![]() 52 but is actually a Bulova Accutron 218D movement. The tuning fork movement is called the Universal cal. integrated bracelet, it is one of the few divers with a Bulova tuning fork movement. *Omega produced a 720Hz `Megasonic` calibre.1969 Universal Unisonic-Sub ref. Many other manufacturers brought out their own tuning fork watches including Mega, Citizen, Tissot. They emitted a unique hum instead of a tick. Accutrons had a unique “backset” feature, the time was set by lifting a latch on the back of the watch. Its interesting to note that the quartz crystal used in modern quartz watches is in fact the shape of a tuning fork. Bulova Spaceview 50th Anniversary edition Notes ![]() In 2010 Bulova released a limited edition replica of the Accutron “Spaceview” model to commemorate its fifty year anniversary. ![]() There were a huge number of requests to purchase the display model, leading Bulova to release it as a fully fledged model. Bulova as part of its maketing campaign supplied window display models that had the dial removed in order to showcase the unique tuning fork mechanism inside. The spaceview model came about in an interesting way. Bulova made reference to this space connection, releasing models such as the “Spaceview” and “Astronaut”. The Accutron tuning fork movement was also chosen by Nasa to be used in panel clocks and instrument timers. Space Connectionīeing the most accurate timepiece available led some of the first “Original Seven” Nasa astronauts to choose to an Accutron for space flight, Scott Carpenter being one for instance. To give you an idea of how accurate todays most accurate watches, atomic watches are, they synchronize themselves with Atomic Clocks which use the caesium atom which vibrates at a frequency of 9,192,631,770 Hz!!! As a a result they are accurate to 1 second in 100,000 years. Quartz watches appeared in the mid 70s with a typical frequency of 32,768 Hz and more accurate than electric watches. The Accutron’s tuning fork element had a frequency of 360 Hz* consequently making it much more accurate than the mechanical watches of its day. For example, when the Accutron appeared in Nov 1960, the most accurate mechanical watches had a frequencey of 2Hz (beats a second). The accuracy of a watch is determined by how fast its time base element oscilates. The Accutron 214 used a tuning fork as its time base element. Development of the watch began in 1953 by the engineer Max Hetzel and in November 1960 the Bulova Accutron 214 was announced for sale. It was also the first that didnt use a traditional balance wheel and hairspring. The Accutron is credited as being the first electronic watch, due to it being the first one to be controlled by a transistor. Due to its mechanism it had a distinctive hum and was certified to be accurate to within a second a day. The Accutron 214, the first tuning fork watch was released by Bulova in 1960. Accutron introduces the tuning fork watch In spite of their problems, Electric watches were Hamilton’s biggest sellers for 12 years until 1969. However by this point these watches had already developed a reputation for being difficult to service which was hard to overcome. The 505, introduced in 1961 was an improvement over the 500, it resolved a problem with the contact wires and also made them easier to service. The idea of a watch that never needed winding caught the publics imagination and the Hamilton 500 sold very well, although was plagued by reliability issues. In their desire to be the watchmaker to release the worlds first electric watch the Hamilton 500 was hastily brought out in January 1957. It would take them ten years before they could produce a working prototype. Hamilton started research and development into creating an electric watch from 1946. Two main types appeared during this period, those that used a balance wheel that was controlled electrically and the type where the balance wheel was replaced by a tuning fork and transistor. They were popular from 1957 until the mid 1970’s when Quartz watches which were cheaper and had greater accuracy took over. ![]() The first electric watches were an important technological step in watch history.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |