18 May 2010, 07:50
I wasn't sure to post this in the Pulsar forum or here because it's a question about watches not made by Pulsar, but sharing almost the exact same design.
The mailman just dropped off a Sears ladies LED watch, which I bought for my wife and also because I was curious about it and its similarities to Pulsar models. The watch is very nicely made in Japan and the module is made by Sanyo.
The module and case are not just similar to Pulsars - they are almost 100% identical. The module is dimensionally identical down to the mould marks on the plastic carrier - you can interchange it with the modules in Pulsar ladies models or dress models. In addition, the construction and component placement is also nearly identical. The operation is almost identical except that the seconds blink instead of remaining constantly lit. The light sensor is also much more aggressive than a Pulsar in terms of how radically it changes the display brightness. Other than that and the Sanyo markings, they are hard to tell apart. Below are a series of images comparing the Sanyo with a ladies Pulsar module and case back.
I don't know when these watches were made although there is an inscription of "A5" on the case back - I'm guessing 1975, assuming that they "borrowed" Bulova's date coding scheme.
What I'd like to know is whether these were made under license to Time Computer? I would assume so since I have a hard time imagining that they could have been such blatant knock-offs. It's also a bit odd that Pulsar would allow a lower priced watch seller (Sears) to build clones since you would think that doing so would undermine Pulsar's price premium and reputation. It's all rather odd.
If anyone knows the answers, inquiring minds would like to know.
-abe.
Sears Ladies LED Watch - A5 (1975?):
Module Comparison (Front):
Enlarge (3600x2400): http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/2336 ... 0x2400.jpg
Module Comparison ( Back):
Case Back Comparison:
Sanyo Case Inside and Button Compartments - Just Like a Pulsar:
Sanyo Time Setting Magnet and Magnet Holder - Just Like a Pulsar:
The mailman just dropped off a Sears ladies LED watch, which I bought for my wife and also because I was curious about it and its similarities to Pulsar models. The watch is very nicely made in Japan and the module is made by Sanyo.
The module and case are not just similar to Pulsars - they are almost 100% identical. The module is dimensionally identical down to the mould marks on the plastic carrier - you can interchange it with the modules in Pulsar ladies models or dress models. In addition, the construction and component placement is also nearly identical. The operation is almost identical except that the seconds blink instead of remaining constantly lit. The light sensor is also much more aggressive than a Pulsar in terms of how radically it changes the display brightness. Other than that and the Sanyo markings, they are hard to tell apart. Below are a series of images comparing the Sanyo with a ladies Pulsar module and case back.
I don't know when these watches were made although there is an inscription of "A5" on the case back - I'm guessing 1975, assuming that they "borrowed" Bulova's date coding scheme.
What I'd like to know is whether these were made under license to Time Computer? I would assume so since I have a hard time imagining that they could have been such blatant knock-offs. It's also a bit odd that Pulsar would allow a lower priced watch seller (Sears) to build clones since you would think that doing so would undermine Pulsar's price premium and reputation. It's all rather odd.
If anyone knows the answers, inquiring minds would like to know.
-abe.
Sears Ladies LED Watch - A5 (1975?):
Module Comparison (Front):
Enlarge (3600x2400): http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/2336 ... 0x2400.jpg
Module Comparison ( Back):
Case Back Comparison:
Sanyo Case Inside and Button Compartments - Just Like a Pulsar:
Sanyo Time Setting Magnet and Magnet Holder - Just Like a Pulsar:
