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Post by catkicker on Oct 12, 2014 11:58:23 GMT -8
So I don't know much about these. Any info or links to this model would be helpful
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Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2014 12:46:52 GMT -8
So I don't know much about these. Any info or links to this model would be helpful These are watches from the 1960s and early 70s. They all have versions of the 'Tuning Fork' electronic movement. Depending on the model, the sweep hand will move from 300 times per second up to 720 times per second making it virtually smooth. When placed up to the ear, they emit a soft humming sound. Most of these watches/movements have long since ceased to function. Part of the problem was when battery technology changed and the 1.55v mrecury batteries were discontinued and only 1.5v cells were available. Some were made to run with the newer lower voltage cells by changing one of the parts; either a resistor or swapping the gallium arsenide diode with a silicon one. Parts are very scarce these days so if it needs repair it could take a long time to source new bits. Size wise, these are not large watches typically being around 35mm in size. A couple of sources: members.iinet.net.au/~fotoplot/acc.htmwww.electric-watches.co.uk/index.php
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Post by croolis on Oct 12, 2014 13:07:32 GMT -8
I have more than a few accutrons, so I guess I can be of some help There are 3 'most' common men's accutron movements .. Accutron 214 sets from the back and has no crown Accutron 218 is a bit more recent, crown at 4 Accutron 219 looks very similar to a 218 but the tuning fork has only 1 coil, also less common. There is also an 'Accuquartz' tuning fork movement that doesn't actually use the tuning for for timing but only as an actuator device (similar in this sense to a Seiko Springdrive where the mechanical parts aren't really responsible for the actual rate the watch runs at) Variants are the 214 with 24 hour hand (as in the Astronaut), the Astronaut Mk2 movement which is a variant of the 218, models with day/date/none etc. Pete is wrong on the battery issue .. mercury cells pushed out 1.35v, the newer replacements (I think 383 and 384) are 1.5v. Most of the time an Accutron will work fine on a modern battery, especially i've never had a 218 that doesn't work perfectly. On the 214s, sometimes, the tuning fork can vibrate with a bit too much amplitude and cause the index pawl to sometimes grab 2 teeth at a time on the ratchet wheel, causing the watch to run very fast. This can be fixed by adding a drop down diode in series with the battery, you can buy a special 'Accucell' battery which has this diode built in and provides the correct voltage the movement expects. Citizen made their version of the 218 and 219 movements under license from Bulova for their Hisonic line in the 70s. These movements are essentially identical to their Bulova equivalents. Finally the date code on the back of the watch is Mx or Nx, M=1960, N=1970 and x is the last digit of the year. I hope that is helpful
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Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2014 13:20:34 GMT -8
I have more than a few accutrons, so I guess I can be of some help There are 3 'most' common men's accutron movements .. Accutron 214 sets from the back and has no crown Accutron 218 is a bit more recent, crown at 4 Accutron 219 looks very similar to a 218 but the tuning fork has only 1 coil, also less common. There is also an 'Accuquartz' tuning fork movement that doesn't actually use the tuning for for timing but only as an actuator device (similar in this sense to a Seiko Springdrive where the mechanical parts aren't really responsible for the actual rate the watch runs at) Variants are the 214 with 24 hour hand (as in the Astronaut), the Astronaut Mk2 movement which is a variant of the 218, models with day/date/none etc. Pete is wrong on the battery issue .. mercury cells pushed out 1.35v, the newer replacements (I think 383 and 384) are 1.5v. Most of the time an Accutron will work fine on a modern battery, especially i've never had a 218 that doesn't work perfectly. On the 214s, sometimes, the tuning fork can vibrate with a bit too much amplitude and cause the index pawl to sometimes grab 2 teeth at a time on the ratchet wheel, causing the watch to run very fast. This can be fixed by adding a drop down diode in series with the battery, you can buy a special 'Accucell' battery which has this diode built in and provides the correct voltage the movement expects. Citizen made their version of the 218 and 219 movements under license from Bulova for their Hisonic line in the 70s. These movements are essentially identical to their Bulova equivalents. Finally the date code on the back of the watch is Mx or Nx, M=1960, N=1970 and x is the last digit of the year. I hope that is helpful Yes, I was wrong about the voltage of the mercury cells but there was occasionally a problem when using the newer 1.6v silver oxide cells. This is from the Accutron site pages... My watch runs fast or erratically with the new Silver Oxide Battery. What is wrong?
This is due to a phenomenon known as "double indexing". Double indexing occurs when the amplitude of vibration of the tuning fork increases to a point where the index jewel picks up 2 teeth on the index wheel, not just one as it should. The amplitude of vibration of the fork has increased because of the higher voltage of the Silver Oxide cell.
There are a couple of ways to fix this. One is the mix n match where the repairer simple swaps coils until a balance is met. Another method is 'rephasing' the movement. This may include changing electronic parts as mentioned
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Post by 69ChevelleSS on Oct 12, 2014 13:54:35 GMT -8
Here's mine. I guess it's a 214 movement as the setting device is on the back. Chris (the Don) sent me a battery but that didn't get it started, though it did start to hum so I'm told there may be hope. I don't know anyone who works on these and it is VERY small on my gorilla wrist so unfortunately it just sits.
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Post by sweephand on Oct 12, 2014 14:55:54 GMT -8
the 'goto' guy for these and other electric (not quartz) watches in the UK is Paul at Electric Watches: electric-watches.co.uk/Stephen
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Post by doctorc on Oct 12, 2014 16:38:39 GMT -8
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Post by seikola on Oct 12, 2014 16:54:47 GMT -8
I have this one, I don't wear it much though as it dosen't really go with my beard and tatoos
seikola
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Post by SeikoPsycho on Oct 12, 2014 17:09:41 GMT -8
This was my Dad's Accutron. He received it from AT+T for 40 years of service. It is inscribed on the case back. I ran across it after my Dad had Passed On while going through his belongings. The battery had been dead for who knows how long. I know it was more then five years because I had given him a 6548 orange dial quartz diver which he wore daily at least five years earlier. I was surprised the battery hadn't leaked and the case back gasket turned into rubbery goo. I popped in a new battery, installed a new gasket, she took right off and runs great keeping excellent time.
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Post by doctorc on Oct 12, 2014 18:51:11 GMT -8
That's a beautiful pepsi! Mine from '69 One of my older neighbors has one almost the same as mine but with a white face and SS case from my birth year (68). I replace all of his watch batteries for him and he say's when he is ready to let that one go, it is mine.
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cobrajet25
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Post by cobrajet25 on Oct 12, 2014 19:28:00 GMT -8
I have the Omega version, the f300hz. I got this in sort of a roundabout way. The Ebay seller described a "Seiko Omega" in his auction. Turns out he bought the Omega new in '72, and replaced it in about '82 with a Seiko quartz. He stored the old watch like many people do...in the box of the new watch. So he was selling an Omega in a Seiko box and with Seiko paperwork. Pics were terrible and a lot of people were confused, so I got it at a good price (IIRC about $150). Mine did not want to fire up with a battery, but I gave it a gentle tap and it took off. Has run great ever since. Seems like a lot of these"hummers" have caseback gaskets that turn into black sludge. This one did as well. Fortunately, it had not contaminated the movement as many liquefied gaskets do on these.
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Post by 69ChevelleSS on Oct 13, 2014 7:32:09 GMT -8
Thanks . . . . since he's in the U.S. (and so am I) that really helps. Sent him an e-mail to see what he says.
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