Accutron 214 wrist watch & Wittnauer Electronic / Dynotron

[wurlitzer165]

Time to replace the batteries. The best way to do this is to go to a local watch or clock store. They could do it for you. Are the batteries Hg (mercury?)

[guitartec]

@wurlitzer165 Originally, both used Mercury cells, but the replacements work fine. Sometimes certain Accutrons will have an issue with the newer 1.55V conversion battery (387S) which doubles any inaccuracy it already has. In this case, you must use an ACC-1 1.35V cell. 214 Accutrons have a battery cover on the caseback so battery changes are real easy. The Witt requires a crystal lift to get the back off which I have.

Maybe I should do a video of the battery installation on the Wit?

[wurlitzer165]

Did I hear a 360 cycle hum while doing this review?

[guitartec]

@wurlitzer165 Well maybe 359 hz. My battery is old : D

[RJSoftware2000]

What one man can do, so can another man do.

(amazing still, yes..!) Love my accutron. It's a pain to set the day/date, but worth it.

RJ

[guitartec]

@RJSoftware2000 Yeah, Accutrons are VERY cool. 

[italomagic1]

guitattec

Is yours all genuinely Bulova restored or not possible anymore?

[guitartec]

@italomagic1 The only parts that are available for Accutrons are NOS Bulova parts, (except crystals). So yes, it's still possible to restore an old Accutron. Ebay has made it possible for Accutron-focused Watchmakers to find most of the parts they need to restore these old watches.

[italomagic1]

Any chance you are thinking of selling your Accutron. I want one so badly, but being so old now, I don't know if I can trust someone to sell me one in perfect condition.

[guitartec]

@italomagic1 Sorry, I can't sell the one in the video due to sentimental value.

This is probably not what you were thinking, but just so you know... I have for sale 2 Accutrons that are not working. I was going to use them for parts, but they are too nice. One's a 1964 214 in gold finish and the other one is a 1972 218 (with stem and date) in gold finish (neither are 14k gold). You should be able to get either fixed for around $150. then you'd finally have your Accutron. Just a thought.

[xMKIVxVR6x]

@italomagic1

You may want to check out what ebay has to offer. It's probably not the most ideal place for buying watches, but it's the only place I've been able to find great condition/NOS Accutrons.

[SuperUbf]

very nice.i have at least 10 Timex electronic/electrics and 1 Caravelle( by Bulova) as well as mechanical watches. of course i love the Accutrons but not crazy about the see through look.the wittnauer (by LONGINES) on the other hand is great !!

[mestizolove]

ok, u can give them to me!

[guitartec]

@mestizolove I'll send em right out, but the postage will be in the hundreds :)

[tislandboat]

Very nice presentation. Thank-you!

[guitartec]

@tislandboat Thanks. I appreciate that a lot. 

[PeterTheWatchMan]

Please watch my watch video it's a sheffield electronic watch

on my channel 

[hp2114b]

The index wheels were made on a modified gear hobbing machine.

[guitartec]

@hp2114b Yeah, I heard that... maybe from the Max Hetzel interview? Still, no one knows exactly HOW they made it on the hobbing machine or how the hobber was modified. Just an amazing mystery

[guitartec]

@guitartec I do have a theory about how the tiny index wheel's 300 teeth were cut on the modified hobbing machine. My guess is that they used a diamond that was worn to a razor edge, and also possibly spinning, as the cutter. Maybe they used some other hard industrial jewel, but diamonds are a safe bet. I cannot believe there would be a metal cutter on this planet that could be used to cut these microscopic teeth as they are simply too small and are cut too precisely.

[ahmadsabahat]

ive been wanting to buy an accutron 214 for a while now.

The way the seconds flow is just breathtaking!

[guitartec]

@ahmadsabahat I'm totally with ya on the second hand thing.

[SerenityValleyVFR]

Nice watches.

I have a Wittnauer Electronic with the ESA/Dynotron 9150 movement. I use a 344 battery rather than the unobtanium 343. It sat with a (dead) 343 battery for 10-20 years before I changed it and it there was no problem/leakage.

If you are worried about wear with the battery in, you can always just pull the crown out which hacks AND disconnects the battery completely.

Discussion and pics of box and manual are at "The Watch Forum" Topic 47700 -sorry can't post a link here :(

[guitartec]

@SerenityValleyVFR Cool, does your Witt have the exhibition back? I have a bunch of the SS backed Witts but I've only seen 2 with exhibition backs (the ones I own :)

I think you're partly correct (unless you know for sure), but I don't believes hacking disconnects the battery. Hacking physically stops the balance from turning via a mechanical brake. Since the balance cannot turn, the battery is spared. But the battery is never disconnected from the circuit. Please correct me if I'm wrong.