Horological Meandering

Walked into a mom and pop shop that is going out of business and happened upon these two Bulova Accutrons, both from the 1970's. Liked the vintage look of them so I just had to take them home. They are, supposedly, NOS. They may be NOS but the Coffin Case watch seemed like it didn't get the respect it should have when being taken in and out of the case or handled. The crystal looks like it is acrylic and is scuffed. Although the pictures, bad that they are, over emphasizes it, but when viewing at normal range and size, it's not as bad. It has applied logo and logo type. The logo type, Bulova Accurton, looks like the "connecting" areas are getting some type of build up that you see around car battery terminal. The Breguet numerals appear to be enamel and are easily read on the dark brown/chocolate brown concentric gradation. The day changes when the crown is in the out position while changing the time with the hour and minute hands. The date changes by turning the crown while it is in the closed position. The band, which is original, has a layer of snakeskin and the underside appears to be something similar to pleather. It's silver foil stamped with Accuron on one band and debossed with the word Corjam. I think it could be "Corfam" which is a synthetic leather, on the buckle end. Not sure what style the second watch is but that is the one that really caught my eye. Both watches are SS and both have the crowns at the 4:00 position. The luminous paint on both are virtually dead. In the dark, only the hands can be viewed but you really ahve to be looking for it. Of course, it had been over thirty years. This second watch has a silvered dial with just a touch of gold shimmer. Logo, logo type and Roman Numeral are applied. The polished case looks like it is one solid piece. The original band is also silver foli stamped with Accutron but no Corfam, although it appears to be pleather. The crystal is not acrylic and I assume it is glass. Could be sapphire but not sure. Don't know much about Accutrons so any input is welcome. Got one shot of the Tuning Fork. Enjoy, Bob

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Nice and very interesting post, my friend...
These Bulova are amazing...
I never thought about them, but they are repreentative of a certain era!
Best!
Nicolas

I too, never gave them a thought until i saw them in the metal. The bands are a little stiff from years of not being worn but the overall, nostalgic, vintage look is what struck me.

i know nothing about Bulova Accutrons so now, I'll have to start learning. Ahhh. One more thing to add to my schedule! LOL

Aloha,

Bob

I like it...the condition is pretty good...even the electronics, no oxidation.
Is that a rubber gasket around the electronic-board (movement )?

Corfam is cool... was also used for the Omega Dynamic..synthetic leather by Du Pont in 1963.

Congrats!

Kong

Yes, you are correct. That is a rubber gasket around the "movement". LOL

Actually, the Tuning Fork vibrates 360 times per second, so technically, it could be called a movement! LOL

Ciao!

Bob

Hi Bob... put it into an empty glass...and hear the mayhem

Kong

LOL I misread your response. I thought you said put it in a glass of water... so I did. Nothing happened. I thought sparks or electrical charges were going to happen! But nothing!

Just kidding! Dropped it in an empty glass and it sounded cool!

Thanks for that tip! I don't know how you guys come up these but thanks for sharing!

Bob

I have to admit that I've never thought on the Bulova but your post enlighten me to this beauty. Much much more to learn.

Thanks for your post.

Cheers

I, too, never gave Bulova a second thought but I am glad I did. Quite interesting company and their thought behind the Accutron.

The watches are very light as well, kind of like titanium.

Although they may not be able to compete with some of the higher end companies, it seems that they did carve out a niche for themselves in the world of horology.

Thanks,

Bob

Congrats & enjoy!

nt

the style of the second piece with the silvered dial, I'm open to being educated.

Couldn't find much in the way of the style/shape of the case dial, etc., but I know, judging by the markings on the case back, it was made in 1974.

Thanx.

Bob

But, my pictures are awfull!

Thanks for sharing your photos, Terrence S. Is that an anniversary Spaceview in SS?

Can you give us a little background on your watches?

As my watches have been sitting for some years, and although everything looks fine under the hood, even the rubber gasket, I would like to have it serviced. If there is someone you would recommend, please PM me.

Thanx!

Bob

totalling over 40 including the swiss esa equivalents from Baume and Mercier to Zenith/Movado.

i'm a bit of a closet fanatic and have read as much about them as i can. i also have a superb repairer who trained at Bulova during the 1960's and only does tuning forks. he's in London and the best.

 IMHO they are superb watches which have a real place in horological History. the Bulova models are unadjusted, but on the wrist keep perfect time. off the wrist are all over the place so dont worry if it gains or loses in its box.

it is a little known fact that both the Apollo capsules AND Concorde flight decks had Accutron clocks in them due to their accuracy. i once had the pleasure to meet one of Concordes design team and he wore an Accutron simply because they were the most accurate non quartz watches of their time and possibly still are. the ESA models are adjusted and EVERY SINGLE Omega F300hz was a certified chronometer. thats an achievement for you!

the ESA's are actually more fragile than the Bulovas with plastic date rings rather than the metal ones used by Bulova. the ESA date rings are obselete so if you buy one make sure that it changes the date correctly over every day of the month. the teeth break off very easily if the date is changed during the time period when the mechanism is in action. the teeth have to go somewhere when they break so future problems are certain to occur.

the 214 calibre which is my personal favourite ran from 1960 to 1969/70. easily identified by the lack of crown. to my knowledge there were no 214's with either day or date on them. originally they ran on 1.35v mercury batteries, but were easily adjusted to run accurately on 1.5v.

the 218 came in 1970 and production ceased in 1977. these had the crown at 4 oclock and as you will see the day and date were in varied positions. there are several further derivatives of each model, but that just makes things complicated. Bulova did make a spaceview with the case shaped like the tuning fork symbol to celebrate its 25th anniversary. i did have one, but didnt like it much as it was gold plated.

the dating is easy as they used a letter number system starting off with M0 for 1960 and ending with N7 for 1977. if you find a model without this system it is a very late 1970's.

there is a superb website all about them which i have passed to Bob. its Australian based and very comprehensive, even having a complete list of the original spaceview case numbers of which there are very few. if you search the bay you can probably find more spaceviews for sale than were ever originally made which is surreal. it is a simple conversion just needing a spaceview glass and index ring.

i only have 2 now. the 1960 Alpha with the original first issue dial and a 1962 spaceview( original of course). i consider these to be perhaps the most important models although everyones opinion is different.

if i may i'll post all the pics i've got. not all of my collection, but some. i apologise for the quality of the pics as they are archive pics most taken from the sellers listings or sites.

this 'alpha' model is solid 14kt and the first production run ever made by Bulova. it is identified by the dial which was only used twice, in the first run and again in 1969 for one of the last 214 runs. 

 

nice 1960 assymetric 2 tone.

the famous railroad approved model in gold filled case.

first model Astronaut. no pic of my 218 calibre 2nd model Astronaut i'm afraid, but instead of a gmt hand and rotating bezel it had a date type 2nd time zone display.

the 'coffin' model from late 1970's with as luck would have it, the original bracelet for the MK1 astronaut on it.

a very nice oversized 'snorkel' with lovely ploprof style bracelet. the one model i considered keeping on top of the others.

this spaceview is a conversion as most for sale these days are. there were very few original spaceviews ever made and they can be identified by case numbers on the inside of caseback.

a rarely seen up/down date model.

c*** pic, but this is a gold filled case and bracelet with wood effect bezel and centre links. very 70's and very tacky.

the deep sea 666 which replaced the snorkel as the divers model.

very rare Certina chrono tuning fork using same esa movement the Omega speedsonic.

who said Citizen only made quartz watches. this is a Citizen 'Hisonic' tuning fork using the esa calibre. complete with nice facetted glass. they also made a hisonic pocketwatch which is a very rare piece.

Eterna -Sonic x2. 5 ball bearings a bit superfluous i think.

solid gold IWC. i had the misfortune of losing one of these whilst walking the dogs about 5 years ago, but managed to find another on the bay. only available with german day ring.

Longines Ultronic Divers.

2 different Movado's

this steel model was never worn until i sold it. it still had its hang tags on it and all instructions.

Solid Gold Omega, strangely not bearing the Connie, Seamaster or geneve names.

unusual dial, gold nugget outer and space dust inner. too bling for me to keep, but a conversation piece none the less.

Omega Geneve model which was the first tuning fork i ever purchased and only the 2nd Omega i purchased.

Omega Megasonic 720hz. Omega were the only company to make this model and they are now irreparable so dont buy a duffer.

the mirror dialled version of the famous Omega Speedsonic. i never had the honour of owning a 'lobster' and probably never will now.

Rado with Tungsten case just like the diastars.

Tissot.

Solvil et Titus.

A brace of Universals.

Universal Unisonic divers. basically same design as the Longines Divers.

and finally, my ORIGINAL 1962 Spaceview. a piece to treasure.

hope you enjoy the pics.

i would say, that due to the fact that Tuning Forks havent ever received the appreciation they deserve and you can pic them up for next to nothing, every watch collector should have one, just to experience them. i know i went a bit over the top(who me   ), but they really are something a bit special and knock the Hamilton electronic into a cocked hat.

Graham

 

any 1.5v battery that fits up to a 386 (just a bit big, but if you bend the middle of the 'cross bar' contact its fine). my repairer does nag me about that as they should take only 1 size battery due to power drain, but if your happy to change them more often if it fits it works.

Graham

Wow, Graham, your collection was breatless, my friend...

Very nice post, quite a review!

Thanks for sharing, my friend!

Best.

Nicolas

Thanks for sharing not only your collection, but what you've learned as well.

Both of my watches are US made, one in 72, the other in 74. When I first looked at the serial number n the coffin watch, I thought it started with a zero but after putting on my glasses, the zero turned into a G. Loved the pix of your Coffin w/Diamond Bracelet! Very nice.

And thank you for that website. It is a font of information.

All the best, my friend.

Bob

i would never have considered sharing as they are a very niche market.

your right Bob, the coffin on the diamond link bracelet looks good, but that bracelet belongs on the mk1 astronaut really even though it fits the coffin perfectly.

you should try to look for a 214 calibre with a back setting hack mechanism. IMHO they have a bit more soul and look different due to the lack of crown. there are loads on the bay, but some have been very messed with and should be avoided.

if you like the spaceview, pm me for the accutron info site where there is a list of case numbers for the originals. number found on inside of caseback, in total only about 200 were ever made and these are where the potential value is. 'purists' will never pay the right value for a conversion, but the originals are in high demand.

if anyone really likes the 1960 gold Alpha of mine feel free to pm me. it has its original box as well and being the 'first' accutron is very historic.

Graham

for it was you who had mentioned them in a previous post which started my education toward Accutrons.

Ciao!

Bob

NT

I've had these watches since the early 80's, but wasn't the original owner on either.  The gold plated one, I purchased at an estate sale.  The ss spaceview is my favorite.  A friend of mine owed me money, I don't remember what for.  He gave me the watch to even things up and because I had a 1970 "Grabber Green" Boss 302 Mustang.  The watch matched the paint color!  Not sure what year the watch was made.

We all live in such a busy world. That is why we all have watches! Or is it, the watches have us?

Cool story about the SpaceView. The BOSS may go but the Spaceview is still around!

Cheers.

Bob