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Old October 21st 18, 06:55 PM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
Jeff Liebermann
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Posts: 4,018
Default those darned NYC cyclists again

On Sun, 21 Oct 2018 09:25:15 -0700 (PDT), Andre Jute
wrote:

I've never bought a watch that isn't now worth
more than I paid for it.


Impressive. The only claim I can make is that I've never bought a
watch. They were always gifts, hand me downs from relatives,
inherited, part of a promotion, or obtained in a barter transaction.
Except for the really nice watches, which were promptly hidden away
safely in a safe deposit box, I usually destroyed my wrist watches
after a few years, thus dramatically reducing their resale value.

One oddity was in about 1972, I worked for a company that was in the
hybrid electronics business. A hybrid is an alumina substrate with
resistors screen onto it, other components glued to it, and wire
bonded together to do something useful. At the time, the first
consumer LED watches (Hamilton Pulsar P1), were beginning to be sold.
The company high command saw an opportunity and went into producing
hybrid wrist watches. I still have one, which unfortunately doesn't
work:
http://www.learnbydestroying.com/jeffl/crud/Alpha%20LED%20watch.jpg
Tiny 0.3" high display and would kill two LR44 batteries in about five
days. Not exactly top quality, but typical for the day.

Drivel: At the time, the LED watch business was divided into three
parts. The module makers, the housing makers, and the marketing
organizations. None of the module makers had sheet metal production
capabilities. None of the metal housing makers knew anything about
electronics. I forgot who made the bands. So, the various brand name
marketing organizations found themselves both conglomerating the
modules and housings, attaching a company name to the watch, and
selling them in a wide variety of ways. It was a strange time where
highly unlikely companies plunged into what was a very lucrative
market, for a while at least.

In any business, there's always a market for vintage, retro, clone,
reproductions. The LED watch business is far from dead today:
https://poshmark.com/listing/Lifeclock-One-Retro-LED-watch-5b66544cde6f6292efb86d9d
https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&q=red+led+watch
How about a red LED watch that also displays your EKG waveform?
https://www.chinavasion.com/china/wholesale/Electronic_Gadgets/LED_Watches/Alpha_Centauri-All_Metal_Red_LED_Watch
https://cdn.chv.me/images/1WvnhiLc.jpg

Oh for the days when even Pommie wreckers were literate


Dilbert: The Garbageman. I believe he would have the required
intelligence and literacy to meet your minimum acceptable
requirements.
http://dilbert.wikia.com/wiki/The_Garbageman
https://www.google.com/search?q=dilbert+garbageman&tbm=isch

--
Jeff Liebermann
150 Felker St #D
http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558
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