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Post by seikoholic on Feb 12, 2014 19:42:42 GMT -8
I just picked up a Bell-matic. I haven't owned many of them, though I've rebuilt more than a few. This one is a 27-jewel 4006-7000, from February 1967, and unlike every other Belle I've owned, I like it. If I had the end links for the original bracelet that goes with it, I'd like it even more. But I don't know when Bell-matics were made. From when to when? Also, I don't ask this very often, but any strap suggestions until I find a set of end links?  |
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Post by estrickland on Feb 12, 2014 21:02:59 GMT -8
Congrats, Spencer-
I *just* started looking at Bell-Matics also. I decided to add an alarm watch to the collection and while researching vintage JLC and Vulcain I saw a picture with a Memovox, Cricket and Bell-Matic and almost spat my soda.
Somehow despite full blown Seikoholism I'd completely missed the Bell-Matics.
I believe the production started in '66, and your '67 is one of the very earliest models, with most of them being mid '70s.
Also, I don't think you're doing too badly with your current strap - I think the watch lends itself to brown calf.
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Post by psrivats on Feb 12, 2014 23:29:52 GMT -8
Very nice bell-matic, Spencer. The alarm on these things are awesome. It'll look great on a NATO strap, I think. I'm more interested in picking up the quartz analog of your watch that Seiko made in the early 80s .. Let me see if I can find a pic of those. Why can't Seiko make classics like these today, instead of more monster variations  Edit: found it! (courtesy of another member at SCWF)  (Sent from my mobile, please pardon my spelling) |
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Rod
WS Benefactor
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Post by Rod on Feb 13, 2014 0:31:10 GMT -8
Well the earliest is the Diashock dolphin case back from Nov 1966, this is mine, i only know of five from Nov, i have serial numbers for all these and mine is the second oldest. Notice the scolloped case  Dolphin case back  Diashock dial  My unusual "Business Bell" from July 1967, all BB i have seen come from Jul 1967 and this one is in the original box with "Business Bellmatic" written on the front.  This is from Hermann (startsomthing) The Bell-Matic was introduced as 4006-7000 model in November 1966 in Japan and at that time was the world's first alarm wristwatch with a CENTRAL ROTOR automatic.
November 66 specimens are characterized by their 'dolphin' caseback and a notch in the case for the alarm button.
In mid 1967, a special Bell-Matic model was introduced in Seiko's 'Business' watch line, aka the business bell, which was however discontinued again after a few months of production.
Due to import tarrifs in the US, the high jewel count of the original 4006A design (27J) was a drawback for exporting to the US.
Thus a special calibre 4006A variant with 21J was produced in two case variants (7019 and 7029) specifically for the north american market.
A date-only Bell-Matic (calibre 4005A) was introduced in mid 68 and remained in production for approx. 1 year.
In mid 1969, a 17J derivative of calibre 4006A was introduced, which was used in almost all Bell-Matic models produced afterwards, with the main exception of the 7011/7012 models, which were most probably JDMs.
The Bell-Matic line was discontinued altogether in 1978, but it should be noted that in very rare occasions, some cases from 1979 can be found (which however are believed to be 'repair cases' i. e., they did not leave the factory as a complete watch). |
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Post by seikoholic on Feb 13, 2014 8:00:14 GMT -8
Very nice bell-matic, Spencer. The alarm on these things are awesome. It'll look great on a NATO strap, I think. I'm more interested in picking up the quartz analog of your watch that Seiko made in the early 80s .. Let me see if I can find a pic of those. Why can't Seiko make classics like these today, instead of more monster variations Edit: found it! (courtesy of another member at SCWF) (Sent from my mobile, please pardon my spelling) I have one of those in near NOS condition but it's dead. I need a circuit and a coil for it. I got a donor watch, and it too had a dead circuit and dead coil. If I had those two things, I'd have one of those available. It's really nice - bracelet and everything. JDM. |
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Post by seikoholic on Feb 13, 2014 8:10:38 GMT -8
I've always been impressed with the Bell quality, I just never had a model that I bonded with. This one is a very nice all-original piece. It came in for service and then the owner decided he'd rather just get his money out of it, so he traded it in for credit. The spring washer that kept the day-wheel down had flattened out and the day wheel had popped up. Also, the winding gear had split in half. The movement needed attention. But I had time so I took care of it late last night. The build quality on these is impressive, though it's funny to see that six of the jewels are underneath the date-wheel. So, it's really a 21j movement I'd say. But super nice regardless. amazing piece of engineering.
So, February '67 is fairly early - only a few months into production. Is this watch JDM or for general world distribution? How much were these when they were new in USD?
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Post by psrivats on Feb 13, 2014 8:37:21 GMT -8
Spencer, from what I know, for Seiko watches from that era - if the day wheel is in kanji, it is likely JDM. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
I've had one Bell-matic in the past, but it was not a nice example. I mainly got it to check the alarm out and I was surprised at how well it seemed to work. I eventually gave that watch away on the fora. I'm partial to the black dialed model, perhaps I'll get one someday.
I'd love to see your near NOS quartz piece. You know that I greatly enjoy Seiko quartz, but the eventual movement mortality worries me .. I've definitely stocked up on my 7548 spares, but I'd hate to see one go kaput electronically.
How does the bell-matic alarm work internally?
(Sent from my mobile, please pardon my spelling)
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Post by seikoholic on Feb 13, 2014 9:06:05 GMT -8
Spencer, from what I know, for Seiko watches from that era - if the day wheel is in kanji, it is likely JDM. Please correct me if I'm wrong. I've had one Bell-matic in the past, but it was not a nice example. I mainly got it to check the alarm out and I was surprised at how well it seemed to work. I eventually gave that watch away on the fora. I'm partial to the black dialed model, perhaps I'll get one someday. I'd love to see your near NOS quartz piece. You know that I greatly enjoy Seiko quartz, but the eventual movement mortality worries me .. I've definitely stocked up on my 7548 spares, but I'd hate to see one go kaput electronically. How does the bell-matic alarm work internally? (Sent from my mobile, please pardon my spelling) It's a connection into the circuit. The alarm will still chirp when it is turned on, so part of the circuit is working. The timekeeping part just won't run. |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2014 11:11:51 GMT -8
I've always been impressed with the Bell quality, I just never had a model that I bonded with. This one is a very nice all-original piece. It came in for service and then the owner decided he'd rather just get his money out of it, so he traded it in for credit. The spring washer that kept the day-wheel down had flattened out and the day wheel had popped up. Also, the winding gear had split in half. The movement needed attention. But I had time so I took care of it late last night. The build quality on these is impressive, though it's funny to see that six of the jewels are underneath the date-wheel. So, it's really a 21j movement I'd say. But super nice regardless. amazing piece of engineering. So, February '67 is fairly early - only a few months into production. Is this watch JDM or for general world distribution? How much were these when they were new in USD? I guess you could call those 6 jewels semi functional since they do facilitate easy movement of the date wheel. The bell came in three configurations, 17 jewels(most common), 21 jewels(the least often seen) and 27 jewels( only slightly less common than the 17 jewel models). This is a nice one that Lew B. gave me some years ago...  There is an even scarcer model Bell; the 27 jewel date only 4005! I believe these movements were at least mid tier in quality if not higher  |
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Rod
WS Benefactor
Posts: 2,213
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Post by Rod on Feb 13, 2014 15:43:43 GMT -8
Spencer, from what I know, for Seiko watches from that era - if the day wheel is in kanji, it is likely JDM. Please correct me if I'm wrong. You would think that all the JDM watches would have Kanji…..but, all of the 1967 JDM Business bell's have english day wheels! Which is something that has always intrigued me  |
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Rod
WS Benefactor
Posts: 2,213
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Post by Rod on Feb 13, 2014 15:50:03 GMT -8
I've always been impressed with the Bell quality, I just never had a model that I bonded with. This one is a very nice all-original piece. It came in for service and then the owner decided he'd rather just get his money out of it, so he traded it in for credit. The spring washer that kept the day-wheel down had flattened out and the day wheel had popped up. Also, the winding gear had split in half. The movement needed attention. But I had time so I took care of it late last night. The build quality on these is impressive, though it's funny to see that six of the jewels are underneath the date-wheel. So, it's really a 21j movement I'd say. But super nice regardless. amazing piece of engineering. So, February '67 is fairly early - only a few months into production. Is this watch JDM or for general world distribution? How much were these when they were new in USD? I guess you could call those 6 jewels semi functional since they do facilitate easy movement of the date wheel. The bell came in three configurations, 17 jewels(most common), 21 jewels(the least often seen) and 27 jewels( only slightly less common than the 17 jewel models). This is a nice one that Lew B. gave me some years ago... There is an even scarcer model Bell; the 27 jewel date only 4005! I believe these movements were at least mid tier in quality if not higher Like a lot of watches that are now in demand, the 4005 was a lesser and cheeper version of the 4006 (17500yen V 18500yen). They do come up for sale on a regular basis and tend to command around a 20% premium on the 4006  |
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Post by estrickland on Feb 13, 2014 18:05:47 GMT -8
Thanks for the posts OTR002 - very informative.  |
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Post by surfingseiko on Feb 14, 2014 6:17:59 GMT -8
That is a beauty. Congratulations and enjoy, Spencer.
Mark
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Post by bobbymike on Feb 14, 2014 13:31:28 GMT -8
I just picked up a Bell-matic. I haven't owned many of them, though I've rebuilt more than a few. This one is a 27-jewel 4006-7000, from February 1967, and unlike every other Belle I've owned, I like it. If I had the end links for the original bracelet that goes with it, I'd like it even more. But I don't know when Bell-matics were made. From when to when? Also, I don't ask this very often, but any strap suggestions until I find a set of end links? Nice one , I have a 4006-7001 that I need an indice for that looks similar....  |
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Post by bobbymike on Feb 14, 2014 13:35:46 GMT -8
Very nice bell-matic, Spencer. The alarm on these things are awesome. It'll look great on a NATO strap, I think. I'm more interested in picking up the quartz analog of your watch that Seiko made in the early 80s .. Let me see if I can find a pic of those. Why can't Seiko make classics like these today, instead of more monster variations Edit: found it! (courtesy of another member at SCWF) (Sent from my mobile, please pardon my spelling) I love mine. I was blessed to have one gifted to me by Noah Riley  |
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Post by psrivats on Feb 14, 2014 20:55:51 GMT -8
I love mine. I was blessed to have one gifted to me by Noah Riley That looks fantastic! (Sent from my mobile, please pardon my spelling) |
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