A Bell-matic research thread

I'm curious if the models ending in 1 and 2 are also successive releases in other popular runs, like the 6139-6030, 6031 and 6032 for instance.

A few updates. First, I've added a dataset for the 4005's into the catalog - along with more data points - I think the date range accuracy for each model is pretty accurate now. You can see the 4005's as the 4th bar in the first chart on the page (pasted here for easy of use). That current dataset is 39 watches, and they all line up between June of 1968 and May of 1969 - for what looks like a 12 month run.

Follow this link for more detail: Bell-matic Research Page




Second, I've started a Google Doc for these Bell-matics (link below). I believe I have all of the 11 major models documented, with most (if not all) of original dial/bezel/handset combinations in there. My current tally is 62 different dials. If you see anything that is not correct, or if you have additional information to share that would help make this more accurate or complete - please do so. You can reply here, in the Google Doc (as a suggested edit) or PM me directly. I really appreciate the feedback.

A curious note on Dial Codes with the Bell-matics - I believe they are a better indicator of the chronology of these watches than the model numbers... Based on the images I have collected - here are the 32 dial codes across the series:



When we sort by dial codes, it looks like this:



It was all very simple at first. Dial 7000T when with model 4006-7000. But as we get to the release of model 4006-7020, we see that dial codes 7010T, 7020T, 7030T, and 7040T are all spoken for so then the 4006-7020 starts out with dial 7050T.

You can see all of the rattling around in the grid above. It looks like finally things became linear again with 4006-6040 through the end of the series - but having run out of 60XXT dial codes we see them first go with 611LT, before finishing on 6100T.

I am close to tapping out on the collecting side and refocusing on getting these fixed up... Here is where I am at right now:





Three more in the mail, and two more on the"auto buy when spotted" list...

Let's go in order

Here is my Diashock / Dolphin 4006-7000 with 7000T dial:



These are my five 4006-7000's with 7070T dials in white, silver and black:



And here is a black dial 4006-7000 w/ 7000T dial next to a blue dial 4006-7001 with 7080T dial:




I have three 4006-701X's with 7010T dials in black and white:



And two Business Bells - 7040T dial in the 7010 case:




Next, my two 4006-7020 black and silver dial variants, dial code 7090T




I have four 4005-7000's:



I have two 4006-6000's - hoping to net one fully functioning - right now they are (super) dead.



The one on the right is on original bracelet - and what do you know the end links have the model on them - as if the disgusting human remains weren't enough to have already convinced me that this one is original





And I do have one 4006-601X w/ Blue dial



I have two 4006-602X's in amazing condition, including the elusive 27 jewel version!:



The 27 jewel version on the right is definitely on the right bracelet - because the end links are marked:



I have one 4006-6030 so far, and I found an original bracelet but with complete hack end links... so now I need end links - more likely another example of the watch with correct bracelet.  This one is in good condition except the red on the bezel has faded from sun exposure



I have one of the flashy 4006-6040, w/integrated bracelet



Moving on, I have one of these super funky octogon case 4006-6050, w/ blue dia.  The case has seen (way) better days - I think it has been polished to death - and needs professional help!



I also have one of the 4006-6060 - the one with blue dial (picking up on a theme yet?)



I actually have three of the 4006-6070's - a black dial arabic numeral version is in the mail.  The white dial version is a hack job with the wrong hands and bracelet...  The Blue dial version of this one is (again) my fav



And FINALLY, my 4006-6080 - in groovy turquoise color.  Case is over polished, but otherwise a nice example on its integrated bracelet

For any other Bell-matic WIS's out there ... I am finding the 7080T dial perplexing. I was pretty sure this dial was used in the later 4006-7000's - specifically we see a couple very nice blue dial variants appear in 7001 and 7002 cases.

Like this blue dial 4006-7002, which I believe is a correct setup:



But then there is this ad shot which clearly shows the 7080T dial in a 7020 case. The data seems to suggest the 7080T dial was found in both of these models - and if so would be the only example I am aware of where a specific dial code was used in different models/case codes.



Thoughts, opinions and more data points (very) welcome... here are the 7080T dials I have identified so far... perhaps some go in the 7020 and others in the 7000?

And here is the state of the collection right now... Thinking another box is overdue...

another something I have learned... the early Diashock dial / dolphin back 7000 case was different from the 1967 and onward case design - so much so that bracelets will not fit between them. Here are some comparison photos:





The diashock / early version is the one on leather strap here...

EDIT: Note the difference in the end links here:

And here is something you don't see every day, a Business Bell in it's original inner and outer box with hand tag / instructions

Thx. I did see that one pop up a few days ago and went ahead and bought it. The 7028 appears to be the follow-up to the 21j 7029, which I also now have a good example of, here:

Another point of curiosity I have been pondering... Why do some of the dial codes here increment from ending in 0 to ending in 1 - e.g. the 6060T dial became the 6061T dial at some point. Here is a summary of the data points I have collected so far:



At first I thought it made sense that the dial codes would have incremented to end in "1" at the same time the case backs incremented to end in "1", but I don't think that is accurate. Instead my current working theory is that the dial codes incremented to end in "1" at the same time that the case back design went from the horseshoe style to the standard/plain style.

There are 4 models that never got a horseshoe case back (later production) and those also do not appear to ever get a dial code incrementing from 0 to 1. These are the 6050, 6060, 6070 and 6080 models.

It appears that the 7010, 6010, 6020, 6030 and 6040 all have dials that do increment from ending in 0 to ending in 1, and pouring over the data, this does seem to align fairly strongly to the same time the case back design changes on each of these.

That leaves the 7000, 7020 and 6000 - all of which never received the switch to the plain case back... and also never saw a dial code increment from 0 to 1.

So... as my theory goes, if you have a model that was produced with both horseshoe and plain style case backs, then your dial code should end in "1" to match a plain style case back and "0" to match a horseshoe

Another working theory... this one to do with the last digit in the model numbers - often thought to be a region designation. With a solid data set of case backs I think it is highly likely that

• Models ending in 0 were replaced with a 1, and sometimes a 2
• Models ending in 6 were replaced with a 4 - also these appear to be all BASE METAL / Gold tone watches
• Models ending in 9, were replaced with a 7, and in one case an 8
• Importantly, I can find no evidence that these models were EVER produced at the same time - instead 1's always come after 0's, 7's always after 9's

So here's my current thinking on this. Models ending in 0, 1 or 2 are our World/JDM models. Models ending in 9, 8 and 7 are USA/North American models. And Models ending in 6 and 4 are some kind of special SGP run.

I have not yet found a plausible reason why these last digits got incremented, though it may have been an across the board (for the 4006's) decision at different trigger dates. It is clear that one such date is Nov 1977 for the then running 6040, 6060, 6070 and 6080 - which all ticked over to end in 1's in that month.

Here is what I think happened... NOTE: I am not 100% each model switch at exactly the same year/month yet:

• October1969
  • 4006-7000 becomes the 4006-7001
  • 4006-7010 becomes the 4006-7011
  • 4006-7020 becomes the 4006-7021
  • 4006-6000 becomes the 4006-6001
  • Also ...
  • 4006-7029 becomes the 4006-7028
• May 1971
  • 4006-7001 becomes the 4006-7002
  • 4006-7011 becomes the 4006-7012
  • 4006-6001 becomes the 4006-6002
  • Also ...
  • 4006-6020 becomes the 4006-6021
  • 4006-6030 becomes the 4006-6031
  • Also ...
  • 4006-7006 becomes the 4006-7004
  • 4006-6016 becomes the 4006-6014
  • And finally ..
  • 4006-6029 becomes the 4006-6027
  • 4006-6039 becomes the 4006-6037
• November 1977
  • 4006-6040 becomes the 4006-6041
  • 4006-6060 becomes the 4006-6061
  • 4006-6070 becomes the 4006-6071
  • 4006-6080 becomes the 4006-6081