Bulova 1979 Combitron

Submitted by demonfinder on October 17, 2017 - 4:19am
Manufacture Year
1979
Movement Model
2576.10
Movement Jewels
7
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
5 752.148
Case shape
Tonneau
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Crystal details
harde
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

HI, This is my first post on the forum having just accquired what I hope will turn out to be a lucky find at a flea market. I found a link to this site on the Watch U Seek forum. I hoping to find out some more info on thiis watch -including where I might find a good place to have it serviced in the U.K . The model is called a Combitron but I can very little info on it other than it was first made in 1979. From my reading so far the movement seems both fairly uncommon and also seemed to have some reliabilty issues: ESA Y2 900231 Since puttting a new battery in the analogue display is working well and  keeping good time however the digital display is erratic -possibly due to dirty contacts? The pushers both work. IWhat I assume is mineral crystal is badly marked . I`m hoping to find some guidance/info on the watch as I like the look of it and it seems fairly uncommon.  The case is stainless steel with what appears to be the original bracelet  with Bulova signed buckle. If anyone has views or information I`d be grateful to hear it. Is the watch worth spending money on  etc. As this is my first Bulova I`m hoping I can resurrect it . Thanks in advance for any feedback

1979 Bulova Combitron watch
1979 Bulova watch
1979 Bulova watch
1979 Bulova watch
mybulova_admin
Posted October 18, 2017 - 6:42am

Wow, very cool. I don't think we have seem one of these before.

At least we know what to name it.

Looking for some advert matches now.

demonfinder
Posted October 18, 2017 - 7:00am

I`ve already trawled the web for old adverts-with no luck.

 

I have found a page with the setting instructions and a few out of date old listings on various countries ebay sites but most of the pics have expired and there`s not much usuful info either :o(

Even Google searches tend to show Computron results !

Geoff Baker
Posted October 18, 2017 - 8:00am

Hello demonfinder, welcome to myBulova. This certainly is an interesting find. Analog/digital watches seem to come up every now and then. It seems that they're more in the lower end of the price list than the higher (translation = "I don't think Rolex has made one"). My guess is that this would have been a moderately expensive watch in the day.  We have one advert showing a similar style, it is not the same. That one was $195 in 1979 dollars. it's hard to say if it's worth putting money into bringing it back to useful service, it depends solely on how bad you want to wear it, don't think of it as an investment, it isn't.

I think I would ID this one as Combitron.

demonfinder
Posted October 18, 2017 - 8:25am

Thanks for the comment  Geoff.

I bought it as I liked the look of it rather than as an investment-in fact I had no idea if it would work at  all as the battery was dead.

I have a friend on W.U.S. who has expressed an interest in it and I`m more than happy to pass it on too a quartz or Bulova fan -espescially if they want to ressurect it.

I don`t have the knowledge to work on mechanical let alone vintage quartz but the fact that the LCD screen is alive and the buttons work I hope might mean that a good clean up or something relatively straightfoward.

I have seen numerous "wanted to buy "requests on various forums from distressed Breitling owners on the hunt for the same movement in a working condition. :0)

I will make enquires from a few quartz repairers if I can track one down here in the U.K.

Should that prove to difficult or costly ,and my  friend not want to take it on then I`d be happy to put it on offer to a Bulova collector .

The lack of info on this model from such a large manufacturer does seem unusual and slightly intruiging though.

 

 

demonfinder
Posted October 18, 2017 - 10:56am

 $195 in 1979 equates to approx $695  today -(adjusted for inflation) according to a few sites I`ve  visited- so it wasn`t  a cheap watch if the similar watch mentioned was a guide.

Not that it matters :0)

southwr62
Posted November 28, 2017 - 1:28am

Hi,

I received one of these new, as an 18th Birthday present back in 1980, and I still have it although I have not used it in years as the bracelet was a little problematic, one of the pins kept falling out.

I will have to see if I can dig it out, and put a fresh battery in it, to see if it still works.

As to the price being $195, I think that is too high, my parents would never have spent so much on a present for me, even if it was special birthday. I am thinking £40-£50 was more the correct level, still not a cheap watch in those days, and very unique!!

demonfinder
Posted November 28, 2017 - 5:49am

Hi southwr62,

hope when you dig it out it`s in working order.

They seem as rare as hen`s teeth.

I`d love a fully working one :0)

Reverend Rob
Posted November 28, 2017 - 10:44am

50 pounds in 1980 would have been $120USD, roughly. Maybe they got it on sale? I got a similar watch in almost the same year from my parents, only it was the red LED one. It was quite expensive, if I recall, but things were changing quickly in the watch world, and Sears had discounted it to half price, which was $79.99. Still a fair bit of money for the time. I later found out that Sears had had nothing but trouble with the LED ones.