Bulova 1970 Accutron Traveler

Submitted by Traveler on April 4, 2019 - 4:22pm
MKII
Manufacture Year
1970
Movement Model
2185
Movement Jewels
15
Case Serial No.
401193
Case shape
Round
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

I've been looking at this site for a while but never posted.  Here's my first.  I posted this watch since I've found very little information about it when searching.  It belonged to my wife's grandfather, who was a factory manager of the watch division at Bulova, per a photograph on the 1973 annual report.  Her grandmother gave it to me shortly before she died and said there was "something special" about it, but I don't know what she meant.  Other watches went to direct decendants. When I have searched for Traveler Mk II it is usually grouped with Astronauts, which I think it is mechanically similar or identical to.  There is an indicator hand for the home hour--pointing at 9 minutes in the photo.  Hands are a sort of brass/brown color with a white stripe, although the indicator hand is all brass/brown and the second hand is mostly white.  The dial is a chestnut brown, and I think slightly darker at the edges. The case is stainless steel, and it has what I assume is the original stainless band.  The case has no date code, although on the exterior is possibly the case number of 401193.  On the inside is "MLB 7617 Swiss"  Printed in green ink is 1084.  The crystal is domed plastic. The 2185 movement is stamped N0, although it is under the battery contact. It is also marked "U.S.A." Does anyone know more about this model?  I've found other ones on the internet, but no real information or advertisements.  I have had it serviced before, but it is due again.  Sorry about the photo rotation--they are saved  180 degrees different on my computer and I don't see a means of rotating them here.

1970 Bulova watch
1970 Bulova watch
1970 Bulova watch
1970 Bulova watch
1970 Bulova watch
Astronaut M2
Posted April 6, 2019 - 9:54am

I wish I could help but my area of expertise is the Accutron 214 line of watches and other than they are both tuning fork watches with both keeping time the same way the 214 cal and the 218 cal movement are very dif and then add more complexity to the 218 cal with the date function has always kept me focused on the 214 cal and watches...  

Andersok
Posted April 6, 2019 - 2:08pm

I'm not certain the difference between the Traveler and the Astronaut, both are Mark II models and offer the fourth hand (or disk) for home base. It would seem they both function the same. I don't find 'Traveler' in any ads that we have, but it would seem that is the model name, in place of Astronaut on the dial.

Accutron Traveler Mark II

Kathy L.
Posted April 6, 2019 - 2:24pm

I will agree with Ken.

1970 Bulova Accutron Traveler Mark II

Geoff Baker
Posted April 8, 2019 - 9:50am

Very interesting watch Traveller, thanks for bringing it. Short of an advert I would normally be tentative on the ID but I think I'm all in.

1970 Bulova Accutron Traveler Mk II

neetstuf-4-u
Posted April 13, 2019 - 6:06pm

Sorry, I'm a little late to the party. Agreed.

1970 Bulova Accutron Traveler Mk II

mybulova_admin
Posted April 13, 2019 - 9:55pm

Missed this advert post by Jim

Bulova Accutron Traveler