US DIGITAL WATCHES: American digital watch history inc. Texas Instruments, Microma, Fairchild etc

The deep dives are back with this look at the US digital watch brands from back in the 70s before it all went wrong. We cover Texas Instruments , Hughes aircraft, Fairchild semiconductor, national semiconductor , Hamilton pulsar , optel and microma as well as all sorts of watch manufacturers like bulova, benrus, Waltham , Elgin and more. A few super fun oddities in there too like the Gillette reflex and of course the amazing rhiel synchronar. I hope you enjoy the video.
Of course I was heavily reliant on the references : trueb et al. Electrifying the wrist watch and Pieter Doensen history of the modern wrist watch. The rest of the references are provide throughout , with crazy watches , digital watch . Com and retro LEDs being frequent sources. Please do check them out!
#digitalwatch #watchhistory #pulsarwatches
Should you be enjoying the content and would like to support the channel - why not considering buying me a coffee at www.buymeacoffee.com/Illumina...

[@IlluminatingWatches]

I do a more complete coverage of the digital watch tech tree here that you may enjoy -> kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZq4eox6hrR7bqM

[@BBHorology]

I love digital watches! I was at the 80th NAWCC Watch convention and scored 4 1970s LED watches. 3 Pulsar in great condition, one with actual box and papers! And I scored a working wearable Omega TC2. You videos are amazing! Truly the greatest digital watch videos on KZbin! Thank you 🙏 so much for all of your work! I have enjoyed 🎉and learned so much 😊 Oh and the end of that Watch convention @Lancaster PA, they finished it off with a lecture at the Hamilton club by a representative of the Smithsonian museum. Guess which watch? The Hamilton Pulsar LED watch!

[@IlluminatingWatches]

What a lovely and informed comment Thankyou so much! Your collection sounds amazing!

[@francisfullam2015]

This is such a great video! There were many more American firms than I realized. The Swiss line of watches, Nepro, made a very cool solar LED watch which used the Synchronar modual. Some of the people who worked in the US for Uranus left to make their own digital LED watch, the Saturn. I am not sure who made the works.

[@donny2327]

You've done a man's job Sir ....

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Thankyou!

[@He11cth3r3]

I have a 1978 national semiconductor that is maybe rare enough to only have 1 very low quality image on the internet

[@danubilo]

i like the part when he says 2 ALSO WORKING WITH UR ANUS" hahahahaah

[@michaelbarlow6610]

According to Col. Philip Corso's excellent book, "The Day After Roswell", the integrated circuit, more commonly called the microchip, was actually reverse engineered from artifacts found in the 1947 Roswell UFO crash. The history books credit Jack Kilby and Robert Noyce as inventing the integrated circuit independent of each other, but the reality may be very different if Colonel Philip Corso (who later became a general) was right! Corso worked in the Research and Development Division at the U.S. Pentagon under General Trudeau. In his book, Corso stated that one day, Trudeau called Corso into his office, went over to a filing cabinet, pulled a box out of the cabinet, put the box on his desk and asked Corso to open it. Inside the box were, according to Corso, artifacts from the 1947 Roswell UFO crash including small silicon chips. Trudeau ordered Corso to write up two position papers, the first giving Corso's best estimate as to what the artifacts were and what their functions were and the second paper to recommend the best method to reverse engineer them. Corso in the second paper recommended that the artifacts be sent to already existing Defense Department contractors and slipped into already existing Defense Department research projects so that, as the old expression goes, "no one would be the wiser" as to where the artifacts came from and their significance.

[@IlluminatingWatches]

It’s definitely a different theory on the origin of electronics!

[@WATCHDAVID]

so great informations. Many thanks for sharing. one the Uranus ... so great and unique!

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Thankyou! That’s one of my favourites too that I didn’t know about before making this video.

[@WATCHDAVID]

@@IlluminatingWatches I haven`t see this before your video. Thank you for sharing! Subscribe your channel. Perhaps you take a look to my channel?! 😇 Just started... so hard here on YT. :-) I'm happy about a new video from you. Have a great day!

[@WesWatchRoom]

Really cool to hear how influential and important these watches were at the time and of course for future watches to follow. Great work.

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Thanks man!! Fun bit of watch history

[@Sultan_salt]

bro ur videos are amazing keep up the good work my slime BOOM.

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Thankyou!!

[@johnv339]

I read a story some time ago how RCA missed an opportunity to market digital watches.

[@IlluminatingWatches]

I’ve done a video that covers this topic - the history of LCD. May be of interest!

[@mason4354]

So happy Armitron got it's 5 sec of fame lol it may not be world renowned but I love supporting a local business

[@IlluminatingWatches]

I definitely need to dig more into armitron!

[@ednammansfield8553]

A wonderful and informative video about these American brands of of electronic watches. I really admire your research and presentation. Keep up the good work that you do.

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Thankyou so much! That is very kind of you to say

[@carlosbrites8201]

Thanks for this video-

[@randymarsh3677]

Hey man your content is great. I know it might be niche but keep going!

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Much appreciated - I will!

[@TechNoir333]

Honestly love the content you produce, I appreciate the research you do and the way you present, hope you keep up the good work (you also inspired me to purchase some books you’d recommended 👍)

[@IlluminatingWatches]

What an awesome message Thankyou! You are one of the few to watch the books video. I’ve got a couple of new ones since then too. Next video finishing the editing now on surf watches - good one I think!

[@TimeToGoTravelAndTimepieces]

This is seriously well done! Huge effort I'm sure. Thanks!

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Thankyou!! I benefit from lots of good sources that save much of the time.

[@TickSweep]

Yet another fantastic video! Some really interesting watches on this one

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Thanks man! Glad you enjoyed. Onto the next one!

[@morgansmith2087]

I don't have any idea where the module came from, but back in the mid/late seventies ( memory is a little sketchy) I bought an led watch kit from Tandy electronics. Can't remember what it costs and even though the batteries would only last stuff all it was uber cool..👍

[@marcelovasconcellos6067]

Great video! Am old enough to remember those Texas Instruments (and having LED display toys and alarm clocks). Still toy around with the idea of getting a LED watch. Can be had here for very cheap, in all stainless steel, from yet another local Orient sub-brand called Lince

[@IlluminatingWatches]

I still don’t own one myself. I do need to correct that! Not heard of Lince - will check them out

[@WINDINGCROWNS]

Great vid. Love your stuff. 👏

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Thanks man! I’ve been periodically dropping in on your channel too!

[@imveryharsh]

Another brilliant video. u kno i once almost bought a pulsar gold calculator watch once, and then i didn't, i regret to this day😑😆

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Ouch!! Thanks man!

[@paulmaxwell8851]

I almost bought a Roll Royce, but I didn't. I was a minor and had no money!😁

[@TheGeberel]

wish to find something similar in tomorrow flea market

[@alvinpillay9995]

Great video as usual. Lots of interesting information.

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Thankyou! I should do Nixon and freestyle as slightly more modern US watches at some point

[@Karl-hx6sw]

Great informative video. I am trying to find out anything about Selection Royal Watches. The logo looks like it could be a M....subsidiary of Microma perhaps?

[@yerkodiegoborjakvessitchva2183]

HELLO FRIEND ! , I LIKE YOUR NEW VIDEO...AGAIN . OTHER AMERICAN WATCH IS NIXON , THINK .( ... ) . ARE MANY WATCH DIGITAL ON THE WORLD AND MODELS , WOW GREAT SCOTH , IS AMAZING ! ! . THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOU SUPPORT . GRETTINS FROM SPAIN . CARE UP ! . 👍☺

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Yes Nixon and freestyle ! Thanks as always for the support !!

[@yerkodiegoborjakvessitchva2183]

@@IlluminatingWatches IS NOTHING FRIEND . THANK TO YOU ! . 😊👌

[@watchsixto]

Awesome work I didn't know that so many watches were made in the US can't wait to see what next

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Thanks man! Cool logo by the way

[@watchsixto]

@@IlluminatingWatches thanks mate I need to change it didn't look great lol.

[@timtimecollector9808]

Great video and some amazing watches. I didn't realize there were so many early American brands. I'll keep an a lookout for your next one covering 'Surfing Scene' related watches. Ps. I've just published a new video on my G-Shock, a 10 year review 👍

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Nice! Will take a look!

[@hosamsayed9730]

Thanks for this wonderful video. Could you advise to know a type of digital watch with many characteristics so I can buy

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Thankyou so much! I’m no expert , just an enthusiast so wouldn’t want to advise you wrong. Maybe watch some review channels and see if you like something !

[@VintageDigitalWatches]

I got a shout out :)

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Ha ha wow you’re famous now!!

[@user-wi2dp3ol9m]

I want one of those pulsar watch is where do you buy em

[@manusverzoni2384]

👏👏👏👏👏

[@aaron2709]

Kool.

[@WatchUP69MrRangeman]

That was great, still own a IMOLA LED watch... Swiss Made using a movement that's printed 'Made in Hong Kong' but the build on the outside is very Swiss, with solid fine links ;) Am still looking for an LED watch my Father owned... he bought it in Scotland, and it was made there too, but can I find anything about it? My Mother gave it away without him knowing to a jumble sale back in the 90's, I so wanted to have that watch ;( Big thumbs and great research with many new ones I've never seen before... Cheers ;)

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Thanks man! If from Scotland it could be westclox? They had a factory there and I believe sold LED watches. Of course Timex had a factory there too (good documentary on this on bbc Scotland that is on KZbin)

[@WatchUP69MrRangeman]

@@IlluminatingWatches Cheers buddy... I so wished my Mother didn't give that away, I have fond memories of that watch, and my Father said it wasn't cheap at the time, it was early 70's that's for sure, and a big watch too... my IMOLA is small compared, but I just had to have something that slightly resembled it... mine is also from the 70's... and I'm not letting this go to a jumble that's for sure :-P

[@michaelbarlow6610]

What is the model number of the black ion-plated, stainless steel Synchronar Mark LED watch and what year was it manufactured?

[@IlluminatingWatches]

I don’t know for sure - if you check the source I used that is cited under the image it suggests this was actually a black ceramic version of the Ragen “Sun Watch” - so if you can find out when that line was you may be able to date it.

[@michaelbarlow6610]

@@IlluminatingWatches .Thanks for the information! I have never heard of Ragen watches. It appears from that video that the Synchronar watch that has a black ion-plated case, may have either a black bracelet or a silver bracelet. It is somewhat hard to tell which from the video image.

[@suratunbegum7506]

I wear Casio digital watches.