Citizen Auto, 1958

[sweephand]

I've just uploaded a new page on my blog, about a rather scarce model - Citizen's first automatic watch, made in 1958 before the 'Jet' range appeared. I hope you can find time to take a look, especially at the later part of the article (the 'French Connection') which might be of interest to both Citizen and Seiko fans alike:



sweep-hand.org/the-citizen-auto-1958/






Stephen

[Groundhog66]

Classy piece, I'll definitely have a look...thank you for sharing!

[estrickland]

As a Cal fan, gotta say I love the big C.

Edit: Didn't see the article - setting aside some time to read it later - looks epic.

[Deleted]

Wow! Wow! Wow! A beautiful watch with a case load of history 7dfe79adc2f0

This will also add another chapter to Chascomm's Pelaton collection.

This illustrates very nicely how most of Seiko's firsts are really only 'first to market' rather than they being the inventors. This applies to advancements like Quartz movements, Kinetic Movements, Spring Drive and automatic chronographs.

We will probably never know whether it was Seiko or the Swiss who actually came up with the first working models but it is obvious that Seiko hit the markets first which is what really matters when it comes to bragging rights

[sdoocms]

Beautiful watch!

[trandy]

[ninja01]

Nice article.

As I said on Dr. Seiko:
seikoholics.yuku.com/sreply/6579/Thanks-Great-article-one-possible-correction#.U8eCm0A_zNF

Thanks! Great article ... one possible correction? #1 [-]

I gave a quick read-over of your article right now. Impressive shots!! And, indeed have not seen that movement before in such detail.

I do see you talk about the Deluxe models as being the 1st "100 million piece" line. However, I don't think the source material for that statement intended to mean 100 million actual watches. I know the translation is vague (at least mine is), but I think the implication is supposed to be 100 million YEN in sales rather than 100 million examples sold.

I do also want to caution that the Gyro Marvel is Seiko's 1st in-house designed auto, but NOT the 1st Seiko labeled automatic sold. In that sense, Seiko beat Citizen to market with an automatic model (with PRI display) that was either a Swiss calibre or a licensed Swiss design but Japanese built (not sure). That one is seen in our database & in other articles on this site [including auction examples from here in Philippines].

Likely there was a Swiss connection for the Citizen model as well. If you remember my articles on the 1st generation of Orient autos -- they clearly appear to use the Pellaton design from IWC. I do also remember there being a Swiss connection in the founding & early days of Citizen as well:

link

Was a little busy today - which is why only a cursory read of Sweephand's article...

was @ the local McDonalds here in Dumaguete [Central Philippines] looking for 1 of my friends, but instead ran into 1 of my kids friends, Bianca. She was the Beauty Queen [Miss NOHS] at her high school [NOHS] in Senior year last year [my kid is now a freshman @ the state college [NORSU] while Bianca is a freshman @ the "elite" college in town [Silliman U.]. Anyway, she saw me, gave me a big hug, and we sat down & had a long talk.

Bianca can be seen @ the following post @ another forum I'm in:

graduation

Here:

Bianca is immediately to Ruth's right (so in the center-left of the shot). Ruth (my kid, whom I call "KuroYukiHime" as a Japanese nickname, meaning "Black Snow Princess") is 2nd from the right.

So, watches not exactly at the top of my mind this day, LOL!!

[antfarm]

What a classy cool watch inside and out. The dial, with the writing and the shape is just beautiful and the movement is fantastic.  Great article.  I also read about the auto jet. Great stuff, another cool watch.

[sweephand]

Thanks for your comments Ninja I agree that JPY100million sales value makes more sense. 

I do refer in the article to Seiko producing automatics from 1956, with the Gyro Marvel arriving in 1959, which I reckon was Citizen's target when they launched their Auto in 1958.

And there certainly was a Swiss connection in the 1930s and earlier. Their early models were essentially Mido designs as I understand it.

Stephen

[sweephand]

Jul 16, 2014 13:42:41 GMT -8 @penguinbce said:

Wow! Wow! Wow! A beautiful watch with a case load of history 7dfe79adc2f0

This will also add another chapter to Chascomm's Pelaton collection.

This illustrates very nicely how most of Seiko's firsts are really only 'first to market' rather than they being the inventors. This applies to advancements like Quartz movements, Kinetic Movements, Spring Drive and automatic chronographs.

We will probably never know whether it was Seiko or the Swiss who actually came up with the first working models but it is obvious that Seiko hit the markets first which is what really matters when it comes to bragging rights

Looks to me that both Seiko and Citizen were good at improving existing designs and then, as you say, getting them to market in a fresh way, often as 'firsts' in the Japanese market.

Stephen

[ninja01]

Jul 18, 2014 14:28:49 GMT -8 sweephand said:

Thanks for your comments Ninja I agree that JPY100million sales value makes more sense. 

I do refer in the article to Seiko producing automatics from 1956, with the Gyro Marvel arriving in 1959, which I reckon was Citizen's target when they launched their Auto in 1958.

And there certainly was a Swiss connection in the 1930s and earlier. Their early models were essentially Mido designs as I understand it.

Stephen

OK then Stephen,

Glad you agree with me (on the meaning of the 100 million). I'd suggest putting such a "clarifier" in your article too!

Yeah - likely the Gyro Marvel was the marketing target for the Citizen, but for "historical accuracy" we should point out that there was an earlier type of auto from Seiko that was "1st to market".

Again, that's a nice article you had there! Got to read more of it this AM. Lot's going on here (not all is pleasant) and my mind is not totally focused on watches these days.

[sweephand]

Yeah, I'm going to edit the article about the 100 million 


Stephen