PULSAR PROTOTYPES?

[BENRUS]

I got these cases from an auction I won last week.
They are from Pulsar Tom's estate.
I noticed a big difference between the two Date-Command cases I received.
Both have a Chrome shiny finish. One has a more flat top to case, and if you notice the side angle picture posted...You can notice a manufactured height difference (basically these are two different castings that are still different from the Date-Command I already own with a brushed finish case). If you look at the one on the left, you can see the Red Crystal sits lower. On that same case you can notice that from the inside there is many small differences...it looks as if its Cut-Out lens area seems to be hand cut, and not so perfect. These are really nice examples that seem to be possible prototypes.
I might be wrong, but that's what they look like to me.
I also have pictured some broken modules I received.
I'm wondering if anyone else has noticed similar differences in the items they purchased from this auction seller, and if they wouldn't mind adding to the posting here to share their photos.

[bucko170]

It will be interesting to hear what the experts think!

I also notice the command buttons protrude more on the case photographed right.

[LEDluvr]

I was those 'gr8teeks' auctions too. I bought a Hamilton Q.E.D with the
hopes it would be a runner. But no such luck.....
Looking at the module and case they seem to be pretty standard to me . Just a dead P2 module with Hamilton stickers.....

[bruce wegmann]

This set me to rummaging about in my "parts" boxes, and I have a couple of these, too. Both have casebacks that say "SWISS CASE", and serial numbers in the 5xxxxx range. At some point, probably in mid-1974 or so, demand for the Pulsar line was so great that not even Star could supply all the cases needed [and was thus essentially what is called a "captive" company]. A decision was made to find another case supplier, and one was found in Switzerland [not sure if the name is known]. I have seen Swiss cases for the Ladies Oval and Cushion, Classic, Big Time [oddly have not seen a Swiss Exec case], Small [Euro] Calculator, and all Touch-Command models. It appears that only stainless cases were "farmed out" in this fashion...Time Computer kept all the goldfilled and solid gold production domestic, probably for reasons connected with import duties and associated costs. Oddly, the Swiss D/C cases have the HR and MIN lettering printed in the magnet recess...rather than stamped. A few uses of the setting magnet usually scraped the ink off, leaving the recess smooth and blank...it's almost impossibe to find one with the lettering intact; a notable lapse of quality by the Swiss casemakers... BTW, the odd-shaped Executive cases discussed a while back [with the round face and 9xxxxx serial numbers] weren't protos or the last ones made...they were the FIRST! I have an instruction booklet that clearly shows one being used to demonstrate setting technique. The pics are sharp enough that the serial number can be clearly read...900007. Known serial numbers indicate that 1500 or more of the odd-shaped cases were made [by a company in the US, NOT Star], all of them in stainless steel.

[BENRUS]

The case on the right (the one with the key-Hole signature), had a case-back that did not mention Pulsar, Time Computer, or Hamilton...All it had was the STAR with "Stainless Steel" written afterward, it also includes a serial number that is 6 digits long starting with a 1xxxxx and underneath that was a capitol "A".
The HR, and MIN are stamped in case recess area.
R-11-9 is hand signed/engraved on the inside back on case-back.
From close inspection of these cases, I can pretty much tell that they do not look machine/manufactured, but maybe completely hand lathed/made (At least hand finished machined parts). I wish there was more to the story though, these are really neat

[bruce wegmann]

Your right-hand case had a P2 caseback...those never said Time Computer, or Pulsar, and were the only backs with an "A" after the serial number. I see mixed-and-matched P2 and P3 cases and backs all the time...