I posted this information in 'What Did You Buy Today', but I decided it might deserve its own thread....

Bought a $5 battery and installed it in my 'not running' $10 estate sale find and put it on appropriate leather; all to good result: a sweet, humming noise, excellent time-keeping, and a more appealing look:



Best of all, however, is the interesting provenance I found on this watch:

George E. Amos not only worked for Kodak for nearly 50 years (since he was 18 year old), he also served honorably in the U.S. Army, 65th Division, under General Patton. He was a medic all through Germany during the war, then returned to his home and work in Baltimore, Maryland.

This information was found in his obituary from April 2011.

http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/di...eorge-Amos&lc=7119&pid=150017494&mid=4621577#


Another interesting note is that he was given the watch as a gift from Eastman Kodak on the occasion of his 40th Anniversary with the company, when he was 57 years old... I am also 57 years old!

Therefore, I must keep this watch until I find a 57 year-old buyer (or, he/she finds the watch, just as I did!)

 

Lovely watch.
Haven't read the obituary yet but there were some great Kodak Moments from 1937 to 1977. Will give it some proper attention after work.

 

Love it. That's a lovely watch and he seems like he was a stand-up guy.

I'll be hitting 25 years with my company next year and I wonder if I'll get an engraved Globemaster....

 

I sincerely hope you do... love to see that!

 

Amazing. Engravings can add such charm to a piece! Even more delightful when, as in this instance, information on the original owner can be found. Besides the linkages you identified above, isn't there also the Hippocratic connection? Either way, lovely find and thanks for sharing. I love stories like this.

 

I have an almost identical Accutron. Only difference is a champagne dial gather than white. And mine is 4 years older. But no interesting story with mine. I have several Accutron watches with a bit of a story. Including my original, one owner 214 model from 1964. I took a course on servicing Accutrons 52 years ago. With the course came an Accutron watch. I still have that one. I sold an Accutron (new) to a fellow in 1969. In 2005, he phoned me and told me he wanted me to have the watch as he could no longer read it. Having lots of watches is a good thing. Having a few with a provenance as interesting as yours is even better! Amos appears to have given his Accutron very good care. Enjoy!

 

And I completely missed the $10 purchase price until I just got bounced back to your original post in What Did You Buy Today.

Incredible "bang for your buck".
Hats off to you, sir.

Could you cover the cost of the battery and strap by selling the Spiedel? [emoji6]
(No offence intended to your strap choice)

 

Cool story and watch !
Thank you for sharing

 

Funky 70's C-case goodness right here!

 

Yes, there is.

I thought it interesting, though, that Amos was a medic in the Army, but I imagine in a non-medical capacity for Kodak... Or not?

I might ought to research that a bit.

 

I'll keep that in mind, but I'll probably keep the Speidel as part of the original 'Amos' package

Finding and owning this one has piqued my interest in the 'tuning fork' watches. I've always been fascinated by the Spaceview, too; don't own one.

Quartz

Tuning Fork

Might be another in my future, too!

 

They're cool watches. Expensive to maintain though. Used to own a '63 Yellow Dot B.

 

I think the yellow dot is my favorite.

Besides cost of the battery once a year, is there anything else that makes it expensive to maintain?

 

There was a recent query on another MB from a guy who bought out a watchmaker's inventory. He has TEN NOS assorted Accutron index wheels he wants to sell. FYI.

 

Batteries are the wrong voltage now, so you need some kind of resistor, or there's some way to modulate the tuning fork to work at the higher voltage. The coils are constantly going bad also. Index wheels wear out often too.

 

My one owner Accutron 214 I have had since it was new in 1964 is on its second dial, third index wheel, third circuit, and it's umpteenth crystal. Many Accutrons are not bothered by the higher voltage cells available now. Some that are bothered by these cells can be settled down by re-phasing them. Other require either a NOS 1.35 volt mercury cell, or a modern Accu-Cell conversion cell which are pricey. Cost of repairing Accutrons? Depends!

A file photo of my 52 year old Accutron 214.

 

I have a 218 D that takes the new battery and performs properly.

Also have contact information for repair.

 

Where do you recommend for repairs?

 

Can you say f300? Love mine.

 

Have mine on today!