digitime and GEC

[Adam]

Hi
I dont really collect LEDs mainly LCDs, but a couple have sneaked into my collection in job lots and would like to know more about them. The first one is a gold General Electric Quartz LED NOS and the second is a nice boxed Digitime Infinite Time with manual. I would love to know a bit about them especially the Digitime as I think it has an earlier Hughes module in(with dots as the LED). Also the GEC module doesnt work with a new module I bought from a friend i am pretty sure there was signs of life when I got the new module but was busy with other watches and just put them in a drawer until now. The question is, is an LED like an LCD that if its leftfor a while does it need a while to spring back into action?
Thanks for any responses as any information is greatly appreciated

Adam

[Adam]

Can nobody helpwith my digitmime and GEC would it help if I add some photos or do you need some extra information?

regards

Adam

[bucko170]

A photograph always helps......but in the meantime here are 4 photographs of GE watches does yours match with any?

http://www.ledwatches.net/photo-pages/ge.htm

http://www.ledwatches.net/photo-pages/ge2.htm

http://www.ledwatches.net/photo-pages/ge2.htm

http://www.ledwatches.net/photo-pages/ge4.htm

...........And 3 photographs of the Digitime watches, the last photograph might be of interest.

http://www.ledwatches.net/photo-pages/digitime.htm

http://www.ledwatches.net/photo-pages/digitime2.htm

http://www.ledwatches.net/photo-pages/digitime3.htm

The question is, is an LED like an LCD that if its left for a while does it need a while to spring back into action?

Has been know to work on the rare occasion - only sure fire way is to try it and see!

[Adam]

Bucko170
Thats perfect, thank you the GE is number 4 but without the battery hatches and the digitime is number 2(ish) but with a blasted crystal(not shiny) I will try and add some photos tomorrow and see if I can get some more information from somebody on date etc.

Thank you very much for your time

kind regards


Adam

[bucko170]

but with a blasted crystal(not shiny)

Could it just be the effects of age dulling the crystal?

[Adam]

No its definitely not shiny, more smoky but by fine etched texture rather than wear, very similar to some etched glass I have.

I will try and get a photo up tomorrow for you so you can see what I mean.

regards

Adam

[retroleds]

unmedia - your crystal was probably chemically dulled. I could be polished or replaced, that is probably an easy crystal to get....write me if you are interested. The module would definitely(ok, 99%) be Hughes with that button pattern.

[Adam]

RetroLEDs Thank you for your response. When you say chemically dulled do you mean over time or somebody has done it on purpose? I quite like it anyway. Here are some photos as promised. Sorry for the links but I couldnt work out how to get them inline. The GE isnt working but did so obviously I have done something wrong installing batteries or keeper(not sure it is called this). The mercury time does not work and uses a frontier module. Any dates or info on any of them would be greatly appreciated

many thanks Adam

http://www.ummedia.com/VIEW/digitimeface.jpg

http://www.ummedia.com/VIEW/digitimebox.jpg

http://www.ummedia.com/VIEW/digitime.jpg


http://www.ummedia.com/VIEW/GE.jpg


http://www.ummedia.com/VIEW/mercury.jpg

[bruce wegmann]

Typically, only the higher-end LEDs used glass crystals. The great majority of the others used colored plastic. Many plastics, especially the colored acrylic usually found on the later models, degrades over time due to exposure to UV light and temperature changes [remember, these are a third of a century old, and counting!]. The damage takes the form of microscopic-to-mm sized fractures and fissures, and can give a cloudy or finely grainy appearance to the surface [it is the plastic equivalent of a cataract, and as such, is a degenerative condition, getting worse with age]. The microcracking actually propagates down into the body of the crystal, and except for very early stages, is not repairable by polishing. The plastic also becomes much more brittle and inelastic, and suseptable to shattering, even from a gentle impact, or mild pressure. Fortunately, there seems to be a fair stock of original replacements out there.

[Adam]

Thanks bruce, the GE and the mercury are acrylic but the digitime is mineral glass or something like that (see close up photo there is a tiny flea bite to rim) The surface on the mineral is satin like.

regards

Adam

[retroleds]

Could be someone wanted it less shiny, Light sand blasting, mueratic acid of glass etching cream would be common culprits.