This short film “Making Watches” was part of an educational series called “Let’s Talk About”, which was created to fill time during gaps in children’s TV programming and for use in schools. It was produced by Richard B. Morros in 1961. The film shows the manufacture of Bulova Accutron wristwatches, including making of bridge plates (:56) by automatic machinery. At (1:03), pinion leaf cutters — tiny lathes producing gears — are shown. Women are shown at work because, according to the narrator, “they are more dextrous at handling tiny things.” The gears move on an oil flow which functions as a conveyor belt. At (1:54), pinion gears are shown. At (2:09), a watchmaker assembles a watch and tests them (2:23) against U.S. Naval Observatory time. At (2:37) watches are dunked to make sure they are waterproof. At (2:55) the tuning forks of the electronic watches are tested — 360 cycles per second. “These watches represent man’s progress from sun dials and water clocks to the newest electronic marvel.”
Producer Richard B. Morros started a trend in producing short content, by making a series of newsreel shorts called “Almanac” which were distributed by Official Films. The “Let’s Talk About” series debuted in 1960 with a pilot showing operations on a duck farm. Geared at young audiences, the films were distributed in schools and syndicated TV, and there was a book tie-in.
At the time this film was made the Accutron was brand new. Bulova’s “Accutron” watches, first sold in October 1960, use a 360 Hz tuning fork instead of a balance wheel as the timekeeping element. It was invented by Max Hetzel, who joined the Bulova in 1950. The tuning fork was powered by a one-transistor electronic oscillator circuit, so the Accutron qualifies as the second “electronic watch”, following the Hamilton Electric released in 1957. Instead of the ticking sound made by mechanical watches, the Accutron had a faint, high-pitched hum which came from the vibrating tuning fork. The Accutron was guaranteed to be accurate to one minute per month, or two seconds per day, considerably better than mechanical watches of the time.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
