Accutron 214 repair, & restoration

07/01/2010
THE INCOMPARABLE ACCUTRON 214
THE WORLDS FIRST ELECTRONIC TIMEPIECE
Accutron first appeared in stores a half century ago, on October 25, 1960
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Bulova Corporation announces the limited edition 50th anniversary stainless steel Accutron Alpha 214 Spaceview: CLICK HERE

The Accutron Movement:
The single, most important distinguishing feature of early Accutrons (1960 to 1977) is that they do not tick. Put one to your ear and you will hear the distinctive hum of the electronically driven tuning fork that powers the Accutron movement. The conversion from vibratory to rotary motion is so smooth that the second hand appears to move continuously. There's no mistaking a 214 with any other watch ever made. The 214 is the only caliber that sets by lifting a spring loaded "C" shaped lever on the back of the case, and it's also the only Accutron that has a battery hatch on the back cover that unscrews to access the battery compartment. It was the first of its kind and collectors consider them to be "First Edition" Accutrons.

Accutron Makes History:
Before Accutron, the method of keeping time mechanically had not changed since the invention of the balance wheel and escapement, over 300 years ago. Suddenly, at the end of 1960, a timepiece went on the market which separated every second into 360 equal parts. The new technology was inherently accurate and made the use of escapements and balance wheels unnecessary. Even more incredible is the fact that there are only 12 moving parts in an Accutron 214 movement. The very finest of today's chronometers can have hundreds of moving parts and yet, their balance wheels still can't break a second into more than 8 parts.

Accutron Pride:

In any serious discussion of 20th century technology, the original Accutron 214 must be acknowledged, and given its rightful place as an American icon. Thanks to it's amazing technology, Accutron tuning fork watches from 1960 through 1977 may very well be the only mass market electronic devices of their era which are still in every day use. It was born at a time when America felt threatened by Russian advances in space technology. It was brought into existence by Bulova in 1960 under the leadership of retired general Omar N. Bradley, the quiet hero of WW2, and the general after whom the Bradley Fighting Vehicle was named. The "Astronaut" model was worn by pilots of our experimental X-15 Rocket Plane, and Accutron played a part in every US Space mission during the 60's, and 70's. There are several Accutron 214 timing devices sitting on the Moon's "Sea of Tranquility". The first was carried there in 1969 by the crew of Apollo 11, the first manned mission to actually land men on the moon. The Accutron 214 was declared an American "Gift of State" by President Linden Johnson and, for over a decade, they were given to hundreds of visiting dignitaries. The 214 was made into panel mount clocks, and installed in the instrument panels of thousands of military ships, and aircraft including "Air Force One". The 214 can reasonably be considered the prototype for all modern quartz watches. No other timepiece has had a greater impact on the way we keep time today.

A Symbol of it's Era:

Many of us who watched the liftoff of Apollo 11 in 1969 remember the pride and the fear that we felt as a tiny capsule, mounted atop a gigantic "flying bomb", was carried into space. TV's were set up in store windows, and at workplaces so that people could go about their business without missing the launch and we crowded around those early sets to witness the historic event.

Three.....two.....one.....lift off! The rocket rose, ever so slowly at first, and the world watched. In every group, a spontaneous chant could be heard. It was almost inaudible at first, breathed rather than spoken, "go". Several more voices chiming in, "go", louder now, "go....go", and finally, shouting as the telescopic lens showed the stages separating, GO!.....GO!.....GO!

At last, when the rocket had reached the escape velocity of 17,500 miles per hour and the main engine shut down, America and the world rode with it on an emotional high. As we watched men from Earth begin a journey to the Moon, Accutron was aboard.

America's space program actually started on May 25th, 1961 (approximately eight months after Accutron first appeared in stores) when President John F. Kennedy delivered a speech before a joint session of Congress, in which he said that America had to be the first nation to land a man on the Moon. That was an amazing period in American history, and during the next few years with the X-15 setting new speed, and altitude records regularly, and our satellites multiplying in orbit, I, like many other young people at the time, wanted a piece of it to call my own. At the end of November in 1963 just a few days after Kennedy's assassination, in need of something to lift my spirits, I went to a jewelry shop in Boston and bought a gleaming, classic, stainless steel, Accutron Chapter Ring Spaceview at the then fairly high price of $150. That watch has been counting time to my life's events ever since.

The Corvette Connection:
During the 60's and 70's, America's Astronauts were young men who regularly flew the fastest and most sophisticated aircraft in existence at that time. They were mostly military test pilots so it should come as no surprise to anyone that they loved speed on land as well as in the air. Enter another American icon, the Chevrolet Corvette. Although the many documented exploits by astronauts with their "Vette's" were kept under wraps by NASA, and product endorsements were, and still are taboo for astronauts, General Motors, sensing an opportunity for free advertising, leased Corvette's to the astronauts for $1 a year. At the time, these men were only receiving a few grades above standard military pay, so during the years that followed, everywhere that the astronauts went as a group, there were bound to be a lot of Accutrons on their wrists, and Corvette's in the parking lot.

Accutron Today:
Tuning fork driven Accutrons evolved into quartz crystal watches by the 70's but the old hummers are so robust that when given reasonable care, they run as well today as they did when new. The distinctive 214 is the only Accutron that is set from the rear of the case by lifting a spring loaded "C" shaped lever. It is also the only Accutron that has a battery hatch that unscrews to access the battery compartment. In this modern age of throw away technology, the life span of most consumer electronic devices is measured in months, a relative few may be considered state-of-the-art for a few years, but here we are, a half century after the introduction of the 214, and yet, day after day the electronic miracle on my wrist keeps on humming it's 360 cycle/sec tune without losing a beat. Truly amazing!

Accutron Tomorrow:
I feel certain that the Accutron timer controlled hardware that Apollo Astronauts, Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin Aldrin left on the moon during the first landing, and the scientific instruments left by those succeeding them will eventually be collected and brought back to Earth. Some day, you will be able to visit a moon artifact exhibit at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C,

A Personal Note:
Even now, four decades after Apollo 11, there are times when I look at my Accutron and get goose bumps thinking about the fact that I have a working scientific instrument, which, except for the case, is identical to the ones left on the Moon. I won't be around to see those instruments when they are finally brought back to Earth, but I'm certain that my grandchildren will. Perhaps as they look at those lunar artifacts in their moonscape exhibit, one of them will be wearing my 1963 Spaceview that will still be quietly humming on his wrist. I like to imagine that he'll be telling his kids about the amazing Accutron 214 tuning fork motor driven timers that went to the Moon.

Ps:
For those of you who have contacted me in the past about restoring an Accutron 214 that you have inherited from a loved one, I hope that these paragraphs have shed some light on at least some of the reasons why many in our generation treasured them and why we kept them in drawers long after Bulova stopped repairing them.

Very truly yours,
Martin Marcus

Martin Marcus 2/5/02 © Page Updated 1/1/2010 Contact Me

ACCUTRON 214 REPAIRS
Unlike a brick & mortar shop, I have no need to charge a hefty premium to cover today's exorbitant overheads. I pay no rent or mortgage, and I am my only paid employee (the wife works for free). You can pay more elsewhere, a lot more, and your 214 will be processed by a worker whose pay is commensurate with his or her productivity. Some brick & mortar watch repairers refer to all of their web competition as "hobbyists". It's an elitist statement that they hope will justify their extremely high prices. I have been repairing Accutron 214's professionally for over a quarter of a century. I set up my first Accutron 214 web page on an Antiques web site in 1998. Accutron214.com was established in January of 2002, and has since grown to 45 pages of useful information. My equipment is second to none, http://www.accutron214.com/AccutronWorkshop.htm. I make no compromises when it comes to the quality of my work, and your satisfaction is always guaranteed.

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RESTORATIONS
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PARTS and ACCESSORIES

Parts - Gaskets - Bands - Boxes - Display Cases - Batteries - Crystals

ACCUTRON 214's FOR SALE
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ACCUTRONS FOR SALE

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The Custom Accutron "DialView"

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Don't put that battery in upside down!
Everything you need to know about Accutron 214 Batteries

ACCUTRON BATTERIES

ACCUTRON PROBLEMS
Information and photos of the most common kinds of damage that your Accutron 214 is susceptible to.

ACCUTRON PROBLEMS

ACCUTRON PAPERS
Printable Accutron owners guide, information booklets, and 214 coil schematics.

Owners Guide | Astronaut Guide Information Booklet Selling Guide | Circuit Diagrams

The History of Bulova

View the Bulova timeline BULOVA HISTORY

The Peoples Choice
or
(how the Spaceview came to be)

The Accutron Spaceview story SPACEVIEW HISTORY

The Photo Gallery

HUMMER GALLERY

Luminous Dial & Hands Gallery

LUMINOUS GALLERY

Commercial & Military 214 Clock Gallery

CLOCK GALLERY

Accutron Display Case Gallery

CASE GALLERY

Accutron Oddities

ODDITY GALLERY

Vintage Accutron Adds

Accutron magazine adds from the 60's & 70's AD GALLERY

Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.)

20 of the most asked questions. Click my Q&A PAGE for the answers.

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Bulova is bringing back the 214
Well.......... sort of.

The computer generated image below is that of a 50th Anniversary commemorative Accutron 214 in a stainless steel Alpha case. 1000 watches will be sold by the Bulova Corporation this October, with only 675 allocated for the US. The watch appears to have a green chapter ring under a Spaceview crystal. They will be assembled in Japan using hand wound coils, The case measures 42mm and the selling price will be $4,000 - Stay tuned.

And speaking of imitation:
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

The recessed setting stem on the back cover of the Accutron 214 is its signature feature.
Note the recessed stem on this Swiss timepiece.

For large photos click on the thumbnail images

This add appears in the April 2005 issue of BMW Magazine.

For Pilots and other Astronaut Owners:

Over the years I've learned that even up to the present day, a surprisingly large number of pilots are still wearing an Accutron Astronaut. You original Astronaut owners are old enough to remember that during the 60's, CBS, NBC, and ABC signed off at midnight which at that time was the end of their programming day. One of the stations, I forget which, ran a short film showing a military jet streaking through towering banks of clouds. The film was accompanied by a narration of the pilots anthem "High Flight".

For those of you 214 owners who are not familiar with this inspiring poem, I present it here. "High Flight"

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e-mail: Accutron Sales & Service

MARTIN MARCUS
Marblehead, Massachusetts