but the durability of the "Autotractor" can also be found in the 976 (the manual, single-time variant), or the DuoDate, which is my preferred version. I think the 976 would have been awesome with a flat-back as it is a large canvass, but, alas, JLC only produced it with exhibition back, and the movement wasn't much to look at (verses, say, a 822 base).
So, if you're never going to engrave it, I would go with the DuoDate, if you can get your hands on one - as it is now discontinued.
-Dean