Accutron Astronaut types - where to find info?

[jeffw]

Safe to say the Astronaut dates at least 1962. Astronaut Scott Carpenter was pictured with his Accutron on the cover on a French magazine that year.

[alton1]

We're continuing our search for all the information we can find. I'm considering writing a letter to Bulova to see if they can help provide us with some information.

[jeffw]

There is a newly listed M2 Astronaut on the big auction site. . .

[alton1]

Thanks for the head's up, jeff!

[Claven2]

ok, so then by the new data chart, it looks like I have an Accutron Astronaut N of the Black Arrow LS variety. nice to be finally able to define one's variant.

[hp2114b]

By my chart, yes. However there is the A versus N confusion. If Bulova differentiated between the two models based on bracelet type, yours is what has traditionally been called an Astronaut A. If Bulova didn't differentiate based on bracelet type, you can call it whatever you want, because I have no idea what the difference between the A and the N is, other than bracelet type. I have never seen any official Bulova material that actually says 'Astronaut A', although the designation is so commonly referenced that I must assume Bulova referred to the first Astronaut model as the Astronaut A. The first model looks exactly identical to yours, but without a luminous seconds hand. Did Bulova differentiate models based on whether or not it had luminous seconds? I don't think so, but who knows.

Early Astronaut ad (from accutron214.com)...this is the version everybody calls the Astronaut A:


1972 'Four variations' ad (from accutron214.com), featuring the named Astronaut N (it's too small to make out the details in the image, but I have the actual ad):


The watches in those two ads are cosmetically identical, except for bracelet type.

Micah Mabelitini
http://www.decadecounter.com/

[pz93c]

Does the Deep Sea in the last ad have a lumed second hand?

[hp2114b]

Yes, it has a lumed circular part near the tip.

Micah Mabelitini
http://www.decadecounter.com/

[pz93c]

That's the first one I've seen like that. Most are orange.

Maybe I should find one... ever seen one in person? Was that hand variation produced?

[hp2114b]

Well the hand is orange, it just has the lume circle.



Now that you mention it, I don't remember ever specifically seeing a Deep Sea A with a luminous seconds hand before. I just went and looked at about 50 Deep Sea photos on my computer and Google, and not a single one has a luminous seconds hand.

Micah Mabelitini
http://www.decadecounter.com/