Pulsar Modules - Omega, Hamilton... and Sears?

[abem]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone can answer a question as to whether Pulsar modules were used in watches other than those made by Hamilton and Omega. In particular, I was wondering about Sears. Yes, Sears. Here is the watch in question:
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/5594 ... watchc.jpg
http://www.ledwatches.net/photo-pages/sears2.htm
http://www.ledwatches.net/photo-pages/sears6.htm

Heresy, you say. Well, although I don't have the watch in question in my possesion, from photographs there are a number of intriguing clues that point to a Pulsar module lurking at the heart:

1) The Module viewed Through the Crystal
As you can see in the photos in the links above, the module has the light sensor at the upper right in the same shape and location as the Pulsar modules.

2) The Setting Magnet
I don't have a picture handy, but a while back one of these watches appeared on eBay and the setting magnet was identical to the D shaped setting magnet used in the Pulsar P4 modules.

3) The Caseback
Again, I don't have a picture handy, but in an eBay auction from a while back, I noticed that the caseback was almost identical to the Pulsar modules with the "hours" and "minutes" indentations in the same locations and with the same shape and annotations.

So, can anyone say one way or another whether Pulsar and Sears had something going on together? In some sense, I wouldn't be too surprised given Sears' distant origins as a retailer of fine watches. Still, it would be an interesting and surprising connection.

Thanx,

-abe.

[bruce wegmann]

I have one of these, that I picked up at an NAWCC regional show [the same one, in fact,where I also bought what later turned out to be a P3L]. I thought the same thing you did...but, sorry, no such luck. The module does use the same type reed switches; otherwise the internal components are quite different. The display is identical in appearance to the Green Dress Pulsar, but in red, of course. I infer from this that the module, like the display itself, was made by Sanyo for Sears. This would have to be late '73 to late '74, before Time Computer changed over to Auto-Set modules. It's possible there's one other brand that also used the Sanyo modules, but the name escapes me at the moment [and I could be completely wrong
about this, too]. It does use the same magnet as the P4/Ladies'/Dress model [but there seems to be no provision for storing it in the bracelet].

[azimuth_pl]

one more question like this:
why are Sanyo modules 99% identical to Pulsar P4 series modules?

it's unlikely that Sanyo robbed the know-how.

[retroleds]

I thought it was common knowledge that the Pulsar P4 modules were Sanyo manufactured circuits. The only difference on the auto-command modules is they are programmed for a continuously closed circuit through the mercury switch - your "flick" actually opens the circuit momentarily....the lower button's reed switch and the mercury switch do not share the same signal path.

The Sears watches came in versions with magnetic reed switches and others with tubular brass contact switches, in the same location and shape as reed switches.

CompuChron(in C.C., Baylor and Lamp model lines) used Sanyo modules with two conventional setting buttons clustered on the right side at about 2:30 & 3:30. Dugena, Tegrov and Micrel marketed a very few that used those same modules. As did Sears.

[azimuth_pl]

just asking because (if I'm not mistaken) Dennis once mentioned (when we talked about the Greenie) that it was full inhouse by Pulsar.

ps. pm's not getting through properly, check your mailbox please Ed :)

[retroleds]

ps. pm's not getting through properly, check your mailbox please Ed :)

No, they are getting through, I am just a rude bugger, It may seem like I am on here a lot, but really I have been just popping for a minute here, a minute there. Last two months have been tortuously busy - first my 83 year Mom falls down in her house in May, we go through a trilogy of rehab facilities, a failed attempt to move her back to her home, back to rehab and 10 days ago I moved her into assisted living facility. Stepdaughter's wedding June 12th. And to top it off: my 81 yr. old uncle and his girlfriend came from Germany(I'm 3/4 'Kraut' ) on July 4th and stayed for 3 full weeks. They each knew about 20 words of English. Can you say INSANE!? Nice people but it was so nice to take them to the airport last Saturday. And thank GOD for those little portable electronic translator devices

"Please sir, just one day of rest?"

[azimuth_pl]

verruckt!
:)
no worries Ed, take care