|
|
Post by John Lind on Aug 18, 2020 10:57:07 GMT
1977 Texas Instruments 401 LED digital. These were quickly superseded by LCD digitals as they were notorious battery eaters. Most, like this one, used two 386 silver oxide cells and could go one to three months on them - depending on how often you pushed the button to light up the LEDs. That's why this one is in such good condition after 43 years. It was relegated to a jewelry box after no more than a year and replaced by an LCD digital. LCD technology very quickly displaced the LED watches. Rather simple operation common to nearly all early digitals. - One button press: time in hours and minutes; hold it down to see seconds ticking
- Two quick button presses: month and date
Bracelet is original folded link stainless with signed TI z-fold deployant clasp. Case is chrome plated base metal with stainless snap-on back; common fare for these watches in that era. TI killed Hamilton's Pulsar pricing when these the market, IIRC, for less than $40 starting with the TI 101. That would be about $170 today which isn't dirt cheap, but it's not that expensive. TI had a very cheap plastic Star Wars LED watch they sold for less than $20 at the theaters showing the movie. TI got out of the digital watch business in 1981. By then they were selling some digitals for just under $10, which had the rest of the watch industry in an absolute uproar.   |
|
|
|
Post by marsss25 on Aug 18, 2020 12:18:43 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by John Lind on Aug 18, 2020 12:38:52 GMT
VERY cool, John! I really like those old LED’s Wearing my Alpha recase this morning then back to the soffits wearing the G Thanks Marcel . . . nice job on the Alpha. Was planning on yard work today for which I also don the G, but it's been light rain and drizzle since yesterday afternoon. Instead, I've been working on redoing some watch photos and post processing some other photo work. Been busy with that the past few days. I don't envy the soffit work. That's a PITA. I'm fortunate the current house has vented aluminum soffits. They've been maintenance free. |
|
|
|
Post by marsss25 on Aug 18, 2020 12:55:51 GMT
VERY cool, John! I really like those old LED’s Wearing my Alpha recase this morning then back to the soffits wearing the G Thanks Marcel . . . nice job on the Alpha. Was planning on yard work today for which I also don the G, but it's been light rain and drizzle since yesterday afternoon. Instead, I've been working on redoing some watch photos and post processing some other photo work. Been busy with that the past few days. I don't envy the soffit work. That's a PITA. I'm fortunate the current house has vented aluminum soffits. They've been maintenance free. Thanks, John  I’m not the one who re-cased the Alpha, but it looks and works great. As far as the soffits go, if they had been capped properly with the aluminium, I wouldn’t have this issue. Oh well... New photos? Sounds like you’re trying to avoid the new lazybutt icon  |
|
|
|
Post by jeffhargrave on Aug 18, 2020 13:13:48 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by marsss25 on Aug 18, 2020 14:13:43 GMT
I think I had one of those back in the day! M Force for me today. Nice! Is it lumed with different colours for indices and hands? |
|
|
|
Post by russmurray on Aug 18, 2020 14:40:35 GMT
Wish I could find that old SNL spoof commercial they did on those LED watches. If I recall they showed at least two extra pairs of hands needed to operate the thing  Going with Oris today....  |
|
|
|
Post by zeb on Aug 18, 2020 16:01:57 GMT
1977 Texas Instruments 401 LED digital. These were quickly superseded by LCD digitals as they were notorious battery eaters. Most, like this one, used two 386 silver oxide cells and could go one to three months on them - depending on how often you pushed the button to light up the LEDs. That's why this one is in such good condition after 43 years. It was relegated to a jewelry box after no more than a year and replaced by an LCD digital. LCD technology very quickly displaced the LED watches. Rather simple operation common to nearly all early digitals. - One button press: time in hours and minutes; hold it down to see seconds ticking
- Two quick button presses: month and date
Bracelet is original folded link stainless with signed TI z-fold deployant clasp. Case is chrome plated base metal with stainless snap-on back; common fare for these watches in that era. TI killed Hamilton's Pulsar pricing when these the market, IIRC, for less than $40 starting with the TI 101. That would be about $170 today which isn't dirt cheap, but it's not that expensive. TI had a very cheap plastic Star Wars LED watch they sold for less than $20 at the theaters showing the movie. TI got out of the digital watch business in 1981. By then they were selling some digitals for just under $10, which had the rest of the watch industry in an absolute uproar. Very cool and historical watch, John.  I don't remember having an LED watch. My friend had the Star Wars one, and I was extremely jealous! I put the Alpina on a Lorica strap. I love it. The best combination of leather look and feel with water resistance. I guess I just don't like deployants on my straps.  |
|
|
|
Post by zeb on Aug 18, 2020 16:15:28 GMT
VERY cool, John! I really like those old LED’s Wearing my Alpha recase this morning then back to the soffits wearing the G Whoa, is that an original Alpha from when they were Swiss? Very cool!  |
|
|
|
Post by zeb on Aug 18, 2020 16:21:17 GMT
I think I had one of those back in the day! M Force for me today. Nice! It might be time for me to get mine out. |
|
|
|
Post by zeb on Aug 18, 2020 16:27:26 GMT
Wish I could find that old SNL spoof commercial they did on those LED watches. If I recall they showed at least two extra pairs of hands needed to operate the thing Going with Oris today.... Speaking of bracelets, that one is really cool. Very vintage with the rivets!   |
|
|
|
Post by jamestkirk on Aug 18, 2020 16:28:09 GMT
1977 Texas Instruments 401 LED digital. These were quickly superseded by LCD digitals as they were notorious battery eaters. Most, like this one, used two 386 silver oxide cells and could go one to three months on them - depending on how often you pushed the button to light up the LEDs. That's why this one is in such good condition after 43 years. It was relegated to a jewelry box after no more than a year and replaced by an LCD digital. LCD technology very quickly displaced the LED watches. Rather simple operation common to nearly all early digitals. - One button press: time in hours and minutes; hold it down to see seconds ticking
- Two quick button presses: month and date
Bracelet is original folded link stainless with signed TI z-fold deployant clasp. Case is chrome plated base metal with stainless snap-on back; common fare for these watches in that era. TI killed Hamilton's Pulsar pricing when these the market, IIRC, for less than $40 starting with the TI 101. That would be about $170 today which isn't dirt cheap, but it's not that expensive. TI had a very cheap plastic Star Wars LED watch they sold for less than $20 at the theaters showing the movie. TI got out of the digital watch business in 1981. By then they were selling some digitals for just under $10, which had the rest of the watch industry in an absolute uproar.  Almost forgot to show my today watch. Wanted it quick and found out the date was behind...
|
|
|
|
Post by zeb on Aug 18, 2020 19:09:29 GMT
Nice, still love those old digits in alarm clocks, but are now hard to come buy, all led nowadays. I once bought a cheap Chinese, but also led and sold it, the moment I discovered it had only am/pm and not 24 hours (13:00 until 00:00) Sorry, I'm all metric... Almost forgot to show my today watch. Wanted it quick and found out the date was behind...
Ultra-cool Eco-Drive, Johan! |
|
|
|
Post by marsss25 on Aug 18, 2020 19:14:06 GMT
Wish I could find that old SNL spoof commercial they did on those LED watches. If I recall they showed at least two extra pairs of hands needed to operate the thing Going with Oris today.... Always a looker! |
|
|
|
Post by marsss25 on Aug 18, 2020 19:16:17 GMT
1977 Texas Instruments 401 LED digital. These were quickly superseded by LCD digitals as they were notorious battery eaters. Most, like this one, used two 386 silver oxide cells and could go one to three months on them - depending on how often you pushed the button to light up the LEDs. That's why this one is in such good condition after 43 years. It was relegated to a jewelry box after no more than a year and replaced by an LCD digital. LCD technology very quickly displaced the LED watches. Rather simple operation common to nearly all early digitals. - One button press: time in hours and minutes; hold it down to see seconds ticking
- Two quick button presses: month and date
Bracelet is original folded link stainless with signed TI z-fold deployant clasp. Case is chrome plated base metal with stainless snap-on back; common fare for these watches in that era. TI killed Hamilton's Pulsar pricing when these the market, IIRC, for less than $40 starting with the TI 101. That would be about $170 today which isn't dirt cheap, but it's not that expensive. TI had a very cheap plastic Star Wars LED watch they sold for less than $20 at the theaters showing the movie. TI got out of the digital watch business in 1981. By then they were selling some digitals for just under $10, which had the rest of the watch industry in an absolute uproar. Very cool and historical watch, John. I don't remember having an LED watch. My friend had the Star Wars one, and I was extremely jealous! I put the Alpina on a Lorica strap. I love it. The best combination of leather look and feel with water resistance. I guess I just don't like deployants on my straps. Looks great! Great pic- the crystal doesn’t even look like it’s there... |
|
