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| Joined: | Sun Apr 15th, 2007 |
| Location: | Perth, Australia |
| Posts: | 1268 |
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Pax - the watch goes into the collection - it will not be a daily wearer. The alarm (which only runs like old alarm clocks of the day, by which I mean to say that it needs to be wound again after it has sounded, it starts strong and loud and then dies and slows down at the end) is loud, clear and very obviously a little hammer on a little bell). It also vibrates the watch, so if it was in your pocket when it sounded - there is enough sound and vibration to let you know something has gone off in your pants! :shock:
I found a few sites where you can hear a good strong alarm, and also where you can compare Bell-matic models. Try http://www.bellmatics.com . And there is the usual series of home movies on youtube - if anyone is interested they can search for "bellmatic" and you will see some unusual footage of people using them, setting them, making the alarms sound - it is all very helpful in deciding which characteristics your watch must have to be original, and how to use the features.
daanbc - the biggest thing to be cautious about is the description of Bell-Matics by case size. My "41mm" model has the "small" face and crystal typical of Bell-matics form the 1970s - they wear comfortably, but they are deceptively small in the size of the dial. Photographs are usually wonderful for determining a watch's condition, but they are useless for an understanding of scale IMO. The second biggest issue I suppose is that you must be wary about loose movements in some of these old Seikos - but it is really easy to discover if you can hold it before you buy it. When the alarm button (which is the top one of the two) is depressed for quick-set date or pulled out to permit the alarm to work at the preset time on the inner rotating bezel (which is pretty accurate for an oldie) after winding the alarm mechanism (which is done with the crown pushed in - the winding is solely for the alarm function because the movement is an automatic) and the entire movement chugs along inside the watch. The locating lugs that are set into the caseback on my model often come loose and sellers won't say unless asked. Other than that - it is a very nice retro which is typical of 70s thinking - IMHO the Bell-Matic and its alarm are a bit like the contribution made to watch case shapes today by the oval Omega Dynamic. As for wearing it a lot, I was like a kid with a new toy when I showed my girlfriend the watch last night and set off the alarm a few times for a bit of a giggle - it is a watch that makes people smile with you (not at you!!) and I think it will be a fun way to introduce people to the reasons why you collect (or even wear) watches. For me, it isn't about having more, it is about having different, and this one certainly fills that descriotion. It would be a conversation starter, a fairly reliable timekeeper (the 4006 movements are pretty bullet-proof if serviced by people who know them, my watchmaker tells me) and I think that on the right band or bracelet it would be a watch any regular wearer would be proud of. Mine arrived on a very nice looking but cheaply made leather strap, and I intend to put it on an original (70s) SS bracelet.
It is a keeper, but it is mainly a watch to add to my collection, where it will be properly preserved, serviced and cared for like the others - and brought out for the occasional play. Gees this is a fun hobby!
Even at (nearly) 50 years of age - every new watch is still like
for me. Have a great day!
IanM
