Still wear my Synchronar everyday

[zucchi]

I bought my first Synchronar in 1981 before some of you were even a twinkle in your daddy's eye. It was the Sunwatch sold, at that time, by Riehl Time Corporation. I still have the receipt totaling $178.85. In May of 1982, I received a letter from RTC for an offer to upgrade my MarkIII to MarkIV for only $69.95. I did the upgrade. After a number of years, it stopped working so I contacted RTC, now Custom Circuits Corporation about repair or exchange. I was offered an upgrade or exchange at my discression. I opted for the upgrade to the Synchronar 2100 in stainless steel. That watch arrived sometime in 1991. It had a plastic film on the back similar to the plastic film used to cover displays on cellular phones or other electronics, but there was no explanation of why it was there. I left it there until the edges started peeling away so I peeled away the film. About a year later, the watch stopped working. I contacted Roger Riehl about that and he asked if the plastic film was still intact. I said it was long gone to which Mr. Riehl replied that's why the watch failed. Because it was still under warranty, he had me send it in for repair/replacement and emphasized that the plastic film must be kept in place. I received my replacement in 1993 and have been wearing it everyday since. Every several months I need to replace the plastic film on the back but I see that as a small price to pay for wearing an original, still functional Synchronar for the last 14 years.

I've been observing auctions for the MarkIV watches on evilbay...er...ebay that "don't work" and none of them have the plastic film on the back. I'll bet that's why the watches on evilbay failed in the first place. Just an observation.

There's no arguement about the coolness of this watch and it still provokes inquiries from curious onlookers. Once back in the early 1990's, I was in my local post office when I noticed the customer in front of me was wearing a Synchronar 2100; the only other person I ever saw wearing one of these. I tapped him on the shoulder, he turned around, I held up my wrist to show him my Synchronar and asked, "how long have you had yours?" We both agreed that we were members of an exclusive group of watch owners. By the way, I was only the second person he'd ever seen wearing a Synchronar.

My apologies for the lengthy post, I have a tendency for rambling on. I've been a lurker for a little bit but now I think it's time I made my first post.

[embelton]

I have never heard of that "plastic film" before?
anyone else?

[Synchroserious]

There probably is few others here,that have posted anyway.There was a time when the only backs available from stock were actualy of low quality from being improperly heated in the molding process by the contractor who made them.They had more tendency to form small cracks in the back from salts(sweat),pollutants and solvents.RWR concluded that when a new group of backs was ordered they would not only be of proper structure but also permit a metal plate to be placed on the back to further protect the natural tendency for the body to release these invaders through the pores of the wrist.If you stick your fingers in gasoline your body will actually absorb it like a sponge and then evaporate or release it at other areas of the wrist and arm,such as the warm area at the bottom of the watch.This was discovered by obseving how much worse the integrity of the Lexan became for people who work around gasoline and other solvents versus someone who hardly broke a sweat,their lexan was still like new.I know exactly what Zucchi is talking about because I was not comfortable using those backs before I departed in 1991.For a few years after that, the only watch business he tended to was regular customers wanting a new module as no advertising had been done since 1983.So these backs with special tape were at one time the only option.It was about 1996 when he completed drawings for and ordered new backs molded with the square ridge to allow room for the Stainless Steel Plate to be inserted. Edit worked on second try !

[Synchroserious]

EDIT ! EDIT !


It seems like there is a digital timer on the option to edit here?I find numerous misspels after a view of my post and attempt to fix them but the timer runs out?

Apologies given,

Zucchi, give me a ring in a few leap years and I will hook you up on another Upgrade


OH Buy the way Z did you set your DSTime program feature to the rest mode? Hey maybe after the experiment they will go back to the old DST rules and you can turn it back on 8) NEW POST All the options to edit seem to be working great now!

[retroleds]

No timer on the edits Howard...the problem is your ISP(internet service provider), like many of the big ones(AOL, EARTHLINK,etc). They do this thing of "load balancing", where they change the I.P. address you are using at any given time, to maximize their bandwidth. It's like someone else logs off their system and you are pushed over to their place in line. This happens sometimes every few minutes. The forum software keeps track of I.P addresses, so when your address changes mid-session, it is like you logged off. This is a security feature to keep a-holes from hijacking your sessions and especially the sessions of the adminstrator, which could really wreck havoc. I have the same problem myself if I log into the forum from AOL...I have to keep logging in every few minutes or my postings don't get posted. If I come to the forum directly from COmcast(my actual I.S.P., AOL is just an addditional service), I never have the problem.

Finally stuck the clear-top module I got from you together with a clear bottom. Put it into a stainless case which I had taken to a mirror finish, along with the stainless band. Fantastic being able to look right thru it!

[Fitron]

Pictures Ed?

[retroleds]

Fine, pictures!

[Synchroserious]

Nice work ED.I still am confused as to when the changes will be made on the vintage of the month article.I surely will never quit making Synchronars with a good permennent seal like I have been doing for almost 2 years now.It would be the achilles heel of the design to quit doing so.This potting process is done in all sorts of electronics for good reason and I am not going to change that.BTW it also STOPS whisker growth.
Sure as a second option I will make a "Kit module" for collectors who want to look under the hood and do not care about all the benifits the gel and seal offer on the new Synchronars I make..If anything,yes I agree the potting gel can be a nemesis to the "repair person" but we are talking about something never designed for the repair person to tinker with.I could tell you of the various quality control problems that was the achilles heel to SOME of the watches made decades ago,just ask.Also you cannot base the whole history of this watch on the dilapidated watches you received from my brother.Face it those were long ago rejected ,traded in units with the bad batteries and a potting gel that was not curred properly. Then after sitting for 20 + years at different temperatures you probably will have trouble reviving them.THE BATTERY AND POTTING GEL FAILURES HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED! Now the gel and the batteries are of better quality.
A Synchronar is not made by me that contains a weak seal. I do however offer "Kit modules"with no seal whatsoever.I leave it up to the buyer on them to seal it however and whenever they want.

[ronaldheld]

How exactly does the potting process inhibit the growth of whiskers?

[Synchroserious]

Metal whisker growth and our understanding of exactly how it grows is a Science in progress.NASA has done some recent experiments.One thing we know is whisker growth occurs at a right angle to the surface and without the gel the air space permits this.With no air and all the parts embedded in a rubber like gel I seriously doubt the whiskers are given the chance to grow.Like wise if you blanket grass with an object it does not grow in that area.


Whiskers have been causing short circuits in things for a long time and for a half century the use of lead was the answer.Now with the get the lead out movements it appears not even Nasa will be permitted to use lead.What lead damage to the earth and humans can there be for a satellite in Space is what I would like to know.


See Wikipedia "Metal whiskers"

[retroleds]

I have edited my article at www.thedigitalwatch.com/VOM.htm Some parts of it clarify the differences between the sealed modules Howard is selling and the "build-your-own" kits. Howard, don't be too excited by the areas where I don't agree with you...I'm entitled to my opinions, and I admit they will occasionally be wrong. Please be forbearing if you can.

[Synchroserious]

ED, I really was not trying to nit pick your article and yes you are entitled to your opinion.However you informed me a few weeks back about the article and mentioned how you were going to send me some drafts of it to look over in case there was any mistakes.Well I understand you had a terrible cold and so forth and could not do that.It is normal for an author to express his or her opinion on things but when you asked me to help by communicating back and forth, I was eagerly waiting to see the first draft.


Fact is there are many chemical reactions that occur that mimic battery leakage and that is the easiest assumption to make when you see corrosion inside.There is a chain reaction that can lead to battery failure but believe it or not the root cause is more complicated than that at times.In fact you can actually clean some modules with internal chemical damage and then find that the batteries still take a charge.As for history I have sold several units made 30+ years ago that DO STILL WORK.Have more where that came from to.There are many more Synchronars out there that do still work,we just don't always get to hear about them because they are on someones wrist that has no intentions to sell it. The Gel in some units was not capable of stopping a large Battery leak and or moisture invasion from cracks forming in defective Lexan "OR" an improperly inserted and sealed potting hole plug.Moisture causes metal Ions to grow on meatal surfaces which can then short the battery causing a secondary reaction that would lead one to believe the batteries leaked but as I have just explained this is not always the root cause.
GOOD BATTERIES+GOOD LEXAN AND METAL PLATE AT THE BOTTOM+GOOD SEAL+GOOD GEL = A Synchronar that will run a long long time. NOTE: Do not expose it to gasoline,solvents or bug sprays.

As for sealing the kit modules which are not really intended for everyday rugged use I recomend the clear or red RTV silicone.Lexan is a very hard plastic and you cannot go to a hardware store and buy super glue or another type of plastic cement and get a good bond out of it.LEXAN does not bond together with epoxies like other plastics do.So if your looking to open the module in ten years the RTV silicone(form-a gasket) is the best alternative so far.Auto glass sealer has accetone in it,so I do not recomend trying it.It is fair and reasonable to conclude the achilles heel of a Synchronar, if there is one to be solvets such as accetone or gasoline which breakdown the Lexan.Ironicly Lexan is used for Nascar bodies,but in areas where they do not expect gasoline to be in contact I guess.
So maybe,just maybe, we will one day see a better alternative than Lexan on a Synchronar like the MK V was to have.

[zucchi]

OH Buy the way Z did you set your DSTime program feature to the rest mode?

I change it every year. I set it to Active sometime during the summer then back to Rest in winter.

As for history I have sold several units made 30+ years ago that DO STILL WORK.Have more where that came from to.There are many more Synchronars out there that do still work,we just don't always get to hear about them because they are on someones wrist that has no intentions to sell it.

I hope you didn't get the impression that I want to sell my Synchronar. On the contrary. I've been very happy with my ol' Synchronar and have no intentions of selling.

Zucchi, give me a ring in a few leap years and I will hook you up on another Upgrade

Funny you should mention that. I contacted Roger many years ago (probably around 1999) about purchasing a companion watch. When we spoke on the phone, he told me about the improvements he had made on the design since I received mine, including the metal back. I ordered one from him for an even $500 back then. Three years later, it arrived. Within two years of receiving it, it stopped working :( I called Roger about it and he said to send it back for warranty repair. He passed away before I got my watch back By the way, if there's a way I can have that resolved, I would appreciate it.

[Synchroserious]

You can contact me at the email address in my profile riehl_synchronar_2100@yahoo.com or try the new site listed below in my signature.I can certainly apply a credit discount like a few others here have opted to do.Please include any paper work,serial # or shipping info you may have.
If someone asks about how often you change the battery in yours , I bet you tell them "Never,just change the tape every now and then" that would draw some strange looks 8)

Kind Regards, Howard

[zucchi]

Batteries? I don't need no stinking batteries!
Seriously, though, if someone does ask, I simply tell them the batteries never need to be changed. It's been some 13 or 14 years and it's still going. Not even the Energizer bunny can say that. From there, they usually want to know more about it.

I sent you some emails and a private message about your credit discount offer; thanks.

[Synchroserious]

You are not the only one.There are countless more that are late to join in.Unfortunatly most people judge by the stereotype info that they are fed or free parts they are given instead of true owner experience or asking solid questions related. Thank you for joining.

[ronaldheld]

For those who wear it daily, do they use the original bracelet, or has it been replaced by something else?

[zucchi]

For those who wear it daily, do they use the original bracelet, or has it been replaced by something else?

I still use the original case and bracelet although I had to replace the pins that hold the bracelet to the case.

[ronaldheld]

My bracelet opened up when I first got it, so I am looking for a replacement which locks more securely.

[767Geoff]

I look forward to wearing mine, but will have to wait for production and delivery.

Then I can officially join the club.

Cheers all, Geoff

[Synchroserious]

UPDATE 76geoff,ronaldheld,Zuchi or anyone interested

New batteries are in from my order June 7th.The tabs are not lined up as specified on half of them but I can work around that.Time to do some testing. Then seal,wait three days for complete solvent evaporation,encapsulate them in the potting gel,re-test, seal plug.set,buff install. about a week bearing no further delays.
Cheers

[767Geoff]

Thanks for the update Howard. Looking forward to wearing this piece of history!

Cheers, Geoff