Very faint "M4" barely visible on the caseback cover - barely readable because it's worn down. I love the cushion case with Florentine pattern, but have not seen this with a 214H railroad movement - either it's less common, or perhaps a frankenwatch. Unknown history except ebay seller claims NAWCC membership and vouches for the legitimacy of the watch (for what that's worth). I'd love to know more about it. Seller says the movement hums but the hands don't move - so I assume I'll be looking at a significant repair cost for rehabilitation. Thanks in advance for your review.
Hello Clybourn, welcome to myBulova. I am not, by any stretch of the imagination an expert on Accutron but a few items I note.It seems unusual that the battery cover and setting hatch are stainless on a gold plated case, I'm not sure I've seen that before. I don't think I've ever seen a Rail Road model in anything but a plain, round case. I'm still searching for some type of advert match.
You can never say never with Bulova, but I would agree with Geoff that there are a few things not quite right.
I've looked through a good number of linebooks and cannot find any Bulova Accutron Railroad model that uses this case. Movement of a 214H (hack movement), dial and hands all look correct, but I suspect that the case and case back are from another Accutron 214 watch model.
For a basic watch ID it is a 1964 Bulova Accutron Railroad, noting the good possibility that the case is not correct.
This one has me a bit puzzled. I find nothing in this casing in 1964. I would go along with a generic Accutron Railroad tag for now, noting the possibility it's a marriage of parts..
I'm not well versed in Tuning Fork Accutrons, but the ink stamp notation on the movement of "3-76" strikes me as odd. Is that a date stamp?
In reply to I do not find this Railroad… by Andersok
Good ad find, Ken. That narrows it down a bit. Subject watch seems to indeed be a mix and match of parts, so what is it?
Accutron Railroad model w/ replaced case?
Accutron 417 w/ replaced face?
non-conforming?
It's also possible the case back and case itself are from different watches as well.
I'm leaning towards tagging this one non-conforming at present.
Thanks all for the feedback. I had noticed a few of these cushion cases on ebay in the last year, typically the gold-tone Accutron with basic stick indices like in the ad above. I suspected this might be a frankenwatch, but am not bothered. I'm smitten by the combination with the railroad dial. I'll probably have it serviced and occasionally enjoy wearing it.
It's all Bulova, but we all suspect with a mix-match of parts to make a complete watch....a true FrankenBully!!
I don't think it has any value to the database as an Accutron Railroad watch....we all know what they look like, this one falls into the Non-Conforming as far as a model name.
But it is what it is.....a working Bulova Accutron watch.....wear it well!!!