Set the alarm! Restoring a Seiko Bell-matic "UFO"
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- Опубліковано 11 вер 2024
- Today we have Rui's watch on the bench, a Seiko Bell-matic from 1971. It is affectionally known as the "UFO" given its likeness to a dive watch with that same moniker at the time, and it's a very cool watch!
Join me for a full restoration of this watch as we also discuss the collapse of authoritative sources of information and the impact on all of us thereof. As always we'll go on a few detours, including a wonderful rendition of Old Man River, and we'll go absolutely berserk with a hammer!
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MODESTY on UA-cam!
Man, I am lost for words! Chapeau ! :)))
…and on the subject- this was the best filmed and edited video on this topic one can find here. Image quality, the angles, the black finger cods … I dare anyone to prove me wrong! Glad you kept the three signature moments the same: the case dipping in the cleaning solution, the balance wheel spinning and , of course, the ultrasonic…
Lastly, to your first question: METAL ALL THE WAY! 🤘🏻
Be safe and stay wise !
Another great job. Now on the rant: I began watchmaking about a year ago and am totally UA-cam trained. I have been able to discern the the channels I watch for education and those I watch out of boredom or for a laugh. However, those of you that I follow for education sure have cost me a lot of money.😂😂😂. You can tell your wife that a regular viewer said she should be proud to have a partner with such passion, civility, and an eloquent way of expressing it. 🍷🍷my friend and TaTa
Your humor is perfect; never change it, and thank you for restoring this beautiful timepiece. I hope you're recovering well from your cold. Take care of yourself, and we’ll see you on the next rescue.
Yes, maybe he can teach us how to rub on Seiko dials and turn the watch into a Rolex 🤣
@@Kevins-Philippine-Retirement I’d love to get my hands on that magic power.
The fact that you bring out a hammer to solve issues makes you the best Norwegian watchmaker I know 👍💯
Yes, Stian, love it. You are certainly the best Norwegian watch maker I know (please ignore the fact you're the only Norwegian watch maker, I know). Because of your channel, a vintage Seiko will become part of my collection in the not too distant future. Thanks for sharing.
Stian, wonderful as always buddy, thanks to you I'm now thoroughly hooked on watchmaking, you're extremely highly skilled, both with watches and film making, thank you for sharing, feel better soon 🙏
The watch came out great, and that bracelet magically looks good too.
How true I had a mentor, a man of few words, when he spoke I listened. My father had died when I was in my teens.
One of his pearls of wisdom was that man was no more intelligent than before but could draw on the accumulated knowledge of previous generations.
He left school at 14 but read books on ornithology, motor engineering , genetics and astronomy long before the internet.
Another thoughtful and informative episode.
Hi Stian, again, as always, an excellent video, Buddy! You definitely deserve more than 30k subscribers.
Your running commentary about the different parts and functions is really appreciated. Also explaining why you do things is respected.
Your comments regarding the new world order, about job satisfaction and career changes is correct. Utube and the like are a source of huge inspiration from videos which we receive from Mentors like you. It is so refreshing and inspirational these days when you are not guaranteed a job for life. Or you loose your job. Our fathers worked for one company, loyally all their working lives from 8.00 to 17.30 daily. NO longer!
Your family interaction is the happy cherry on the top.
Please keep these informative videos coming. As an aging, inspiring watch restorer, with intended integrity, I hugely enjoy and appreciate them.
Best wishes to you all. Mark Maddison, Durban, South Africa.
As always very intresting to see your content Stian.
1. Vet good rant, I totally agree. Thanks for using your plattform to remind us.
2. That Magic rubbing, more details please...😁😁😁
😂👍
Now I, after watching many of your videos, imagined you were one of those people that was given an eye piece and a set of drivers for your 5 th birthday . And then sent to watch making school at 16. Your knowledge seems vast in this area.
😂👍 Not really, watchmaking is my third career path but thanks for your kind words!
Balance is perfect; still retains that classic vintage 1970'S style.
Amazing self winding mechanism 🙂
Thanks a lot for this video, on this specific watch. I've serviced myself a Seiko bell-matic but I've not set correctly the alarm disk so it doesn't ring at the right time. Fortunately you just show how to fix this. I find the watch fantastic I think you found the exact balance between a nice looking watch and keeping the vintage style
Interesting for sure, always. Love the fact that you pronounce Seiko and psyco about the same to my ear.
Oh, it's actually quite different, at least to me. If you imagine an Australian pronouncing the word "say", that would be closest, I think. The reason I pronounce it like this is that in Germanic languages the syllable "sei" is quite common and pronounced like I do. Thus after learning how to pronouce "sei" growing up, you just apply that to a foreign word when you first see it. Now I'm too old and stubborn to change it 😉
36:44 Listen to your wife or mother on which grease/oil to use 😂 I love Seiko and the 70's style case. Great video and restoration. Thank you.
Leave it to the genius of Seiko! Wow, so many parts on this movement. Nice job. Beautiful watch.
Another fine job on my favourite make of watch with some good humour thrown in for good measure. Cheers
Another beautiful watch given a lease of new life, with lots of great Scandinavian humor (maybe a bit dark, but I love it) and real good knowledge too. Never single source your information, particularly on the internet.
Well said!
I find it hard to express how much your videos mean to me. They inspire me and also make me laugh ... you have a wonderful soul!
You may also like to know (or not) I pinched a screw too tight and it flew into the yonder never to be seen again!
Thanks so much Richard, that's very nice to hear :) I believe there is an alternate universe out there that gobbles up small screws and springs. That's the only reasonable explanation I have as to why they disappear forever 😎
You say you are not the best watchmaker on the Tube, but you are surely one of the best. Thanks for the great content.
Thanks Mark 😊
I have always wanted an alarm wrist watch and ordered one new one and I was so impressed with it when I first got it when I tried to set the alarm it wouldn't work come to find out it was working he just can't hear it unless you have it about 9 in from your ear I sent the watch back it was new got refund and found a early '70s belllmatic on eBay and purchased it. it is not quite loud enough but I'm so impressed with the watch it keeps such good time and it's built like a tank and for my job is probably one of the best choices. I do respect your attitude on how to finish a old vintage watch.
Yes, GUNK is the actual technical term. Also, very nice job. Thanks for sharing.
I had to translate the term scuzz for a Swiss watchmaker. Apparently the preferred term is GUNK for Norwegian english speakers?
Very cool! I own a Seiko automatic I purchased during college in the early '80s and it still runs. Recently the day/date complication stopped functioning. I believe because at one time I tried to change the date when the hour and minute hands were not in an optimal position. Anyway, I can relate to this video and the sense of history and personal attachment involved. You did a fine job of balancing the degree of restoration!
Thanks, Ray!
Great watch! I love my Bellmatic. I've owned it for years and it's always been reliable - probably my most worn watch. My only issue is a slightly sticky quick adjustment for the date. I always have to pull it slightly back out in order to finish the date advancement.
Nice work. The Seiko 4006A is an engineering marvel. I have serviced and restored a few of these Bell-Matics. Very challenging movement to work on; in particular the keyless and alarm mechanism. Thanks for sharing. Just the way I would have done it in terms of restoration.
With all this talk about learning watchmaking, as a fellow Norwegian you were my inspiration for starting the hobby during the lockdowns. I'm way too old to getting the proper education and I already have a career, but you have been absolutely instrumental in me being able to service a movement using your videos for reference. I also film all my takedowns of the movement just to be able to get it back together but it gets easier and easier. The little parts are starting to get their own faces independent of the producers and I'm starting to see where they belong without checking the video. Thanks for all the content my dude.
Thanks so much, that's very nice to hear :)
Hello. Great to see you service a Bell Matic. I'm not a watchmaker, just a hobbyist who like to fiddle with watches, mostly Seiko, and I just love the Bell matics, I have 5 of them now, and have serviced them all by my selves. The 4006 is a great movement to work on I think.
Greetings from Norway 🙂
Wow, hvis du har fikset 5 Bell-matics selv tror jeg du kan kalle deg selv en urmaker :) Godt gjort, Ole Johan!
Another brilliant video on your great workmanship, expertise and light touch on an incredibly complicated, but highly innovative watch, combined with serious "rants" on getting truthful information, which has always been a key knowledge that is extremely difficult to acquire.
Lovely watch with a beautiful dial. After cleaning, the parts looked very new. Casio to Seiko magic was also fantastic. Christmas is round the corner. Saw some very nice videos of swiss towns getting ready for Christmas.
Thanks for that K and happy holidays to you and yours!
And another one beautiful timepiece. I noticed one thing: it is better to install alarm spring after you get minute wheel and its bridge installed. As you can have some issues with installing minute wheel bridge because of alarm spring tail will push on it.
That's amazing Stian, thank you!
To me, this watch has a miniature bell 🔔 inside. That’s why it’s called a Bell 🔔 Matic. You’ll get the alarm 🚨 working fine. The rotor looks like 👍 it needs adjustment, so there’s no side to side play. Very precise movement. You’re so great 😄 at taking these watches apart, clean 🧼, and put them back together again. Your friend, Jeff.
Good job!👍
*A wonderful job, which is becoming expected. For a > 50 years of age wristwatch, it's wonderful to see it gain another life. The approach of not making them look factory new is excellent. I have, unfortunately, avoided wearing new watches because of irrational fear of even small scratches. Watches should be used and enjoyed, typical wear & tear be damned.*
Beautiful work on a beautiful watch.
Son of a beach. Now that you made this video the bellmatics will jack up in price, as if they weren't already a tad pricey to begin with. THANKS A FREAKING LOT, MAN
🤣👍
Love your shows ❤️
Fan-Effing-Tastic, Theon!. I have been looking for good videos on servicing alarm watches. I have one I plan on servicing, though it is working fine at the moment.
If I may relate a personal anecdote regarding alarm watches:
I lucked into a working Helbros alarm watch from the 1950s. What makes this particular one unique is the dial. Instead of the usual numerals going around the dial to indicate hours, it has the word LAMPLIGHTER where each letter replaces a number, except for the number 6. At the 6 o'clock position, instead of the number 6, it has what appears to be a ray of light coming down from the center of the dial and within it, it reads, "IT'S TIME".
I have not been able to find out anything about it, but I love it and enjoy wearing it.
I'm jealous of the lathe :D. Super production values.. thank you
Thanks so much!
I was watching this because I have the same watch in blue with blue bezel inset, when I saw the bracelet with Casio I went WHAT!!!!!! I have a Casio bracelet on mine as well and it matches the look of the watch as well, that is just nuts.
Nice! I really enjoyed this video. Thanks for putting it together and sharing.
It's probably the most underrated seiko movement. If you want to get one ,get one with 25 jewels , one extra jewel on the barrel arbor makes a great difference .
Love the look of the watch, thanks for posting
Stian, you dont have to be an ordained expert to be a good teacher and entertaining. I have learned a bunch watching your videos. It could be On youtube you are some sort of an expert. Ty for taking time to make these videos.
Well, .. I love your work..and commentary during your restoration and reconditioning of this great movement..(and your other work)..and I'm sure I can speak for others, that you may underestimate your talent and skills. You commented that you probably the 'best watchmaker in your town, but your vids prove that you're probably one of the best out there today. II really enjoy your Utubes.. Love your extensive assortment of tools and your skill in using them...ie: shrinking the bridge pivot holes to better suit motion of the works. Great little quips..here and there... Nice job on the clasp..Had to be a Seiko clasp...Right on...! Great winding/rotor setup..and super job on the case.. Kudos to you Sir..!!
Beautiful work and thank you for posting. Enjoyed the narration!!
I lean toward keeping shop-worn “patina” … even on my higher-end watches but this one looks nice with a refresh.
Just got a 1971 Bellmatic that’s been idle for a long time and maybe I’ll attempt servicing it after watching your video a couple dozen time😊
Really great video and thoughts about modern media. No one can claim that they are the best watchmaker in the world. But you do it well. In fact, you do it really well. I think the most important thing is that you bring vintage to life again. And so do I. Maybe not as good as you do. But I try. Because I also love vintage. I've spent a lot of time watching videos of watchmaking for some time. And I've got my favorites. And you are among the top three. Not just because you are good watchmaker. But also because you're not a stiff old boring watchmaker. You do it with ease and you are very educational. Keep up the good work and never ever loose your sense of humor.
I love your videos and especially your commentary. It is so true that critical thinking is so important in anything we do and especially watch on the internet. I'm a retired engineer so I have applied this throughout my career and, of course, can't turn it of now. Please continue with your work and producing your excellent videos.
Thank you so much!
Hello Stian, glad to see this video ! nice words! I'm sure I will see your videos at 100.000 subscribers ! nice job, thank you !
Thanks Tiberiu :)
I like your work on the clasp. It's almost as good as that restoration job you did on that watch you found while walking your moose.
😁👍
Wow ? So far the best I've seen. I never knew there are top notched watch makers in Norway. Sadly we have come to the end of Mechanical watches. Cheers.
😂👍
Yet another wonderful restoration, you are truly brilliant.
You mentioned the 'Gatekeeping' being gone but, to some extent I think it still exists insomuch as the cost of some of the tools needed is prohibitive to some folks. I like yourself and many others are fortunate enough to be able to buy certain branded tools but, it still makes the hobby difficult to get into without them............. imagine you're just getting into the hobby and you see a set of Bergeon mainspring winders or screwdrivers.
Another great and informative video! Thanks Stian.
Hey mate! Just want to let you know that I've watched this about ten times while working on my first Bellmatic and second watch ever. Bought it non-runner and very rusty inside. It is now running within 10 seconds a day! Took me a few weeks though if I'm honest haha.
Very cool to hear and well done! 💪
Nice video! And a great watch too, i hope you make more presentaions of such interesting peaces!!!
Enjoyed watching Stian, i should have made a channel, i like that you bring different movements that arn't that prolific, i enjoy fixing/servicing different movements myself, it's enjoyable finding faults and cleaning, got quite a few vintage watches now all running well, i just made a 36mm duver with a 70s eta 2824 from a Rotary square watch it's real nice and accurate too, you sounded like you was having a great time, thanks Stian cu soon lad. Dave from UK
Really lovely work Stian.😀
That is an amazing watch. Thank you for the videos. I find these to be extraordinarily therapeutic to watch. I recently started to renew my appreciation for watches after finding my great grandfathers 1930's pocket watch. And I know from your video how humble you have stayed in how you speak of yourself, but to put it into perspective, you have a skill and talent that billions of other people on our planet will never be able to achieve (I know I sure wouldn't be able to!). Yes, there are probably many who are better, but your in a very elite class of humans with what you can do. :) And we appreciate you and them for it!
Thanks so much :)
First timegrapher reading could also show the watch playing "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas"😂
😂👍
I've heard of ringing watches before ... and this one is really cool ... 😂
Tadà!
Great watchmaker indeed…one of the best…
Such a beautiful movement in such a clunky case. I was wondering why Seiko didn't put the alarm spring in it's own barrel. It seems to me that anytime a spring is moving, there is a good chance for dust, oil, metal to be thrown all over the inside of the watch. Maybe I'm wrong and there is a way they contained this.
I loved the work you did on the case. It went from being quite ugly to just clunky. Thanks for your work even when you are sick, Barry.
Very nice! Thank you for the lovely video!
Not only did we see the hammer of the Gods make an appearance, but we got a magic show as well, just incredible, another great video, Thank You.
It's always exciting when Stian gets out the German screwdriver and starts beating a watch into shape. And to hear die Moosetersinger perform in a spontaneous concert, well you can't ask for more than that!
🤣👍
Awesome job on that. I must admit, the first bellmatic I worked on took a week of troubleshooting to figure out. It was my first alarm watch, and now I have a few more fixer uppers to work on and a Le Jour alarm watch to work on as well!
Thank You once again, Stian, for a great and instructional video. Now I appreciate my own Bell-Matic even more. And I know, that it will be serviced by a pro, when necessary, because those mechanisms are way beyond my capabilities as a watch-fiddler. Exciting to see so much ingenuity in detail. Get well soon! And if You want to keep that sonorous voice, or at least fake it, just get very close to the mic. It's a real thing called proximity effect, used by the greats for ages.
you sir are very whitty and fun to watch and listen to. being the best is'nt always the person to watch but i love your videos and think you are a genius at what you do i look forward to the next video thanks
I love your videos. One day, I want to work on watches myself. Thank you!
Go for it!
Excellent video though I'm sure there was some skulduggery moving those letters around on the bracelet. :-) Photography and the lighting exceptional as usual.
Fine job on the case just enough to make it pop! As always enjoy the audio
lovley seiko ❤😊
Hello Stian ! Absolutely perfect and so interesting video. The final results is stunning as well. Thank you for sharing ! ✨👌
Came across your channel while browsing UA-cam and subscribed
Cheers from Sydney Australia
You’re a magician. Great job.
An instant classic VWS video -- interesting watch and movement with a few twists, some deprecating Dad humor, an appearance by Stian's Mjölnir, and even a (mercifully) brief Barry White serenade. Top quality work all around. This is why you're among the best. Good to see you still are wearing the fitbit. Feel better soon and best holiday wishes to you and the family (how's the Waltham doing?)
What is a fitbit?
I just found one of these in a box lot of watches I bought. I had never seen one before, it runs but needs a service
I follow a couple of other guys on here and enjoy all of the videos you guys produce. Yours by far is the most enjoyable to me. I love how you really take the time to explain things in depth for your viewers. I appreciate it very much and have delved into this hobby(for me at least). I do enjoy it although I have been looking for a spring that went off on vacation off an old Bulova watch I was servicing for 3 weeks now. Im sure this has never happened to you. Anyway, please continue to post as much as possible PLEASE.
I loved it. Great image an editing! and the subtlest jokes I ever heard....😅 and Precisely, I Just got myself a Bellmatic some weeks ago, I only had to replace the crystal and the external ring, fortunately they are available on Ebay...
Nice one Stian! I was hoping you'd do a Bell-matic one of these days! I'm still working up my courage to try to fix mine! It helps a lot seeing what's going on inside!
Thanks Dayton! They're very cool watches and quite sturdy 👍
Thanks for another great video. Your videos have been very helpful on my journey of learning to restore vintage watches. However, I have reached the point where I want to learn how to adjust the watch so that it keeps accurate time in all positions. I noticed that you -- and most other producers of watch repair videos on UA-cam -- only regulate the watch in the dial-up position on the timegrapher. However, for some of my watches the beat rate varies considerably depending on the position. I expect one reason is that the balance wheel is out of balance and needs to be poised. So, I would very much appreciate a video on how to poise the balance wheel. Many thanks!
*Gravity and temperature affect a hairspring and the balance wheel. Design can reduce but never fully eliminate these effects. Mainspring power is also a factor. The best way to keep a mainspring and escapement movement within a certain range is to find out which off-the-wrist position counteracts the deviation occurring when worn, then ensure a good wind (at least 80%) when setting her down off wrist.*
Love to magic cloth that changed the name from Casio to Seiko. Great video
😁👍
I genuinely enjoy your videos and instruction. I would like to hear your advice on stake selection when closing holes. I feel like I don't always make the best choice
Ding dong I love that gong.
Outstanding work , thank you for sharing . I must share this to my friend's . Oh and please say hi to your little girl ❤️
Thank you so much!
Great video 👍🏴
Beautiful.
Nice careful work on this unusual watch. I have a couple of Seikos, one with the 7S26 and one with the 4R36 movement. It is interesting that other movement makers haven't used the Seiko type autowind mechanism as I believe it is superior.
I also have a Birks branded double barreled alarm watch with a very hard to identify movement. I have seen similar ones, but not the same. I have managed to regulate it to about 0.5sec/day with a beat error of 0.1ms, so it is an amazing little movement.
Another great job 👍
This is 4006-70XX, I got another model 4005-7000. This is an amazing watch.
Very nice watch indeed 🥰
Very nicely done!
Thank you very much!
Im 61 now. My father had this exact model and I remember being spell bound by the alarm. I must get myself one of these at some point. If I do will you service it for me? Loved the video. Many thanks. Christian. UK
Thanks, Christian!
Hi Stian, this is the best bell-matic service/restoration I have seen, in a very long time...quick question..like you I find working on watches great for being methodical, precise and so calming (until that dial screw went ping on the carpet, thank goodness for magnets), but enough of mental health...what about back health...I'm probably leaning over too much...😮
Get rid of that carpet! 😁 Maybe your table has to be taller if you're leaning over too much?
Been away for a while but great to see you still doing wonderful restorations! Great stuff.
Cheers!
I just won an Alarm watch on eBay! 80 Euro! Hopefully, the end result of mine will be acceptable once serviced. This will be my first alarm watch serviced, so a ton of photos will be in order.
Stian, thank you so much for your content. One of the things that keeps me watching your content is this amazing knowledge about watchmaking and how you present it. You are entertaining and one of the best basket knitting expert I've ever seen (JK)
Thank you very much for the content and you are a master watchmaker. Best from NYC
Thanks for that and just wait until I launch my basket knitting channel! 😎
Simply very cool! Your videos are always educational and relaxing!
Finally looked up the epilame bottle price ... $100 to $200 U.S., new ... Really? Why? LOL ... Now I understand your prior fix-o-drop bottle comments... As always, great video Stian !