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  1. wagudc Jan 4, 2021

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    Hi all, I found this Timex in a junk store, and put a battery in it. Surprise, surprise it actually runs. I guess it can take a licken and keep on ticken. I can set the time, but can't figure out how to set the day and date. I would be curious to know if anyone has more details on these. From electric-watches.co.uk I guess that it is a model 42.
    20210104_130925.jpg 20210104_130457.jpg 20210104_125811.jpg 20210104_125749.jpg 20210104_125554.jpg 20210104_124211.jpg
     
  2. Alpha Kilt Owner, Beagle Parent, Omega Collector Jan 4, 2021

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    Underneath all the whatever I reckon that is quite smart :thumbsup: sure you have already tried all the different combinations for setting the day date but just perhaps pulling the crown a millimetre as I have occasionally come across pieces and missed the first position ?
     
  3. wagudc Jan 4, 2021

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    I don't have any day-date vintage watches. I figured it out though. Day is set by going round and round through 24 hours and date can be set going 10:00-2:00. Both go only up. So get the day then back and forth to get the date right.
     
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  4. RI Omega Fan Jan 4, 2021

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    Here’s mine. What battery did you use?

    image.jpg image.jpg
     
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  5. wagudc Jan 4, 2021

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    Oh boy this is tiring. I'm on Mon the 16th.


    It uses a D303. Right now it has an A76 (alkaline), but I will get the proper silver oxide one. It will just cost 6 times what I paid for the watch
     
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  6. DaveK Yoda of Yodelers Jan 4, 2021

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  7. MoclovFlop Do the Electric Boogaloo. Jan 4, 2021

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    The Timex electrics are out of my wheelhouse I'm afraid. I'm more of a 50's-60's electric guy.

    Bet it cleans up nice though, and if it ever does stop running for some reason, you can still find NOS movements fairly easily.
     
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  8. Evitzee Jan 4, 2021

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    I wouldn't pay too much for a battery to keep that thing going, this is pretty basic (ie cheap and disposable) Timex watch. Probably sold for something like $10 or so, new.
     
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  9. wagudc Jan 4, 2021

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    Cleaned up ok, crystal needs work. The watch was $1, a battery is $6 online. I doubt I will wear it much, but is worth having to fill in the gap between spring powered mechanical watches and an Accutron. 20210104_142443.jpg
     
  10. Larry S Color Commentator for the Hyperbole. Jan 4, 2021

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    Fun!
     
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  11. MoclovFlop Do the Electric Boogaloo. Jan 4, 2021

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    Oh man, if you want something to bridge that gap, we should talk. There are a ton of really amazing electro-mechanical watches out there that have an insane amount of design and pedigree.

    I've been meaning to do a little history post here on OF. But here's a neat little interview I was asked to do last year on this very subject (tied into one of their listings).

    https://magazine.bulangandsons.com/conversation-time-dan-the-electric-watch-man/

    But for the price you paid, you might have the best value for the place holder!!
     
  12. wagudc Jan 4, 2021

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  13. wagudc Jan 5, 2021

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    Just a quick update. The watch seems to run OK, but looses about 2 minutes. Any idea if it can be regulated perhaps by rotating the part in the picture?@MoclovFlop or @RI Omega Fan Also, my wife left for work with it on her wrist. I think she likes the gold sunburst dial.

    20210105_074014.jpg
     
  14. Canuck Jan 5, 2021

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    The very first Timex Electrics were put on the market around about 1960/61. This was before Timex was producing their own Electric movements. The Durowe company of Germany was producing battery movements, and Timex bought the company as they wanted the Durowe Electric caliber 870 for use in the Timex Electric. The Timex Electric in a Chrome case with a faux leather strap sold for $29.95 when introduced. I have one. This Durowe movement was much more successful than the very expensive Hamilton Electric of the era. The included picture shows a Durowe calibre 870 movement, clearly marked TIMEX.

    Edited to replace Seiko with Timex. My goof!

    8D258AB4-D02C-4DB1-B205-3EE6B3C55E88.jpeg
     
    Edited Jan 5, 2021
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  15. RI Omega Fan Jan 5, 2021

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    Sorry Wags, I can’t help you. I really don’t know very much at all about watch innards. Proving this, I suggest you try moving that little lever over a little bit and see what happens.
     
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  16. RI Omega Fan Jan 5, 2021

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    My now 95-year-old father-in-law found this watch on Revere Beach back in the 60s. It’s been in his drawer ever since. He gave it to me about a year ago. This thread inspired me to put in a new battery (a quick Internet search revealed a Duracell 357 is correct for most Timex Electrics). Nothing happened. I tapped it, shook it up a little bit, banged it on the top of my dresser, and the damned thing started ticking!

    Reinforcing Canuck’s point, mine says West Germany on the spacey blue dial.
    542AFD62-9B6A-44DD-A720-7D2C1F454BA1.jpeg
     
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  17. Canuck Jan 5, 2021

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    I’m almost certain yours will be the Durowe movement in my post. Once Timex got their feet wet with the Durowe Electric, they sent their r & d people to the shop, and they designed the gawdawful piece of carp that the Timex Electric became, until they went with quartz, like everybody else. Durowe did wonders with that movement. Glad yours runs. It is much more fashionable than mine, which incidentally was retrieved from a waste paper basket back when I was in retail.
     
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  18. marco Jan 5, 2021

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    I had a Timex Quartz in the very early 80's. It never worked properly and after three warranty issues I threw it in the bin. The worst watch I have ever owned from memory it was $50/$100 aud.
    I cannot forget that POS.
     
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  19. Larry S Color Commentator for the Hyperbole. Jan 6, 2021

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    Ahhh. Give em another chance. I literally beat the crap out of this thing. Three plus years on its battery, keeps great time. I’ve grown very fond of it. Also have the Q Timex which I treat more gently. 43883904-C204-4D53-9562-BA0653D55F84.jpeg
     
  20. wagudc Jan 6, 2021

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    Just a follow-up for future reference, the part indicated in the photo regulates the watch clockwise to speed it up, counter-clockwise to slow it down.