Bulova 1973 Accutron Calendar

Submitted by N5XTC on July 15, 2017 - 6:44am
Manufacture Year
1973
Movement Model
2181
Movement Jewels
15
Case Serial No.
G741068
Case shape
Round
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

10k RGP Bezel and Back
Engraved:
P.C. Amadio
Good Year
25 Years Service
1975

1973 Bulova Accutron  Calendar
1973 Bulova watch
1973 Bulova watch
1973 Bulova watch
N5XTC
Posted July 15, 2017 - 6:58am

I secured this gorgeous 1973 Bulova Accutron from an antique store in Northeastern Ohio near Cleveland. I traded a vintage AM/FM Clock Radio for her. I paid less than $10 for the clock radio.

The watch was in the original hard case, but was not running. I took to a jeweler and found that the battery had been removed, thankfully.

2nd pic above shows the jewlerer installing a NEW ($10) battery and she is back in action. I have since learned the watch takes an S344 (or S389) battery. I replaced the aftermarket metal band with a black leather with white stitching (see pic). Unfortunately, the watch did not come with the  original band.

She is marked N3 on the back so definitely a 1973 model. A Goodyear logo is on the face as she had been engraved to a guy who put in 25 years at the company.

She seems to run fine, but sometimes will stop and lose 2 mins or so. This seems to happen after taking her off and setting her aside. Once this happens and I reset her, she will run great.

any ideas what this could be? OR, is this simply an artifact of the tuning fork models? any advice would be appreciated.

NOTE: I took her back to the jeweler to make sure battery was good (tested on his machine as good) and that is was seated properly.

N5XTC - Scott Allen Reid

Reverend Rob
Posted July 15, 2017 - 11:18am

Accutrons can be difficult to repair. The hobbing machines that produced the Index Wheel were destroyed and there are a finite number of NOS parts out there. If the watch is running and humming, but not keeping time, the fault is the Index wheel or the pallets. Chances are that your watch needs a full service, but you need someone who really knows these watches. There is a guy who specializes in Accutron repair and has a limited number of the Index Wheels. I don't have contact info, but he is in the US and usually shows up with a Google search. 

 

N5XTC
Posted July 15, 2017 - 3:00pm

In reply to by Reverend Rob

Thanks for the information. she does keep time, if I take her on and off and place her down not being gentle or wrap her in a cloth and put her in my pocket bec i am doing something, etc, she may stop for a few mins and start back up, thus losing time. if you set her down and be gentle taking her on and off, she seems to run about perfect. not sure what that means. but, i lhave earned how to make her run right and am doing that. not really a big deal. LOVE the watch.

Reverend Rob
Posted July 15, 2017 - 3:09pm

In reply to by N5XTC

Stopping and starting are the symptoms of either the index wheel or pallets, as well as a possible intermittent voltage or contact issue. The watch could, for example, be humming along but a shock will dislodge the pallets or make them skip, double indexing or stalling the motion works. An intermittent voltage may likewise  start and stop the movt. 

N5XTC
Posted July 15, 2017 - 3:15pm

In reply to by Reverend Rob

HHhm, so I am not sure what that means as far as having her fixed?

As long as she keeps time for the most part, and only stops and loses time once in awhile, I may just leave her as is. I really like the watch.

I bought what I think is a 1930's model Bulova today, but it runs fast. prob 4 mins in 30 mins, something like that. rather have that one worked on. have to post her on here when I have some time later. what a beauty. thanks for your information.

Geoff Baker
Posted July 16, 2017 - 11:42am

Hello Scott, welcome to myBulova, this is a nice Accutron. I don't see an exact match in the dB so I'll suggest we name this one:

1973 Accutron Calendar

N5XTC
Posted July 16, 2017 - 12:02pm

In reply to by Geoff Baker

Great if i have the 1st year/model in the database. 100% a 1973 as clearly marked "N3" on the case. I enjoy the site and have learned a lot in a short period of time already. Scott

N5XTC
Posted July 16, 2017 - 1:43pm

In reply to by Geoff Baker

Do I need to rename the watch somehow under my watches? if so, I will need to look into how to do that. Scott

N5XTC
Posted July 17, 2017 - 9:21pm

NOTE on dating a Bulova watch. Another member messaged me this:

Bulova 2 digit date codes starting in 1948 or 49. A letter for decade and a number for the year. "A" for 1940, "L" for 1950, "M" for 1960 and "N" for 1970. Therefor M8 is 1968 and M5 is 1965.

Geoff Baker
Posted July 18, 2017 - 6:01am

In reply to by N5XTC

Date code table found here: http://www.mybulova.com/bulova-date-codes

Generally, pre 1948 we also consider the leading number of the case serial number to be an indication of production year. There are however, a few instances were serial does not indicate production year.