Wow! Excellently presented and thanks for sharing. I bought an Accutron in 1962 bust lost it in Vietnam and recently got a replacement on eBay to give my son and it is working properly.
Really smart design using a tuning fork and that special Index wheel, pawl jewel and index jewel. Somebody must have been thinking about those pendulum toys also powered by a coil and transistor- but can't use a pendulum in a watch, so tuning fork!
I have two Accutron watches, one is of the Spaceview type, and the other a single tuning fork type. This is a very good explanation of the oscillator circuit. thanks.
Thanks! That's awesome! The Spaceviews are really amazing to look at! I hope you are enjoying yours as much as I enjoy mine. All the tuning fork technologies are superb!
Oh my god, as a Soviet watch nut (I own about 30) and a longtime fan of the original Accutrons (just bought my first one yesterday, an M7 in perfect working order) - a Slava Transistor is truly my long term dream watch!
I've been a fan of the bulova spaceview i have 3 218s and I have 2 214 one was my fathers he purchased it back in 1967 its a big cushin styled case and is has a a large chapter ring around the dial love those watches I am restoring it and cleaning it I plan I wear it bulova accutron has been an iconic watch since 1960 since Max Hetzel developed this horological master piece great video
Somewhere between f and f sharp😂 they were the most successful mechanism before quarts, because it lacked a balance wheel and other mechanical parts driven by magnetic fields, strictly a magnetic field to vibrate a fork and a precise frequency to advance the escapement a tooth at a time, awesome.
Great video. Great explanation. I am just curious about one point. I guess the placement of the feedback coil in relation to the fork leg. The accuracy of the placement would dictate the accuracy of the watch as it has to be placed in such a position that it prevents current flow in f1 when it is at a peak. Just wish I had a picture of it.
Thanks for this great discussion of a super cool movement. They should have been on the Apollo astronauts, but Omega beat them to it. From what I understand, the clocks in the crew module were Bulova though.
Sure thing. Not my video but the excellent channel none the less. th-cam.com/video/JT3VVLz4z4E/w-d-xo.htmlsi=NVX_VrH6JKFHztNi @ min 23:30 he goes over it. Haha I kind of wish I could post pictures in the comments that would be easier but hope this helps!
They didn't seem super expensive. Looking at some ads they were between $120 to $200 in 1960s dollars so about $1200 now. About what you'd expect for mechanical swiss watch at the time I think!
Thank you for the video. I've seen some slow motion of the Pawl Jewel and the index wheel on youtube. It is mind blowing how fast and how small it is!!! I have a Accutron my dad left me, paying too much to get it fixed. Found a SpaceView recently, went to adjust time and the seconds hand went all over the dial. I removed battery.(?) However, I am also fascinated by Accutrons!
@@christicks5843 Thanks for your interest. I sent my dads accutron without a second opinion to a place that will remain nameless, they are in UTAH! The case, Dial, and Hands were all in great shape. They gave me whole list of parts I needed!! ($2000+) It was a mistake but I committed to it. Found another guy who fixes only Accutrons, Mybob.net. He seems very knowledgeable and honest. I will send my SpaceView to him. They guy I bought the SpaceView from is avoiding me. As I understand, Spaceview Alpha, has a Precisionist Movement. I have a Precisionist found one NEW at really good price. Chris How do store your Accutrons? Do you remove the battery when not being worn? Thanks again-
@@marcuslieberman3577 damn that is a pricey repair! Good luck with the gent from Mybob.net. I do tend to remove the batteries when I am not wearing them. Haha otherwise I would go broke constantly replacing batteries.
I began restoring Cal 214 & 218's for my amusement 20 years ago. I still have many. (Just the common models, the Astronaut and Alpha models are too damn pricey!) There is no one alive that knows what machines were developed to make the microscopic index wheel and jewels. Bulova claims to have destroyed the manufacturing equipment. Thanks for the Vid!
Yep, I've seen this patent. But the machines that were used where destroyed. And no one is known to be alive who was there at mfg. I must state that Ctizen had recreated and released a version of the 'Alpha' model recently. For big bucks.$ $ Thanks for the reply.
im trying to understand, so when the tuning fork has kinetic energy, that vibration signals the transistor which powers the drive and then when the fork slows down, which vibrates at a lower frequency, that creates a magnetic field which also trips the transistor only in the other direction?? wouldnt you need a NPN transistor to move current the other way? what am i missing here
I found a gold Bulova Accutron watch at a yard sale, but I'm having trouble identifying it. It says Bulova accutron on the dial face and the Bulova logo at the bottom about the 6 o'clock mark. The numbers are in Roman numerals on the face dial. The back says "10kt rolled gold plate back" "Bulova N3" which I believe is the manufacturer year of 1973? It's in beautiful condition and I would like to know more about it. I believe it was a limited edition bc of the Roman numerals, but not sure.
I'm a big Bulova Accutron lover… this epic timepieces are totally underrated, but I’m happy with it… as I collect them without breaking the bank 😎
Thanks for finally showing how the paws turn the index wheel.
Wow! Excellently presented and thanks for sharing. I bought an Accutron in 1962 bust lost it in Vietnam and recently got a replacement on eBay to give my son and it is working properly.
Really smart design using a tuning fork and that special Index wheel, pawl jewel and index jewel. Somebody must have been thinking about those pendulum toys also powered by a coil and transistor- but can't use a pendulum in a watch, so tuning fork!
I have two Accutron watches, one is of the Spaceview type, and the other a single tuning fork type. This is a very good explanation of the oscillator circuit. thanks.
Thanks! That's awesome! The Spaceviews are really amazing to look at! I hope you are enjoying yours as much as I enjoy mine. All the tuning fork technologies are superb!
@@hardassteel maybe some aspects can be printed, but generally I'd say no as a whole.
Very good attempt to show true method of functioning, it requires more innovation to demonstrate.
It is epic indeed! thanks for the very nice demo.
Thanks Dude! We owe you a beer! We just acquired a 1967 model and I had a 1962 but lost it in Vietnam! Best of luck!!
Thanks for your service , Sir.
Do you mind telling how it got lost in Vietnam??
@@conzmoleman
Think Christopher Walken in Pulp Fiction
Thanks for posting
Great video, the coil and cup remind me of a speaker driver.
Haha it does look like it could act like one of there was a membrane over top of it.
Educational and intuitive explanation
Thanks!
Thank you for the visualization, great way to represent the system
Thanks a lot for video on accutron . I love tuning fork movements
Amazing video! Watching this while waiting for my spaceview to arrive!
That is very exciting! I hope it arrives soon!
They are epic! I have 2 214s, and 3 218s. I love them all. My space view tops the list, well along with my working Slava Transistor.
Oh my god, as a Soviet watch nut (I own about 30) and a longtime fan of the original Accutrons (just bought my first one yesterday, an M7 in perfect working order) - a Slava Transistor is truly my long term dream watch!
I've been a fan of the bulova spaceview i have 3 218s and I have 2 214 one was my fathers he purchased it back in 1967 its a big cushin styled case and is has a a large chapter ring around the dial love those watches I am restoring it and cleaning it I plan I wear it bulova accutron has been an iconic watch since 1960 since Max Hetzel developed this horological master piece great video
Awesome! Nice to see fans of these watches. That is a great many spaceview watches! I hope to have some more of them in the future!
Great video, congrats!👍 I have a Bulova Accutron 70s, with 2182 movement (daydate) and I love it! ❤️
Thanks! They are a very excellent watch!
That’s a good demo of an awesome watch
Congrats!!!!🎉 incredible explation 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Thank you! 😃
Exillent! Have a esa 9162 project comming up. Cant wait!
Somewhere between f and f sharp😂 they were the most successful mechanism before quarts, because it lacked a balance wheel and other mechanical parts driven by magnetic fields, strictly a magnetic field to vibrate a fork and a precise frequency to advance the escapement a tooth at a time, awesome.
Great video. Great explanation. I am just curious about one point. I guess the placement of the feedback coil in relation to the fork leg. The accuracy of the placement would dictate the accuracy of the watch as it has to be placed in such a position that it prevents current flow in f1 when it is at a peak. Just wish I had a picture of it.
Thanks for this great discussion of a super cool movement. They should have been on the Apollo astronauts, but Omega beat them to it. From what I understand, the clocks in the crew module were Bulova though.
Thay say beauty is only a light switch away.
Always wondered how them things worked. Never made sense till now how you could turn a hum into time.
Cool, thanks! How'd they get each tiny tuning forks to tune accurately?
Chris, thanks for clear intro to the Accutron. Can you tell me how to remove the setting stem from the 218 watch?
Sure thing. Not my video but the excellent channel none the less. th-cam.com/video/JT3VVLz4z4E/w-d-xo.htmlsi=NVX_VrH6JKFHztNi @ min 23:30 he goes over it. Haha I kind of wish I could post pictures in the comments that would be easier but hope this helps!
thanks, Chris, you are always helpful and kind and respond so quickly. The vid from Mike was helpful.
That was quite interesting and very well presented. Nice work!
Thanks!
You REALLY SHOULD have more subs.... had to chuckle at the rodicco holding your 3D cog mount.
Absolutely incredible tech for the time. Were these super expensive in the 60's?
They didn't seem super expensive. Looking at some ads they were between $120 to $200 in 1960s dollars so about $1200 now. About what you'd expect for mechanical swiss watch at the time I think!
Why do you think this tech and watch are undervalued and underrated?
Thank you for the video. I've seen some slow motion of the Pawl Jewel and the index wheel on youtube. It is mind blowing how fast and how small it is!!!
I have a Accutron my dad left me, paying too much to get it fixed. Found a SpaceView recently, went to adjust time and the seconds hand went all over the dial. I removed battery.(?) However, I am also fascinated by Accutrons!
It is amazing! What was up with the Accutron your father left you? And were you able to get the second have back on?
@@christicks5843 Thanks for your interest. I sent my dads accutron without a second opinion to a place that will remain nameless, they are in UTAH! The case, Dial, and Hands were all in great shape. They gave me whole list of parts I needed!! ($2000+) It was a mistake but I committed to it. Found another guy who fixes only Accutrons, Mybob.net. He seems very knowledgeable and honest. I will send my SpaceView to him. They guy I bought the SpaceView from is avoiding me. As I understand, Spaceview Alpha, has a Precisionist Movement. I have a Precisionist found one NEW at really good price.
Chris How do store your Accutrons? Do you remove the battery when not being worn?
Thanks again-
@@marcuslieberman3577 damn that is a pricey repair! Good luck with the gent from Mybob.net.
I do tend to remove the batteries when I am not wearing them. Haha otherwise I would go broke constantly replacing batteries.
I just want to know how they cut those tiny teeth. Great demonstration. Thanks
The index wheel spins more than 38 million times / year. YIKES!
How do they ensure the physical resonant properties of the tuning fork are correct, is it calibrated at production?
I began restoring Cal 214 & 218's for my amusement 20 years ago. I still have many. (Just the common models, the Astronaut and Alpha models are too damn pricey!) There is no one alive that knows what
machines were developed to make the microscopic index wheel and jewels. Bulova claims to have destroyed the manufacturing equipment.
Thanks for the Vid!
Not true. Here's the patent: irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/c35a5f72/files/uploaded/_1966%20GB1126472%20cutting%20index%20wheels.pdf
Yep, I've seen this patent. But the machines that were used where destroyed. And no one is known to be alive who was there at mfg.
I must state that Ctizen had recreated and released a version of the 'Alpha' model recently. For big bucks.$ $
Thanks for the reply.
im trying to understand, so when the tuning fork has kinetic energy, that vibration signals the transistor which powers the drive and then when the fork slows down, which vibrates at a lower frequency, that creates a magnetic field which also trips the transistor only in the other direction?? wouldnt you need a NPN transistor to move current the other way? what am i missing here
❤
I have my Dad's Accutron in a drawer. I guess I need to get a battery and let it hum again.
Do it! They are excellent! If ya need help with it or what something comment here and I'll try to help!
I have 2 Spaceview, 1 Bow tie, 2 Railroad, 2 Accuquartz.
I found a gold Bulova Accutron watch at a yard sale, but I'm having trouble identifying it. It says Bulova accutron on the dial face and the Bulova logo at the bottom about the 6 o'clock mark. The numbers are in Roman numerals on the face dial. The back says "10kt rolled gold plate back" "Bulova N3" which I believe is the manufacturer year of 1973? It's in beautiful condition and I would like to know more about it. I believe it was a limited edition bc of the Roman numerals, but not sure.
You have a picture?
Suppose I bought a vintage Bulova Accutron and suppose it stopped running. Who would I take it to for service?
I have seen a few places online. I never used any but here is what I found! www.accutrons.com/ and oldfathertime.com/ goodluck!
smart boy
Went to the moon as well.
It is still secret how they managed to cut the teeth on the tiny wheel according to a TH-camr.
I have one of the first ones made. Anyone want it? It needs a band and a new battery that's all....... can send pics