At the Basel Fair in 1971, Bulova exhibited the first production models. This was far better than competing mechanical watches, causing a sales and publicity surge.īulova launched the Accutron to worldwide acclaim on October 25, 1960. This increases the accuracy of the movement, allowing Bulova to guarantee a maximum deviation of +/- 60 seconds per month. This tuned vibrating member oscillates at 360 oscillations per second (Hz), much faster than the balance wheel found in a mechanical watch (2.5-5.0 Hz). Where quartz movements excite a vibration in quartz crystal for timing, the Accutron instead used electromagnets acting on a tuning fork. It was an important step in the development of electronic and quartz watches. It was developed in secret, even as electric watches gained acclaim. He created a working model in 1953, moving it to prototype stage in 1955. Cheers.Swiss engineer Max Hetzel developed the tuning fork concept after joining Bulova in 1950. But the later models did have some nice improvements that apparently made them less finicky to work on. The 214, Spaceviews in particular, really are the classic Accutron. I won't get a good look at the teeth on the existing index wheel until I get my doubling Barlow lens that will take me to 90X magnification. I'll probably end up replacing the index wheel. That 2182 is still not running right, but rather fast and stuttering with a 1.55V battery. I was the second one who saw it, but the first guy was out of the country and the owner had said he'd only ship to the US. He offered it, gratis, to the first taker. What started me down this road/rabbit-hole, was a guy who didn't want to spend what it would take to fix a 2182 that was his dad's. I had no interest in wristies at the time, and certainly not electrified watches with weird vibrating forks. I remember him talking about the "real deal" vs modified versions. Not long after we met, he started going after Spaceview wrist watches. I had a friend that was into pocket watches when I first got into them in the nineties. Unfortunately, they seem to go for a lot more money than 218 series and such. I haven't had the same good luck with another couple, but will continue to work on them until their morale improves, along with their timekeeping. I was finally able to "phase" a 2181 mode so that it's keeping great time with a new 1.55V silver oxide battery. Cheers.Įdit: The link that JohnR725 posted is invaluable for getting these watches to keep the kind of time they were designed to. They are a different animal, but a very cleverly designed one. My recent journey into Accutrons just started, but I am very intrigued, and appreciative, of the all around design and quality of manufacture of what I've seen so far. I hope the OP has good luck with the service of the watch. And yes, they are reputed to run virtually forever, or at least until they grind themselves to dust. There are all sorts of interesting things about these watches. ![]() With these watches it may be dangerous to be setting the hands before new lubrication is added to this center assembly. If they lose their lubrication in the area the pinion and wheel turn independently of each other, the junction area, they'll grind themselves to uselessness pretty quickly. It is in two pieces, with the canon pinion being steel and the wheel brass. The center assembly looks like a canon pinion with a wheel underneath it. The 218 series movements tend to have big issues with damage to the center-tube and/or the center-assembly.
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