Accutron 214 wrist watch & Wittnauer Electronic / Dynotron

These are my two favorite electromechanical watches in my collection; A 1963 Bulova Accutron 214 Spaceview tuning fork watch (a probable conversion), and a 1967 Wittnauer Electronic Transistorized with the earliest Dynotron 9150 movement. The balance wheel is "electronically excited" by way of a pulsed electromagnet

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• SANY0001

[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.

[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.

[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]

guitattec

Is yours all genuinely Bulova restored or not possible anymore?

[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.