Sinclair Black Watch lives again!

[Pauly]

Hi everyone. Havent posted for a while but still visit regularly. Anyway, had some spare time on my hands today and decided to try a repair on a Sinclair Black Watch that I have had for ages. Have been put off looking at it as they were so unreliable and poorly constructed so I thought it would be a non starter and total waste of time. On removing the back it was the common corroded copper circuit track that looked like the obvious cause of failure so after a lot of fiddling I managed to replace the corroded connections between the battery contacts and circuit board. Not the best repair in the world but to my amazement the watch lit brightly and is now off the operating table and has a strong heartbeat.
I dont see many fully working so its nice to get one back to life.

[bucko170]

Nice work

[Pauly]

Thanks Mick. Not sure if its operating correctly but one button seems to give a low output illumination and pressing the second button is a brighter output. Pressing either button a second time gives a seconds display. Have you any idea if that sounds right as it doesnt mention that in the leaflet.

[bucko170]

I wonder if the button contacts need a clean?

My version black watch....
Left button = hours and minutes.
Right button = minutes and seconds.
Second press = no function.

[Pauly]

Yeh Ive had the watch totally stripped and cleaned all the contacts. Couldnt set it for agas then realised that the contact inside the back cover was missing. I dont think that the instructions that I have got belong to this watch as it mentions strap adjustment and link sections but this one is the faux leather type strap. I wonder if this is another version? My instructions match your watch.

[bucko170]

I think a later version of the black watch also included the date feature, the digits where also spaced closer together on that version.

[bucko170]

The version with the date display...

[Pauly]

I read that there was a date version. Maybe this one is malfunctioning but seems strange that the seconds do actually count down correctly on the second press of the button. Good old Sir Clive. Still causing us problems 40 years on!

[Pauly]

Is that a 4 digit LED display?

[bucko170]

I sold this one some time ago but yes looking at the photo's it is a four digit display, there is some interesting info on the Blackwatch here http://www.dwf.cc/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=96&start=10

[Pauly]

Thats great. Thanks for the info and hopefully this one will carry on working.

[bucko170]

Thats great. Thanks for the info and hopefully this one will carry on working.

It should be OK, if the seconds are counting it has to be a built in version.

[charger105]

I've always wanted one of these.
Today the postman delivered one

After dis-assembling and cleaning the button contacts, it works prfectly.
I can confirm that my version of this watch looks and functions similarly to Pauly's above.
Left button = standard illumination
Right button = high brightness illumination

One press = time
Two presses = date
Three presses = running seconds

I have the instruction booklet, and this is indeed how it is supposed to work.
Interestingly, the booklet also says that if you notice the date change at mid-day, advance the hours by 12 and reset the date
Rgds.

[clockace]

I have one of those that I bought as a kit and assembled myself in the (I think) late 70's early 80's. it is still working. The battery life is and has never been too great tho'. Peter

[charger105]

You must be one of the only original owners to still have a working example.
I thought your interest in digitals only came quite recently Peter ? Obviously you must've been keen way back then !
Good to see you back.

Rgds.

[clockace]

Actually my interest in digitals goes back to the first ones I saw in the '70s. Synchronar and Hamilton Pulsar. I also have the first Synchronar I bought. It also still works. I had to put in v80 cells. I never did buy a pulsar then but I have 3 of them now. 14kygf calc, date II in steel and the one called astronaut in steel.

[vpn]

Congratulations Pauly! The more the time passes and the more I find the Black Watch very fascinating, despite its fragility. It's always a great news when one of these watches spring back to life.

[Pauly]

Cheer vpn and thanks for the info Charger. Mine is still running perfectly since its surgery although it does seem to have gained about 3 mins since January. I will set it to the correct time and keep an eye on it. Would there be any chance of you posting a pic of your instructions please Charger? Its nice to know that mine is working correctly and I wonder how many different versions were made and as vpn said, its nice to see another Black watch rescued.

[charger105]

Here you go Pauly:





I did notice that you mentioned only 2 functions......time and seconds. Mine has 3.....time date and seconds.
So unless you missed a function, ours are slightly different.
Mine has the 4 digit display with the trimmer next to the display. Yours seems to have 5 digits with the trimmer next to the display. I think I've seen ones with 5 digits, but with the trimmer lower down.

So that gives us at least 3 versions:
1. Bucko's type with different functions on each button.
2. Yours with hi/lo illumination on each button, 5 digits.
3. Mine, same as yours, but with the date, and only 4 digits.

Mine is the only one I've actually seen in the flesh, so I can't offer a lot of info on different versions.
Hopefully others can chime in with their different versions.
Rgds.

[Pauly]

That's brilliant and thanks very much for posting those instructions. And yes mine has the date function also. I wonder how many more versions are available as I have never found any information about different versions of this watch. Thanks again Charger.

[70sboy]

Hi guys, I have found a Black Watch that has been sitting in my uncle's shed for thirty odd years, wow, would love to get it going again. Can anyone please tell me which batteries I should get ? The Mallorie RM41H seem to be no longer available

[clockace]

I have energizer 386 in mine. Works fine. Peter