The first digital LED wristwatch

[Synchroserious]

There are a few members who have the photos.If one of them would like to post them it is fine with me.The feb 1971 article was part of the archive section here at Dwf a few years ago.

Maybe member(forum founder) Liquid Crystal can provide a link?

Ed,Other informative posts/topics on this subject were removed perhaps to conserve space?

[Sully008]

There are 2 pics of the prototypes @ soluhr.com:

http://www.soluhr.com/synchproto.htm

Hi Howard.
Any chance of some detailed pictures of the prototype ?
I'm sure we'd all love to see it.

Rgds,
Andrew.

[Synchroserious]

Yes those are photos of the 2nd prototype from 1970.The one i have is from 1968/1969. Mr. Riehl used Pinlites in the 1968 version and used the same housing and most components for the 1969 LED version of it.It was constructed before considering styling of the outside apearence.As prototype as can be.Downright fat and ugly by todays standards but a first to display LED,s for timekeeping in a watch size form.The 5-6 volt batteries were the main component that made smaller difficult to achive.It was when the American semiconductor industry began making lower voltage IC,s that the technology of all Quartz watches was able to evolve.

[Planet-LED]

Howard,

I'm trying to wrap my brain around this. Are you saying that the first Synchronar was introduced and marketed (sold) less than 90 days of the first Pulsar-- which was marketed (sold) April 4th 1972? If your answer is "yes", do you have any documentation to support that claim?

[retroleds]

Looking at Mr. Rieihl's patent, and the relevant art)bottom of patent) which includes Mr.Bergey's patent, it doesn't seem this argument has moved forward much, as Bergey's patent was filed May 6, 1970(issued in 1972), and discloses the optical display and all other features we consider part of an all electronic watch, with the exception of solar cells. Bergey's patent is used as a reference because it was at the patent office first. By several months. First solar powered LED watch is where we seem to be on this, IMO.

Lost, buried threads. Little to nothing has been lost, the real problem is that so many threads started out on one topic and then evolved into something else. So when you search you get a lot of threads with titles that look like they couldn't POSSIBLY have anything to do with what you were/are searching for. Howard, the best I can offer you is we make a static page or pages where Synchronar information and pictures would stay put. Or I help you build a web site of a handful of pages. I have no vested interest in how the information evolves...my life won't change if the Synchronar is established first, or second. But I know it is important to you and your family. Help us/me, help you. 'K?

[Synchroserious]

Ed I don't know where you are but this is the first lead change since the poll began and less info is available due to the deleted posts.


So John Bergey patented Willy Crabtree and Electro Datas work that proved to be not really patentable as it was mostly common knowlege to the field of Electronics at the time.More and more Bergey monopoly patents were attempted and also failed to stick.My father had been at it hands on years before anyway.

I do not want any help on the website Ed,thanks for the offer.I have spent too much time posting info and attempting to provide photos that just gets deleted.

[Synchroserious]

Synchronar is The first solar powered timepiece.

It is spelled Riehl not Reihl

[charger105]

I haven't noticed any posts getting deleted, but a lot of the images in threads are no longer viewable. I suppose this is due to the images being removed from wherever they are being hosted from.

If anyone has any images of the Synchronar prototypes (or any other historically interesting Synchronar images), please post them up again.

Rgds,
Andrew.

[rewolf]

...If anyone has any images of the Synchronar prototypes (or any other historically interesting Synchronar images), please post them up again...

Here's what I have: a newspaper article about Roger Riehl and the Synchronar of February 11, 1971 (I don't remember where I downloaded it):

[retroleds]

Synchronar is The first solar powered timepiece.

It is spelled Riehl not Reihl

Howard - I apologize for mis-spelling your last name(just seems stuck in my brain that way...I know, I know, "i" before "e").

First solar powered timepiece - we've been here before. It is/was the first solar powered LED watch, not the first solar powered timepiece. Or maybe "first solar powered electric wristwatch?" Either is one heck of a proud designation ,Howard! 3 different clocks were sold in the 1960s that were just as solar powered(electrical energy gleaned from the sun, stored in a battery) as the Synchronar, but they were analog. And of course we have had clocks there were powered by temperature change(could be solar, just as solar cells can be powered from a lightbulb OR the sun), since the 1700s. Just Google "Atmos" and follow the links outward.

Those who commented on pictures disappearing have it correct - when people pull down pictures from a source they control or a photo storage site changes it's file system or goes out of business(in this economy, would that be surprising?), pictures get lost. I'm working on a really slick method for handling the photos both here and at www.ledwatches.net , so pictures can be uploaded without it going thru me - using moderators!. I've committed myself to another year of running these sites - might as well make them something truly noteworthy. "Gentlemen, we have the technology".

[Synchroserious]

It would be interesting to see photos or a link to those "solar powered mechanical clocks" The Synchronar is what it is.The worlds first solar powered Watch,first solar powered Wristwatch or solar powered Timepiece unless you want to think of a Timepiece as a clock.

[retroleds]

A. A timepiece http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clock is anything that keeps time.
B. A watch is a small portable clock
C. Here is a reputable link http://watchismo.blogspot.com/2008/03/watchismo-times_10.html

Here is a nice ad, from 1957, for the same pieces referenced above.


Again I submit the title for the SYnchronar as:
"world's first solar powered ,LED display , watch/clock/timepiece."

I thought this argument was going to be left alone so we could concentrate on something that CAN be fixed, settled or accurately determined.

[Synchroserious]

Not looking for any misleading title submissions at this point ED.The Worlds First Solar powered watch period.We can praise it for also being an LED display.
Your definition infers that there were possible other earlier solar watches like an LCD solar powered watch or some other mechanical battery wound "electric" watch.One that can't be found that had a solar cell attached.

[rewolf]

To feed the crowd - here's some more information in the correct forum area: <click>

[retroleds]

Howard, glad to see you have backed off on it being the first "solar powered timepiece". Solar powered digital watch seems applicable.

Regarding the ordering of parts: I wonder when HAmilton started ordering parts. For their prototypes. '64? Not too far fetched, considering they put out their first electronic watch in 1956? And were working away after that, waiting for technology to catch up with their ideas. As were many.

Again, I don't care which was first. Just a consumer product conceived to make some dough.

[Planet-LED]

Howard,

Unfortunately, my previous question got buried under the posts that followed it. My question was:

I'm trying to wrap my brain around this. Are you saying that the first Synchronar was introduced and marketed (sold) less than 90 days of the first Pulsar-- which was marketed (sold) April 4th 1972? If your answer is "yes", do you have any documentation to support that claim?

[Synchroserious]

YES,YES

[Planet-LED]

Howard,

The documentation is something that I've not seen before. Is it buried somewhere on the forum that you can provide a link to?

[Synchroserious]

Steve,

Nope,it was never a lost post here.

[retroleds]

Ed,Other informative posts/topics on this subject were removed perhaps to conserve space?

No, space isn't an issue, I've provided for about 10-12X what we currently use(ditto on bandwidth...I remember when this amount of hosting would have been $250-300/month, now like $20/month). Real problem(as has been acknowledged at another forum "men and their stuffed shirts") is that the search feature in most forums sucks, and most people don't know(or won't bother) how to correctly use "Boleen" expressions, such as "AND" between two word, which mean both have to be in the search result, or using quotes around an exact set of words. And of course, how many of our threads are titled in a way that would make you feel like digging through the search results? I've just got up , had some coffee and am hoping to unveil the next major progression of this site later today..

Still hope to someday make you a site Howard and then turn the keys over to you - giving you a place to put forth your version of the history. In my mind[currently] it's a virtual "photo finish" but I certainly think it is cool that a your Dad, with an infinitely smaller company and resources, could run so hard against a big dog like Hamilton! I really don't dismiss the possibility that he may have worked out most of his watch before them, since he had the freedom to do what he wanted, whilst the Hamilton guys had to plod along dealing with a bunch of corporate b.s.

[clockace]

i think "solar powered watch" is not entirely correct. the watch runs on 2 rechargeable cells that are recharged by the solar panel. without the storage cells the watch would only run when under a light source with the solar panel providing the immediate power. am i right, howard? peter

[rewolf]

i think "solar powered watch" is not entirely correct. the watch runs on 2 rechargeable cells that are recharged by the solar panel. without the storage cells the watch would only run when under a light source with the solar panel providing the immediate power. am i right, howard? peter

How far would your car go without fuel tank?