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Re: Bulova's involvement

Posted By: Michael Stein (Cologne-Germany) <tz@moonwatch.de> (p3EE0FBB9.dip.t-dialin.net)
Date: 9/22/1 - 22:18:03

In Response To: Bulova's involvement (Richarde (Ontario, Canada))

Richard,
Just of the record of what I've read about it:

As far as I know they had to present a chronograph and I think the Astronaut isn't.
Some of the companies offered, like Omega, more than one specific model for testing.
I don't know, if Bulova tried to offer the Astronaut as well, but they had to resolve another problem in the first place: They didn't have a chronometer at that time. So they had the idea to get some help from their affiliated Swiss manufacturer Universal GenËve. They should provide them with an appropriate movement. I don't know, which one they choose, maybe the cal. 215, but in this way they fiddled their own chronometer in a haste. The Universal movements were sent to Bulova USA, where they were cased. And then, you won't believe it, the watches were sent back to Universal to get them regulated! And prior to that they got the hands there as well. As soon as that work was done, the watches were sent back to the States and - ready was the US-Buy American-watch.

I don't know how many watches have been delivered to the test, but at least on one of them the crystal popped off during the tests. Since the whole ceremony of testing was installed mostly for Bulova's sake, they were allowed to present a new one. And - same thing happened again and Bulova was out.

I don't know, if that watch ever came to market. At least I didn' t read anything about it, however, maybe only the chronists weren't interested in investigating that.

BTW: Omega also presented a tuning fork. But this was later when in 1978 the third contest took place. Besides the Speedmaster Moon they offered the "new" Speedmaster Mark III having an automatic movement (1040) and the Speedsonic Chronometer Chronograph f 300 Hz cal. 1255. I doubt they did undergo the test, since they didn't meet the requirements in several respects. (manual wound, no mineral crystal). I suspect that this was only for PR reasons.

Messages in This Thread

Both, the 321 and 861 went to the moon! (long) - Michael Stein (Cologne-Germany) -- 9/22/1 - 20:34:19
- Re: Both, the 321 and 861 went to the moon! (long) - John -- 9/23/1 - 20:28:53
  - Some very good questions and interesting speculation John... >> - Chuck Maddox (Chicagoland area) -- 9/24/1 - 00:40:03
- I am not so sure as this leaves unanswered many things... > - Chuck Maddox (Chicagoland area) -- 9/22/1 - 23:37:05
  - There are more answers... - Michael Stein (Cologne-Germany) -- 9/23/1 - 14:15:07
    - Perhaps there are.... Part 2 of 2 > - Chuck Maddox (Chicagoland area) -- 9/23/1 - 19:26:10
    - Perhaps there are.... Part 1 of 2 > - Chuck Maddox (Chicagoland area) -- 9/23/1 - 19:08:51
      - c'est le plus petit calibre chronographe-bracelet du monde avec compt - Richarde (Ontario, Canada) -- 9/23/1 - 22:25:39
        
        I don't speak French, it's really too late... - Chuck Maddox (Chicagoland area) -- 9/23/1 - 23:56:36
- Bulova's involvement - Richarde (Ontario, Canada) -- 9/22/1 - 21:36:03
  - Re: Bulova's involvement - Michael Stein (Cologne-Germany) -- 9/22/1 - 22:18:03
    - Re: Bulova's involvement - Richarde (Ontario, Canada) -- 9/23/1 - 21:46:25
- Bonne recherche! - HCN -- 9/22/1 - 21:32:46

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