My Seiko and Bell-matic collection.

Movement case spring 81330061

2009-07-25T23:54:00.006+01:00

The case spring is one part that as long been obsolete and many Bell matics have lost theres over the years due to corrosion etc, i have in the past bought scrappers just in the hope of finding a usable case spring. Well now the problem as been solved by a collector in the UK who has produced a almost 100% replica from stainless steel so no more corroding away and no more having to make due with pieces of wire etc, well done. I have had two samples and if i hadent known they were new i would have thought they were the originals.
Below is a original one and the "new" one (3).
Email for springs is Dave y.n.burrell (at) ntlworld.com

New case springs.

For sale 4006-6089

2009-06-08T19:15:00.004+01:00

Dating from July 1977 this all stainless 6089 with the sought after blue dial is in superb condition, all original and all functions working perfect (complete with case spring), original bracelet with a replacement Seiko clasp.

SOLD

Only two modifications to 4006A

2009-05-11T01:04:00.002+01:00

I believe that during the 12 year production run of Bell-matics there was only two modifications made to the movement;

The alarm spring was shortened after about the first year of production.
The dial had a solid spacer fixed to the back and this was changed to a separate plastic spacer later in the production run (about 1975 ?), i think that this was possible due to a design error in the first instance as you come across so many dials with the solid spacer were the feet have broken off.

Black, Brown and Blue

2009-05-11T00:56:00.003+01:00

The three different colors available on the 6020, 6021 and 6027 cushion case bell-matic bezel also a "Proof" version and 27 as well as 17 jewels.

Bell-matic4006-6031

2009-04-12T21:45:00.004+01:00

A really nice solid stainless white dialed version of the 6031 on the original president style bracelet, these bracelets are in my opinion one of the best that the Bell matic came on. This one is from January 1972 all original running fine and the only down side is the fact that the dial has some damage to it, i have two of the white dialed versions and both have damage to the dial, still looking for that "mint" dial. These case styles are commonly know as "cushion" case and are a nice size to wear and have a good presence on the wrist, another of my favorite styles.

Diver Bell matics

2009-04-12T20:48:00.006+01:00

Two Bell-matics with modified dial and hands from a Seiko diver 6309-7040. I think even though this is just a "fun" mod it really works well giving a very clean and clear dial to read and the alarm and other functions work perfect but..........i won't be diving in them
# 1 a 4006-6040 with a case that has been bead blasted and #2 a 4006-6031 on its original President style bracelet.

Two Quartz 7223-6010 "Bell-matics"

2009-03-01T13:54:00.005Z

Two very nice examples of the 7223 often though of as the Quartz Bell-matic. Note the white faced model has a French language day wheel, Ven= Vendredi=Friday.
Photographs courtesy of Stefan Molin SCWF.

4006-7000 7 digit 27 Jewel.

2009-03-01T00:48:00.003Z

Saw this on one of the auction sites and bought it not expecting allot (correctly described by seller) but i wanted it for the 7 digit case back.
Well when i got it the sellers description was totally correct it was "dead" and in very poor condition, it looked as though it had been used with the crown and alarm buttons missing allowing water to get into the movement, after removing the case back i was confronted with lots of rust and corrosion. I had to pry the movement out of the case as it was rusted to the sides of the case !!
After examining the good and the bad:
Good:
a) The Hands in pretty good shape.
b) The case back good and of the solid type not the later pressed ones.
c) The dial not as bad as the sellers pictures portrayed it.
d) The alarm ring visually from the top perfect (the gearing was clogged with rust but after a painstaking clean i managed to salvage it with no problems)
e) The extra long alarm spring, see the last picture, A being the stand length and B were this model comes to, i think i would be about right in saying the only mod done by Seiko on the 4006 movement was to shorten the length of the sounding spring.
e) The actual case after a good clean to remove the staining and surface rust was pretty good.
The bad:
a) Crystal kaput.
b) Case spring present but corroded away.
c) One of the dial feet missing.
d) No crown, stem, alarm button.
e) Both alarm setting ring holders corroded and the screws seized in the movement.
f) Alarm setting lever and spring totally rusted away and again the holding screw seized in the movement.
g) The rotor lightly corroded as were many other parts and gears etc.
h) The date wheel poor in areas.
i) Crystal bezel missing.
But instead of stripping it for spares i decided to try and restore this one for a bit of a challenge and enter some uncharted areas for me.
So after stripping it right down, replacing all the parts that needed replacing a really good clean and oil and quite a few hours pain staking work i finished up with what i consider a beautiful early 27 Jewel 7 digit June 1967 Belle that after three days of its time trial has gained about half a minuet !! and all functions working perfect. As you can perhaps tell by the long winded write up i am quite proud of how this one has turned out ( i dident think i would be able to get it back to life).
The feeling of pleasure when the second hand started to run after all the work made it worth while ha ha ha

Quartz "Bell-matic"

2009-03-01T00:35:00.005Z

This model 7223-6040 is a Quartz and though not a true Bell-matic really, it was a successor to the Belle and the alarm set up and dial configuration is very much the same. This model belongs to John W of the SCWF and the photographs are reproduced with his kind permission.

Different styles of Bell-matic case backs.

2009-02-15T23:12:00.006Z

Two case backs, the first a early "Proof" example with what looks to be a machined inside and the later example appears to be a stamping. Perhaps for speeding up production and for cutting costs.

Four different style of case back with changes to the text and layout.

Bell-matic Jewel count.

2009-02-10T22:51:00.005Z

The Bell-matic comes with three different jewel counts, the most common by a long way is the 17 Jewel followed by the less common 27 Jewel and finally the much rarer 21 jewel models.

6 digit and 7 digit serial numbers.

2009-02-08T23:24:00.004Z

The early Bell-matic's 1966, 1967 and some examples at the beginning of 1968 have 7 digit serial numbers. The first two digits being Year and Month.

From late 1967 (early 1968) to the end of Bell-matic production Seiko only ever stamped a 6 digit serial number.

Due to the relatively short period between late 1966 and early 1968 this makes the 7 digit serial number rarer to find.

4006-7000 produced May 1967

Dating a Bell-matic.

2009-02-08T23:08:00.002Z

Dating a Bell-matic is straight forward and done using the serial number stamped on the back plate, Bell-matics were produced from as early as 1966 through to 1977.
Examples:

Waterproof stamped on the back #956789, the first digit "9" is the year which in this case is 1969 because the "proof" mark was only used until June 1970 (approx), the second digit "5" is the month, so May, the last four digits are the number of watches produced in that month.
Water resistant stamped on the back #7D6789, so "7" is 1977 because we know water resistant dident show until after June 1970, "D" is the month, in this case December and the four digits again is the number produced in that month.
Year digit 1 to 9 is January to September the O is October, N is November and D is December.

Cushion case 4006-6027 for sale.

2009-02-08T17:41:00.005Z

A nice all original 6027 from June 1971 (bracelet is from a later Seiko).

SOLD FEB 2009

Waterproof and water resistant.

2009-02-08T15:59:00.004Z

The early Bell-matics as with all early Seiko's would have "Waterproof" stamped or engraved on the case back and printed on the dials of divers etc, this was changed to "water resistant" in about June 1970 and there was also a period during the change when "water resist" was also used. As with most things Seiko changed there is never a definitive date for changes as there always seems to be exceptions to the "known" rule, as i myself have a 6001 with a "proof" back dated October 1970 but the rules are in general correct.

The 4006-6001

2009-02-08T15:36:00.004Z

This is one of my favorites, the large case on these are also referred to as the "UFO" case. Typical 70s styling with a nice presence on your wrist when worn and also one of the less common of the Bell-matic series and like the greatest majority of Bell-matics it has the 4006 movement.

Seiko 6039-7049 diver.

2009-02-07T00:16:00.003Z

The 6039 is one of the most popular of the Seiko divers and quite easy to find in good condition for a reasonable price. It is of solid stainless steel and quite a heavy watch sitting really comfortable on the wrist and looking good. Also very popular because of the many after market parts that can be used to make it look as new "original" or to mod with different dials, chapter rings and bezels. My example is a 6309 with a after market 6105 dial and hand set (another VERY popular Seiko diver and much sought after by Seiko collectors) and a solid Watcherdoo stainless bracelet.

Three 4006-6027 Bell-matics

2009-02-07T00:11:00.002Z

These are the very popular "cushion" cased Bell-matics, i had been looking for a nice example of one of these and ended up collecting three in January of 2009.

4006-6027 for repair.

2009-01-20T01:34:00.004Z

This 6027 had been sent to me by its owner for repair as at some time it must of had a good bump to break the dial feet, this does seem to be a common fault with the Bell matic i have now repaired/replaced dial feet on over 20 dials and it is not model specific, all models can suffer with the problem. Another problem that can occur due to the feet breaking is that it can put strain on the day date driving wheel causing the driving pin to bend or break rendering it useless as far as day and date changing. Apart from the above problems it just needed a replacement crystal and refurb to the blue outer bezel and a general clean up.

Bell matic collection

2009-01-17T23:36:00.006Z

Part of my Bell matic collection, i do like the cushion and UFO type Bell matic modelss.

Bell-matic 4006-6010

2009-01-17T19:37:00.006Z

A nice SGP 6010 with dial #4006-6010T in very clean condition retaining all it's original plating with just lighter than normal wear for it's age, case back is a waterproof showing the manufacturing date of August 1968.

Now sold Feb 2009

Case Backs

2009-01-16T23:18:00.004Z

A 4006-7000 7 digit serial number from may 1967

27 Jewel 4006-6020

2009-01-15T23:33:00.007Z

A nice cushion case 6020 27 Jewel, not has common as the 17 Jewel model on it's original bracelet from June 1970.

Has received.

As you can see by the above picture it was in good condition when i received it just a worrying mark at 6 o'clock, but after removing the bezel and crystal it was just the old DNA from the previous owner/s, so just a general clean up and she is a minter.

After a clean up, very nice.

Bell-matic 4006a spares

2009-01-14T21:58:00.004Z

4006-6027 Cushion case Bell matic

2009-01-13T00:34:00.000Z

A 17 Jewel refurbished 4006-6027 dating from June 1971, i received this in a trade with a fellow collector, i had been looking for the 6027 for a while (just missing out on a few occasions).
This one on receiving it had a few problems that needed sorting out :
* Incorrect crystal had been glued in.
* Water damage through the alarm port.
* Alarm release corroded away.
* Alarm bezel retainers corroded.
* Alarm bezel glue and water damage.
* Dial had water damage (6.30) and broken feet and had been glued in place .
* And the case i think had perhaps been used as a toffee hammer at some time LoL
* Outer blue bezel dull and knocked about.

So all in all a nice project watch, so a new crystal and tensioning ring, make and fit new dial feet, replace, clean and repair the other parts and apart from a case clean up and a refurb of the blue outer bezel, all that was needed was the original bracelet for this model which i just happened to have waiting in my spares box.