Reply With QuoteI have no pics of the movement in my watch but I found a great pic from my old mate Paul at Electric watches which I am sure he won't mind me sharing.
Well here's a queer one.
You don't see too many electronic balance wheel watches around now and this model is pretty rare.
Not seen another TBH and the condition is really outstanding, coupled to that a great looking watch IMO.
The 8 jewel 7804 movement in this model runs at 36000 bph.
It dates to 1974 and yet the lume still works fine.
The day/date setting is incredibly quirky with the date being set with the watch held upright whilst pushing the crown button and the day feature being operated the same way but by inverting the watch.
A lovely thing, what do you think?
Any others around?
Last edited by Neil.C; 22nd September 2017 at 15:03.
Cheers,
Neil.
I have no pics of the movement in my watch but I found a great pic from my old mate Paul at Electric watches which I am sure he won't mind me sharing.
Cheers,
Neil.
Is this similar technology to the LIP electro-mechanic movements, most notably found in the Nautic Ski?
Last edited by SimonK; 9th September 2017 at 16:50.
Now that is fascinating information and a really good looking timepiece. I love threads like this, thanks.
That is a beauty!
That looks great. Have you had chance to check the timekeeping on it?
Great condition, surprised the lume still works, nice find :)
Looks great to me! Love to see some more shots, wristshot pleas.
Great to see. Does this work like an ESA 9154 movement with the balance motor? Fascinating engineering, could have developed into something amazing if quartz hadn't arrived.
Surely similar but how much so I'm not sure.Originally Posted by SimonK
Is this similar technology to the LIP electro-mechanic movements, most notably found in the Nautic Ski?
Cheers,
Neil.
The 915X's were transistorised movements with a balance wheel so I would imagine a similar design.
Cheers,
Neil.
Yep, it's very good.
It should be really with an ultra high beat movement.
Cheers,
Neil.
'Cosmotron'..........
That's truly a proper name from the era!!
Al👍
I'll see if I can get some decent pics to do it justice.
Cheers,
Neil.
I love the clean style of the dial and hands Neil, looks to be a well made movement too.
F.T.F.A.
Here are a few more snaps which hopefully show the Cosmotron a bit better. Probably should have dusted it first.
A good size, It is 39mm wide and 44mm high, shaped rather like a sucked toffee and quite thick.
I think it was originally NOS as it has no discernible marks/wear.
Such an interesting piece, it has definitely found a place in my collection. After all I'd never find another!
Cheers,
Neil.
Funny timing Neil... as I have this on my desk today!! Its a transistorised Seiko with balance wheel. Model = EL370 and its from March 1971. I found it NOS from a vintage watch dealer in Tokyo. Never worn... and keep it running... but not worn! (mad, I know.. but I was born March 1971 and so love preserving this piece of history from a time of transition in technology used). Serviced by Paul and sweeping beautifully!
How on earth did they make a band SO thin and smooth. Its a work of art IMO:
Recessed crowns must have been all the rage.. mine has one too. Push to change the date.
Inside the case - image credit, as with your own is from http://electric-watches.co.uk/moveme...ransistorised/
Finally, the reason I have the watch out of the box today - I found online, a PDF of the 1971 Seiko range - with my watch on show.
EDIT: Just noticing, 20,000 Yen back in 1971 is £140. According to this inflation calculator... that's £1815 today!! Ref: http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/educa...r/default.aspx I paid £135 for it!
Last edited by JohnnyE; 10th September 2017 at 15:04.
That's gorgeous Johnny!
I love that NOS stuff, it was probably the price at the time which rendered them unsold, that and the onset of full on quartz gear.
Vintage watches hold all the interest for me, they can be so fascinating, and as you say Paul is the man when it comes to that stuff.
Cheers,
Neil.
Well, here's where I found mine.... and they've some tasty NOS stuff in there if you can find it! http://cticorp.jp/?p=34613
And heres a selection of the "Electric" Citizen's they've sold in the past: http://cticorp.jp/?search-class=DB_C...B8%80%E8%A6%A7
EDIT: WTF?!!!!! If you want quirky....
Last edited by JohnnyE; 10th September 2017 at 17:20.
Awesome. Citizen's first radio controlled wristwatch and unlike the earlier Junghans the antennae takes centre stage. I love the way that they made a feature of it.
That is weird!Well, here's where I found mine.... and they've some tasty NOS stuff in there if you can find it! http://cticorp.jp/?p=34613
And heres a selection of the "Electric" Citizen's they've sold in the past: http://cticorp.jp/?search-class=DB_C...B8%80%E8%A6%A7
EDIT: WTF?!!!!! If you want quirky....
As Mr Curta said, a really clever idea to put the antenna front and centre to show off the special watch it was then.
The antennae, like most stuff, have certainly got smaller now but there is no denying the charm of the olde tyme stuff.
Thanks for posting.
Cheers,
Neil.
I can't add any knowledge here (except that I've also owned a couple of the Seikos in the past - although sadly not now). I can honestly say I'd love all of the watches pictured on this thread so far.
I wonder what's next?
Here's another type of Cosmotron, although this one has the tuning fork movement. As it only has one tuning fork instead of two, they stuck with the name "Cosmotron" (instead of Hisonic) and added GX to the name.
Some weird and wonderful stuff here.....can`t say I know much about any of them but they certainly have historical significance.
Thanks for posting
Paul
This is one of my favourites. Another Citizen tuning fork movement but with twin forks (now called Hisonic).
This has a very nice "Space dust" dial...............I think that's what there're called. Anyway, the name fits the dial.
I really like these early electronic watches. Some of the designs are fantastic and very different to watches available now, but I am guessing they can be a bit of a mine field when it come to reliability and parts? Are their calibers that are easier to service than others? Also are the batteries easy to obtain? (Assuming they are different to those available now).
They really were very advanced at the time and they seem to have a little more character in comparison to later Quartz watches.
There are threads on here from time to time describing various models, and thanks to some specialist repairers owning one seems a manageable proposition.
I would call them electric rather than electronic. Although they have transistors, they really do only operate as switches to reverse the balance motor rather than having any processing logic (as I understand it). But just my view, 'electronic' may well be more correct.
Re having more character, in general I would agree, not least because you do get some feel of them operating.
Last edited by alfat33; 11th September 2017 at 22:19.
Batteries are easy to get. The watches I have are very reliable and very good time keepers........almost quartz like. They all have a bit of character, what with the distinctive hum they produce. (Hence the nick-name Hummers). The best person for repairs/restoration is Paul at electric-watches.co.uk who is regarded by many as the best around.
The Omega f300hz Cone watches are quite nice but getting expensive now.
Nice stuff. I find that the quality level of these watches, which would have been state-of-the-art at the time they were produced, is always impressive.
The mechanical watch movement has been a mature technology for decades — if not centuries, in basic principle — and their only changes have been minor and incremental, but it's amazing to check out the ingenuity displayed in these early electro-mechanical designs, which combine technical creativity and craftsmanship in ways not truly seen since.
Apologies to the OP. I've been prattling on about "tuning fork" movements, when of course you were talking about Transistorised Movements with Balance Wheel.
In fact, only this morning I sent of a "Mickey Mouse" (and I mean the cartoon mouse) watch with a transistorised movements with Balance Wheel for repair
after it stopped working. But, TBH I think it may have had something to do with me stripping it down for a clean and not putting it back together correctly.
It's good to know they are not as fragile as I thought and that batteries are available.
I may have to look for one.
Oh boy... 70's NOS transistorised goodness!! https://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/l398145876
And another here: https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp...=kazuhikohappy
Last edited by JohnnyE; 11th September 2017 at 23:39.
No problem at all.
Nice to see someone with an interest and who owns some cracking watches, that space dust dial job is gorgeous.
Cheers,
Neil.
The grey dialled one is lovely!Oh boy... 70's NOS transistorised goodness!! https://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/l398145876
And another here: https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp...=kazuhikohappy
Seems to have a slimmer case than mine and a different crown, but no date so a pusher type not needed.
The red one looks to be the same as mine with just a different dial.
Thanks for posting these.
Cheers,
Neil.
I'm intrigued by these electro-mechanic watches - bot because of the technology and their often bonkers looks. Like many people I'm always worried about repairability, but a guy over on the Dutch forum can breathe life into most of them. He says the technology is just basic enough to have a go at with a soldering iron and an old parts bin.I've had a number of Lip's in the past, including this:
The closest I get now is a hummer:
I have a feeling, I was talking to the Dutch fella, at the BHI fair on Sunday. His wife/lady friend was acting as his interpreter. I think he said that he was here for 5/6 weeks. When he's back home, that's his job, repairing these watches.I'm intrigued by these electro-mechanic watches - bot because of the technology and their often bonkers looks. Like many people I'm always worried about repairability, but a guy over on the Dutch forum can breathe life into most of them. He says the technology is just basic enough to have a go at with a soldering iron and an old parts bin.
The closest I get now is a hummer:
I've posted mine before but as we are moving away from Citizen watches on this thread, and I love the transistors on the dial beyond all reason, I'm going to post it again.
I love some of these.
More threads like this please :-)
The anthracite and green dial citizens are fab.
There are some cracking watches on this thread, not least of which the one in Neil's OP.
I usually collect mechanical watches but I agree it is nice to see something out of the ordinary and folk who collect this sort of stuff generally have a good insight into the movements and what makes them tick (so to speak).
The electronic balance wheel watches had a fairly short life but are a hugely interesting part of horological history.
Coupled with this, the era when they were made was quite experimental in general with fashion etc and the contemporary watches often reflect that.
Cheers,
Neil.
Thanks CB.
To be honest I started the thread with the hope that other owners/interested parties would join in and after a bit of a slow start it's gathered a bit of momentum.
Cheers,
Neil.
Found this video which explains the whole transistor/magnets/balance wheel interaction REALLY well. This is the Seiko mechanism in my EL370 but the same applies (I assume) to the Citizen in the OP.
Its great stuff!... and what I like is how the circuitry is so well made with what I assume is hand soldering.
I don't have any balance-wheel watches to post, but I do have this old f300 that I picked up on this very forum almost four years ago:
Keeps great time and has a unique sound through the 18K case when you put it against your ear. :)
Really enjoying this thread; keep 'em coming!
Very educational post and I'm sure very illustrative to people who may not have had any dealings with these models before.
Thanks for posting.
Cheers,
Neil.
A very interesting video, and a little more learned about watches today! Thanks for posting.
The video is very helpful. I'm sure plenty must have seen the Electric Watches site but I found this page particularly helpful when I was researching my watch.
http://electric-watches.co.uk/moveme...ransistorised/
Sent this off to get sorted, after I............well, let's say that I "just looked" at the internals and didn't muller it. Cal: M40
Sometimes hard to resist temptation :).
I'm still learning here so please bear with me. Did it look like this? And therefore uses contacts rather than transistors to reverse the balance motor?
Yep! Very basic cheap movement but quite robust....................when not fiddled with.Sometimes hard to resist temptation :).
I'm still learning here so please bear with me. Did it look like this? And therefore uses contacts rather than transistors to reverse the balance motor?
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