1956 Laird or 1954 Debonair L

It's been a hot minute since I've had a new model for the blog.  They're getting fewer and far between.  Still plenty to go though and they're not all solid gold rarities.

This one is about as plane-jane as they go, but still rather uncommon.  It's a 1956 Laird... a one year wonder, sort of.  Priced at $45 in 1956, that's the equivalent of about $545 in today's currency - so not cheap by any stretch but definitely entry-level by Hamilton standards

The Laird is interesting in that it was previously one of the Illinois models, specifically the Debonair L, introduced in 1954.  I haven't come across that model yet so this post is actually a two-fer.  Hamilton re-introduced the Illinois brand (that it purchased in 1928) and issued watches with Swiss-made movements.  This was sort of a test to see how the market would respond without "risking" the Hamilton brand.  When the world kept turning, executives migrated away from the Illinois branding and eventually there were lots of new Hamilton models introduced in 1956.

What's even more interesting is lots of the new Hamilton models were "B" models and in 1957 they dropped the B.  For example, the Jason B became the Jason, the Cabot B became the Cabot, et al.  The B signifies that the movement changed and the B model had an Illinois movement while the non-B had a Hamilton movement - but otherwise they looked mostly the same.  

So the Laird is interesting in that it doesn't have a B version but it does use an Illinois movement like in the Debonair L.  I guess because it wasn't planned for 1957, there was no need to make a B version.

What's also interesting is my project watch has a slightly different dial.  I would call this a non-cataloged option since it's obviously an original embossed dial.

The case back is stainless steel - also a new attribute for Hamilton watches, at least with RGP bezels.  There were earlier all-stainless models, of course.  This just underscores the efforts Hamilton undertook to stay cost competitive in an increasingly challenging global market.

Getting embossed dials refinished can be problematic as refinishers can often wear down the figures during the refinishing process.  The result is the figures look soft and rounded over - very dissatisfying, in my opinion.  This dial shows good, honest dirt that comes with age.  I won't even try to clean it.

The inside of the case back makes short work of identifying the model.  It says LAIRD right inside the back.

The movement inside is an Illinois branded movement without a caliber reference.  The TXD on the balance cock is actually the import code for Illinois - all Illinois models in the 1950s have this code.  This movement is based on an A. Schild 1200 and will eventually become the Hamilton 673.

Everything is take apart and cleaned.  Time for reassembly.

The last parts to go on (the back anyway) are the balance jewels that are supported by the incabloc shock settings.  The balance is actually ticking away without the jewels but only because it's dial down at the movement.

There... the jewels are in and the reassembled movement is ticking away with a nice motion.  Let's see what the timer thinks.

Well, not too bad.  The beat error is a little high but adjusting that is actually a bit of a challenge on this movement and I'm going to let sleeping dogs lie.  I could very easily ruin an otherwise fine hairspring by pressing my luck.

Notice anything odd about the two crystals below?  The correct crystal is on the right.  The left crystal came with the watch but it's not the correct shape.  It has a few cracks as a result, but it was pretty close.  The main difference is the corners should be rounded.

With a proper crystal installed, this watch now looks as good as it runs.  Not bad for a 70 year old watch.

Not to be outdone by Pulsar...

In my last post I talked about the first watch to introduce the "digital age".  There were other electronic or electric powered watches, but the first truly digital watch hit the market in 1972 as the Pulsar.  Although developed was started by the Hamilton Watch Co, by the time the Pulsar was ready for showroom floors, the company had evolved in the HMW Inc and a new division, Time Computer, Inc. was the marketing company behind the Pulsar.

It wasn't long before the Hamilton Watch Co, a separate HMW company at the time, got into the digital watch game.  They introduced their own models using the same technology as in the Pulsar line and called them the QED - or Quartz Electronic Digital series in 1974.

Initially they were one trick ponies and you pressed a button to display the time.  They were cased in 14K gold electroplate or stainless steel, depending on the model.   They were not inexpensive - you were looking at $2,500 or more, in today's currency.

By 1976 the model line expanded into men's and ladies models and the number of functions the watches could do expanded as well - so they could have calendars and days of week, etc.  Prices started to come down too but you were still in the neighborhood of over $1000, depending on the model.

Eventually the QED would give way to liquid crystal display (LCD) models and the Pulsar went the way of the dodo bird.

I recently had the opportunity to play with a 1976 QED II with 6 functions.  It was new old stock and originally cost $265 or $1530, adjusted for inflation.

It arrived in it's original box.

The side of the box has a label explaining what was inside.

Opening the lid reveals the clam shell box inside.

Voila, opening the box reveals a red velvet interior with a bright stainless steel case with a red display.

My mind immediately thought of the Cylons from the 1970s Battlestar Galactica TV series.  What a cool watch!

Inside the box is the instruction manual for the 6 functions and the original warranty card.

The case back unscrews like a traditional watch.  It still has it's original label.

I'll have to remove the Hamilton-branded bracelet to access the watch.

I see white fluffy crystals around where I presume the batteries would be.  The first trick will be to remove the battery clip.  It's held by a snap on the right side, just to the right of the circle.

I think these batteries must have leaked over the last 50 year... what do you think.  This is going to be another role of the dice, I suspect.  These are RW44 batteries, based on what I can see through all the fuzz.

RW44 batteries are supposedly equivalent to the 375 batteries I used with the Pulsar.  However, 375 batteries are a lot thicker than the batteries I pulled out of the watch.  I think these 386 batteries are a closer fit, dimension wise and they're the same voltage.

I cleaned up the inside of the module and installed the batteries in the orientation specified.  That's about all I know how to do.

All I can get is the number 8 and then it fades.  I can't even get it to come back.  It was nice while it lasted.

Maybe there's an issue with the module and that's why this was new in the box?  It's another Geraldo Rivera and Al Capone's vault, I'm afraid.  I'll just have to settle for "it looks nice" until I find out if these modules are repairable.

The Watch That Changed The World...

 It was the biggest innovation in time keeping in 500 years... or so the marketers said.  Unlike prior "electric" watches - the Pulsar issued in the digital watch age.

Up until about two weeks ago, I didn't know much about Hamilton's history with Pulsar watches.  Turns out, it's really a fascinating story.

In the beginning there was The Hamilton Watch Company and it produced... well, watches of course.  In the 1950s and 60's the company diversified and got into several other lines - including fine silver, believe it or not.  Hamilton had significant business in watches and clocks but also other industries like metals and silver work.  

Enter the 1970s the company evolved into a holding company called HMW Incorporated with separate divisions for  Hamilton Watch Co, the Metals (Allied Products), and Wallace Silversmiths.  I suppose you could say the master became the servant and Hamilton Watch Co became simply a division of holding corporation.

In the late 1960s, Hamilton started working with a Texas company called Electro Data on a new concept for an electronic watch.  In fact, it took several years to develop and by 1970 the venture had a working prototype.  Fast forward to 1972 and the first production models were ready to be released. 

What makes the story even more interesting, is a new HMW division was formed to market and support the watch - branded Pulsar - and the division was name Time Computer, Inc.  So, technically, the Pulsar isn't a Hamilton watch because it was separated at the time from Hamilton Watch Co.  However, the plot thickens...

The initial model was the Pulsar P1.  Somewhere between 400 and 450 were cased in solid 18K gold and sold through Tiffany.  But there were other P1s produced in solid 14K gold and, I believe, in 14K gold fill.  They appear to be much fewer but known to exist.

The Pulsar was incredibly novel, and incredibly costly... you could buy a new car for less than the initial cost of the solid 18K P1.  The time computer (it's not a watch) was entirely electronic and displayed the time with a red LED display if you pressed the single button on the front of the case.

The P1 was quickly followed by the P2 and that's well known as James Bond's watch in the movie "Live and Let Die".

The initial electronic module released with the P1 was problematic and would fail suddenly.  The Electro Data design proved to be faulty and Time Computer Inc quickly recalled all of the P1 models known to be sold, replaced the module with a new design, and extended the warranty for several years.  What could have been a disaster proved to be an exemplary example of disaster management.

There are quite a few men's and women's Pulsar models and eventually the same electronic module used in Pulsars was used in Hamilton branded QED watches and Omega watches.  For a short time all three brands had the same module under the case back.  Newer advances added functions like date and calendar and the Pulsar lineup did well in the 1970s until the introduction of LCD watches, or liquid crystal displays.

The P1 is by far the most valuable model and even if it's not working, it's still very desirable.

I recently had the opportunity to lay hands on a Pulsar and when I opened the box, I was shocked to see that it was a P1.

As received, it arrived in it's original outer box.

Inside is another box, silver in color, and a clam shell design.

The watch looks to be new old stock.  The box says Pulsar, the Time Computer.  The little envelope is a mystery.

What's this?  What is a timeset bar?  Turns out there are no buttons on the watch other than the display button.  There are, however, two recesses on the side of the case that you apply the timeset bar - it's a magnet that will change the hours or the minutes, depending on the recess you play it in.  If you lose it, you're screwed - so they provided an extra one.

The magnet says Pulsar and it's shaped like a P, or maybe a piano.  You decide.

The bracelet is 14K gold filled over stainless steel.  Behind the clasp is a P-shaped recess than holds the other timeset bar.

Hamilton, uh, I mean Time Computer, was very confident in the P1 and the case is soldered shut.  It's not meant to be serviceable other than by the factory in Lancaster PA.  

Hey... what's this?  The watch case says Hamilton Watch Co.... why's that if this watch was produced by Time Computer?  Well, from what I hear the lore goes something like this... the case maker, Star Watch Case Co (that little star by the 14K is their logo) didn't get the memo that the case should say Time Computer Inc.  By the time the error was caught, the cases were made and needed to make the release time frame.  Ultimately, executives decided to let the issue go - as being associated with the Hamilton Watch Co was not really a bad thing.  

I think that's really interesting, when you consider in 1892 when Hamilton formed, many of it's watches were promoted with other jewelers names on the dial for the exact same reason.

Supposedly there are a handful of P2s with the same error but for the most part after the P1s all of the Pulsar cases would say Time Computer, Inc.

The two large battery recesses are the only think accessible.  If you look at the bottom of the photo you will see the two recesses for the timeset magnet.

The electronic module required two large batteries that are no longer produced.  Instructions inside the two battery wells indicated positive side up or down, but I'm not sure what direction is up... I'm looking at the back of the watch, is the top down or is the back down?

I purchased a set of 357 batteries and two spacers from Bruce Wegmann on ebay.  Turns out, he's the preeminent expert on all things Pulsar.   He can be reached at Bruce (no space) Wegmann at gmail.com

In go the batteries and spacers ... time to see if this baby works.  I feel like Geraldo Rivera opening Al Capone's vault... will it work?

Uh, nope.  Maybe I have the batteries backwards... nope again.

I checked the voltage of the batteries - maybe I have a dud.  Nope - plenty of juice.  I think this is one of the many non-working Pulsars out there.

Oh well - it turns out collectors really don't mind if the module isn't working.  The beauty is all in the case and the presentation.  This is definitely a unique watch and I'm glad I had the opportunity to admire and learn about it.