This Week’s Featured Watch #47 – the 67-9151 Chronograph

Posted on February 22, 2013 by sweephand

Time for a more complicated watch to be featured, and this one is one of the 8110A mechanical chronographs from the 1970s. The Challenge Timers, aka the ‘bullhead’ are the models most often seen for sale, many with after market dials and re-finished cases (see the buying guide: https://sweep-hand.org/want-an-original-citizen-bullhead-a-quick-buying-guide/). There are a number of other models though which are not so often seen, and the all stainless steel 67-9151 is one of those:

This model has an interesting case shape as well as hexagonal sub-registers, a dial design shared with one other model, the 67-9178 (see all of the models on the chronograph page:  https://sweep-hand.org/citizens-vintage-chronographs/)

The shaded green dial and contrasting yellow and orange sub-register borders, combined with the other design features are very 1970s. I have seen some very faded dials on these, and some which appear to have only yellow borders and more even colouring on the dial. Although they have the same dial code I am not sure whether they were a different original design, or have suffered a degree of fading – although two case numbers are seen on these so there may have been two versions (4-901118 and 4-901142).

My example was made in January 1975, and looks to be on an original solid link bracelet:

The clasp is signed:

Detail of the sides and signed crown:

The 8110A has a high beat movement, with hour and minute sub-registers, and ‘flyback’ capability in a compact design, features that represent a very good quality watch.

Posted in Vintage Watches | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

This Week’s Featured Watch # 46 – The Super Jet Autodater, 39 Jewels

Posted on February 14, 2013 by sweephand

Citizen’s automatics of the early 1960s used a circular geared rotor, and the line was known  as the ‘Jet’. Three movements were used from 1961 until about 1966 or 1967 when more conventional rotors took over. More detail on the series can be found on the Jet Automatic page: https://sweep-hand.org/the-jet-automatic/

Higher grade ‘Super’ versions of the two earlier movements were produced, a no date model with 35 jewels (0340 movement) and a date model with 39 jewels (1150 movement). The week’s watch is my example of the 1150 Super Jet Autodater, from 1963:

The Super Jet carries the usual rocket emblem for the Jet models and the three stars logo is added, which Citizen used on their higher grade models:

Typical of its time the case is gold filled (although there were stainless steel models) and again in line with its high grade the gold is thicker than was found on lesser models – this one is 100 microns (for comparison the Super Deluxe has 80 microns of gold). The watch was a presentation and has fine engraving around the outside with cruder marks on the centre of the press on back. The production date of December 1963 coincides with the date of engraving:

Inside is the gold plated Jet movement:

The Jet rotor has a distinctive sound as it rotates, and in my view has a more pleasing aesthetic than the more common swinging weight type. I understand it was dropped because it was less efficient than the centrally mounted rotor.

Posted in Vintage Watches | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

Additions to the X8 Cosmotron Page

Posted on February 5, 2013 by sweephand

For the technically minded I’ve now included scans of exploded views of the two types of movement (08 & 78).

Posted in Vintage Watches | Tagged , | Leave a comment

X8 Cosmotron Page Update

Posted on February 5, 2013 by sweephand

I’ve just added a bit more information in the 78 series section on the Cosmotron Special. This describes the function of the button at 8 o’clock found on these models, with a link to a video showing it in action.

Here’s the video if you want a quick look:

http://s282.beta.photobucket.com/user/Sweephand/media/Cosmotron%20Page/7803Hacking.mp4.html

Posted in Vintage Watches | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

8110A Chronograph Restoration, This Time A 67-9151

Posted on January 30, 2013 by sweephand

’31j’ is at it again! This time he’s restoring one of the rarer chronographs, the 67-9151. It’s always interesting to see his work, and it’s also helped clarify the two variants of this model, which means I can update the chronograph page. And in 31j’s thread you’ll see what might be the best example of one of these, which belongs to ‘wysanz’. Here’s the link:

http://forums.watchuseek.com/f21/citizen-67-9151-8110a-chronograph-service-restoration-31-jewels-806179.html

Posted in Vintage Watches | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The 8200 Movement – Citizen’s Standard Auto

Posted on January 27, 2013 by sweephand

The 21 jewel 8200 automatic movement (21,600 bph) was first produced around 1975, and by the end of the 1970s it had become Citizen’s standard automatic, as the range of mechanical watches was massively reduced as a result of the quartz revolution. Although the majority of 8200’s you’ll see are 21 jewels, they were also made with 17 jewels – I don’t think that version was used in the Eagle 7 line though. Although I include the 8200 in the Movement Table, it was one of the latest movements to be produced in the time frame I have researched, and I don’t (as yet at least) have an example in my collection. However, it is an important movement since it became the Citizen’s base auto for many years, used in a great number of models up to the present day, especially the ‘Eagle 7’ line which rivalled the Seiko 5.  These watches regularly show up for sale, and other than the diver models they don’t make a great deal of money. However, in good condition they should be reliable and accurate watches.

I recently had a question from ‘Kurtnet’ (see here: https://sweep-hand.org/movement-table/#comment-1882) and he sent me pics of his watch to help check it out – he was worried it might not be authentic.  It looks correct to me, and since it is not marked ‘Eagle 7’ I think this is one of the earlier ones. This one has a serial number starting ‘901’ so I think it’s from January 1979. I thought it would be nice to show the pics here:

 

 

Kurtnet’s watch is in decent condition, the case has not been polished and retains its sharp edges. Some scratching on the glass, but it has a nice hand set, and also has Kanji days:

Thanks for the photos Kurtnet 🙂

Posted in Vintage Watches | Tagged , | 230 Comments

X8 Cosmotron Page – First Updates

Posted on January 24, 2013 by sweephand

As a result of comments and information after uploading the page, I’ve made a few amendments and additions. The amendments mainly relate to the the first paragraph, where I referred to Citizen’s ‘world’s first’ claim in their technical guide. I’ve also included a link to the Watch Forum where there are some interesting and informative comments about the development of electric / electronic watches.

I’ve added an image as well about the 1970 chronometer with a titanium case – that was a world first!

I’ve also added more information on the 78 movement, with a couple of images too.

Further amendments / additions are likely so I’ll let you know here when they happen 🙂

Posted in Vintage Watches | Tagged , | 2 Comments

New Page Published – The X8 Cosmotrons

Posted on January 23, 2013 by sweephand

I’ve just published a new page on the Citizen’s electro-mechanical line of watches made between 1966 and about 1975. For me they are a fascinating bit of watch history, a technology developed just before, and therefore rendered very quickly obsolete by the quartz ‘revolution’.

And there are a couple of world firsts in there   🙂

Quick link: https://sweep-hand.org/the-x8-cosmotron/

As I say right at the bottom of the new page, please let me know if you can add information, or see any errors.

Posted in Vintage Watches | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Leopard High Beat Auto Marketing Material, 1969

Posted on January 23, 2013 by sweephand

Besides collecting the watches themselves  it is also fun and interesting to find other items that go with them, much of which is very rarely seen. Here’s an example from 1969 marketing material for models in the Leopard line, scanned from Issue 10 (maybe October if it was a monthly publication) of a magazine sent to Citizen dealers, so I believe this was announcing new models at the time :

The featured models use the 26 jewel 7210 movement running at 28,800 beats per hour. The three on the bottom row are also seen in the 1971 catalog, with same retail prices – and same date!:

These images are great for identifying ‘correct’ watches, and are especially useful for checking what bracelets were fitted originally.

Posted in Vintage Watches | Tagged , | 21 Comments

Superb Restoration Work on 8200 Divers

Posted on January 21, 2013 by sweephand

I’ve linked to work by ’31jewels’ on the WUS forum before (see here: https://sweep-hand.org/2012/05/26/some-great-8110a-restoration-work/), and now he’s worked on five divers (probably from the 1980s) with the 8200 movement. He does excellent work, often on what you might think were just junk watches! Please take a look here:

http://forums.watchuseek.com/f21/citizen-8200-auto-200m-diver-s-service-restoration-31-jewels-794826.html

Posted in Vintage Watches | Tagged , | Leave a comment