Virtual time capsule watch uncovered

[Cristell]

This watch was given to my fathers uncle upon retirement, I was told he rarely if ever wore it. When he passed away 30 years or so ago, it was handed down to my father who never wore a watch in his life. So there it sat in his dresser until today when my father gave it to me.

I did some research and found the serial # dates it to 1970, some 41 years old. It's a Bulova Accutron, which I found was cutting edge technology in the mid 1960's when it first came out. It was powered by battery and used a vibrating tuning fork to keep time which made it extremely accurate. The watch is not in working condition but I can manually advance the day/date and time, I'm told it has a sweeping second hand. I hope to have it serviced but my research unveiled it's very hard to find parts for these watches. I think it would look great on a black leather band.

My mom told me she brought it to have the battery replaced several years ago, hence the scratches on the underside I assume. She said it worked for only a few days and stopped.

I am amazed of the condition of this watch, it has never been polished or buffed yet it looks close to brand new. I didn't even clean it before I took these photos.

I'm still trying to figure out if it's gold or gold plated/filled. The only markings I found between the lugs read 40 SAD.

If anyone has any knowledge about this watch I would love to hear.

PS ..... Maybe if my great uncle made it to 25 years he would have received a Rolex ..... Now that would have made for a great story!

Thanks!

[theloxmyth]

Wow, it's really well kept.

Is John from around Pittsburgh, as we have a Mikan Motors here?

[Cristell]

My great uncle John is long gone, he would have been around 100 if still alive. He lived in NJ when I knew him but I know he had roots in PA so it may be possible.

[MonBK]

A stunner.

[avusblue]

That's a very nice piece. I inherited my dad's '70's Bulova Accutron 218 and had it restored. I don't wear it very often, but when I do I really appreciate it. The tone it makes from the humming tuning fork is wonderfully musical and brings back good memories. The liquid-smooth sweep of the second hand is hypnotic. The watch is remarkably accurate -- mine is as good as a modern quartz watch; it gains about 3 to 5 seconds a month. The battery only lasts a little over a year, but is easy to change. These watches are very durable and rugged; NASA used stock Accutron movements for the instrument panel clocks on the Gemini and Apollo spacecraft. They really were the state of the art in their day.

I remember as a little kid always asking my dad to take the watch off so I could hold it up to my ear and hear the tone of the tuning fork. I'm sure that sound, and the mystery of fine incomprehensible miniscule machinery, imprinted a good measure of my lifelong watch enthusiasm.

Here's mine:



Anyway, you want this done right. You don't want to just plop in a new battery and see if it fires up -- that can blow out the coils if a crust of 40 year old hardened lubricant has made the forks immobile. Overhauling these watches is very "do-able" and is not overly expensive. I recommend contacting Bob Piker -- see http://www.mybob.net.

Good luck and enjoy it.

PS - My guess is yours is an Accutron 218 with a "goldtone" case, like mine.

[Cristell]

Originally Posted by avusblue

That's a very nice piece. I inherited my dad's '70's Bulova Accutron 218 and had it restored. I don't wear it very often, but when I do I really appreciate it. The tone it makes from the humming tuning fork is wonderfully musical and brings back good memories. The liquid-smooth sweep of the second hand is hypnotic. The watch is remarkably accurate -- mine is as good as a modern quartz watch; it gains about 3 to 5 seconds a month. The battery only lasts a little over a year, but is easy to change. These watches are very durable and rugged; NASA used stock Accutron movements for the instrument panel clocks on the Gemini and Apollo spacecraft. They really were the state of the art in their day.

I remember as a little kid always asking my dad to take the watch off so I could hold it up to my ear and hear the tone of the tuning fork. I'm sure that sound, and the mystery of fine incomprehensible miniscule machinery, imprinted a good measure of my lifelong watch enthusiasm.

Here's mine:



Anyway, you want this done right. You don't want to just plop in a new battery and see if it fires up -- that can blow out the coils if a crust of 40 year old hardened lubricant has made the forks immobile. Overhauling these watches is very "do-able" and is not overly expensive. I recommend contacting Bob Piker -- see http://www.mybob.net.

Good luck and enjoy it.

PS - My guess is yours is an Accutron 218 with a "goldtone" case, like mine.

I appricate your advice and input, it was very helpful.

Thanks