It was the biggest innovation in time keeping in 500 years... or so the marketers said.
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 was simply a division of holding corporation.
Hamilton started working with a Texas company called Electro Data on a new concept for an electronic watch. In fact, it took several years and by 1970 they venture had a working prototype. Fast forward to 1972 and the first production models were 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 die 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.
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.
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