection

Collection

Identifier: MG-025

Staff Only

This collection is comprised of various materials related to the watch company, Bulova. The documents span several decades of the company's history. This includes information on their corporate headquarters, manufacturing reports and drawings, repair and service manuals, and a number of documents on the Accutron.

There are a number of annual reports and internal documents as well as information on the history of the company. There are several documents on the Bulova School of Watchmaking, which was set up in the late 1940s after World War II to primarily function as a horological school for disabled veterans who had been wounded in service. These materials include promotional booklets and articles as well as a program from their dedication ceremony in August of 1944.

This collection also contains a number of materials regarding the repair and service of Bulova watches. This includes parts catalogs and price lists, as well as various manuals for specific timepieces.

Several of the drawings in this collection are of note, since they have actual watch parts encased in plastic included with the illustration. These include balance wheels, hairsprings, escape wheels, and pinions.

Furthermore, there are a number of materials related to Accutron, an electronic watch released in 1960 by Bulova that replaced many traditional elements of a watch movement with a tuning fork. This material includes press materials from the premiere and announcement of the Accutron watch from October 1960. Press releases were issued with the announcement of the Accutron which highlighted its importance in the watch world, including background information on the thirty years leading up to the Accutron's release. There is also biographical information on two Bulova employees who were instrumental in bringing the Accutron into existence, Max Hetzel and William O. Bennett.

Dates

1946 - 1991

Language of Materials

English

French

Conditions Governing Use

These records are open to researchers for personal or scholarly research. Most of the records in the collection are available for photocopy, depending on the preservation needs of the material as well as other variables not specified here. Researchers, however, are responsible for obtaining copyright permission to use materials and documents. These records are part of the permanent collection in the archives of the Library & Research Center of the National Watch and Clock Museum and researchers are required to comply with the Archive Rules when using the collection.

Extent

2.5 Linear Feet (5 boxes)

Additional Description

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into four series:

Series I: Corporate
Series II: Manufacturing
Series III: Repair, Service, and Technical
Series IV: Accutron

Series I includes information in relation to the corporation. This includes pamphlets and annual reports, as well as information about the Bulova School of Watchmaking.

Series II contains documents related to the manufacturing and creation of watches and watch parts. This includes internal documents as well as drawings.

Series III contains technical information related to Bulova. This includes catalogs and price lists as well as service manuals.

Series IV contains information on the Accutron, a watch that uses a tuning fork instead of more traditional watch parts. The documents in this collection include service manuals, press releases and information on the world premier of the Accutron in 1960.

Creator

NAWCC Library and Research Center Archives

Processing Information

This collection was processed and partially described before May 2016. During the Autumn of 2016, the collection was revisited and the archival description was expanded. It is unclear if the order of the collection present at the time of the revision accurately reflected the original order. The order in which the collection was found in 2016 has been maintained as it is presented here with minimal alterations.