[time-nuts] NERC/TEC test

[Chuck Harris]

Hi Bill,

You obviously don't know me!  I've been an amateur watchmaker for a lot
of years, and I have serviced just about anything that ticks.  My
collection of clocks and watches, though modest compared to most collectors,
is certainly eclectic.

My observations about Accutrons are accurate.  It isn't all that hard
to find them, but when you do, they are mostly taking up space in a
jewelry drawer... even among watch enthusiasts.  They show up all the
time in yard, and estate sales for giveaway prices.... like all non
working watches.

Most Accutrons do *not* run perfectly on 1.55V cells, the tuning fork is
over-driven, and tends to kick the pawls unevenly.  214's are not at all
amused by that... just listening to them try makes me cringe.  I recall
that the later 218's are better about silver oxide cells.  (I can't help
but think such over-driving will have an effect on the life of the watch.
Coil failures are already rampant in the species.)

The proper thing to do is change the biasing resistor in the watch.  The
cells will last longer, and the watch sounds much happier.

I have had the opportunity to own just about any watch I want, and I
tend towards $50 Russian automatic dive watches, and 1950's Bulova 10BPAC
(10BOAC) automatics.  I have a certain fondness for the manual wind 10AK
movements too... But I never much cared for the Accutron.

I may be dumb, but I do know the market rates for Accutrons.  If I had
any, I would be fixing and selling them, not giving them away.

-Chuck Harris

William H. Fite wrote:
> Oh, Chuck!  You have no soul.  [?]  People collect and use Accutrons for the
> same reason that people collect and use manual Omega Speedmaster
> Professionals.  And the same reason that some of us keep old shipboard
> chronometers (mine was built by Thomas Bassnet a little over 250 years ago)
> and other vintage timepieces.  We pay a mint to have them cleaned and
> lubricated and we understand that their inaccuracy is not a fault but a
> measure of where the technology was when they were built.
>
> Those cranky, noisy, inaccurate old devices that you scorn took explorers
> across the oceans and to the moon and back.  They are not to be lightly
> dismissed.
>
> Most Accutrons run perfectly on 1.55v Ag2O cells and those that don't are
> very easily modified to do so.  There are a number of highly capable
> watchmakers who can restore and maintain them though some 214 parts are
> becoming scarce.  A number of hacks, too, of course.
>
> I also like automatic movements and am wearing an Omega Seamaster right this
> minute.
>
> The hum when you lay it on the dresser is part of it.
>
> You can send me all the Accutrons that are doing drawer duty at your house.
>
> Bill