Timex M43

Description

In the late 1970ies, Timex had to launch a successfor their first quartz caliber series (caliber M64, second it had to be much more robust than the previous balance-powered movements and third, it had to be so small, that it could be used in ladies’ watches, too, which was impossible for the M64 due to its enormous size and its demand for large button cells.

The developers here availed themselves of a stroke of genius - they constructed a movement, which beats only once per minute and which so has go a dramatically reduced power consumption by having more power for beating at the same time. Thus, a more robust (and crude) construction with better shock resistance could be achived. As battery, only a small button cell of the type 393 (or SR48), called as “Timex F cell” was required.

The central element of the M43 was a rocking motor, which pulls oce per minute and afterwards releases with a loud click to advance the hands by one minute. This rocking motor reminds of flap anchor, which ancient battery powered balance movements, e.g in kitchen clocks, used.

Unfortunately this movement of the second quartz generation already shows significant rationalization outlines, due to the sensational low price. The whole movement is made of riveted plastic parts, the very thin battery contacts and interconnections are very fragile and easily break, so that you won’t find that many working M43 movements any more. Because of this, the specimen shown here was not disassembled, because that would have ment its death.

Only a few years later, this movement became obsolet and was replaced by still state-of-the-art stepper-motor constructions.

The dial side is still made of metal and prepared to have a date indication added. This would be caliber M44.

In the lab