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Russian prototype LED watch. The first!

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Andrew Babanin

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Russian prototype LED watch. The first!

Post30 Jan 2016, 04:15

I'm interested in history of first digital watches in USSR.
It is well known, that first attempts to make display watch in USSR were at 1973. A year later there were two prototypes - LCD and LED. LCD based on not perspective DSM technology. As to LED version - it is some sort of success. For LCD version the time left - constructors had to change technology for more modern twist effect display, as to LED version - they changed principles of visualisation - from digits of small sqare dots to digits of bars.
Here it is - the first known proto LED watch from the USSR. No info about date of production of this watch. Only well known, that serial watches started in 1975th. According to legend these proto watches were produced for manufactory workers - to test new technology on the wrist.
The pic with activated time visualisation

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The quartz brick has its own number (first ones for the first watches marked by serial num, later with the date of production (month and year).
Here the quartz had been replaced during tests or later.

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Push buttons are with magnets. As to contacts - there are GERCONES (germetic contact made of glass tube with contacts, placed in the vacuum). There's a row of 5 contacts according to 5 push buttons.

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Module of the first LED watch in the USSR.

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The plate of the same proto watch, but in ruined condition

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Push button with square magnet - to activare gercon. there's no holes in the case for push buttons - it is water proof.

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The battery contact on the case back had been welded manually.

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Just compare two technologies, there are a few same features to make conclusions, that these watches were made by one group of designers

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dutchsiberia

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Re: Russian prototype LED watch. The first!

Post31 Jan 2016, 20:57

Awesome, no words :eek:

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Kasper

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Re: Russian prototype LED watch. The first!

Post01 Feb 2016, 21:34

Super duper...great historic info and thanks for sharing these razor sharp images. I think most led collectors over here are still sleeping or they are getting old M:)W:)M
This is a very special find. I just love it.

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Re: Russian prototype LED watch. The first!

Post06 Feb 2016, 15:30

Wow :mega:

Never seen that one before!!

Love the big buttons - they remind me of the Zodiac's in shape and style.

I have the common Electronica LED watch but would love one of those - they must be super rare and a working one even more so!

Nice catch :mega:
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Re: Russian prototype LED watch. The first!

Post06 Feb 2016, 18:00

Great post Andrew very interesting...lots of good things in that module, reed switches, sealed dot display, 24hr time.

Apart from the time obviously what other functions does the watch have.

The line display Elektronika LED watch is one of my favourites as it too has 24hr time.

You might find this interesting - http://www.netgrafik.ch/elektronika.htm
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Andrew Babanin

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Re: Russian prototype LED watch. The first!

Post07 Feb 2016, 00:29

Yep, even the first Russian digital watches had 24H indication. I've got the only ladies LCD watch of early 1978 with am/pm function - export version. Elektronika 203 w/ 12h format quite rare to find.
DSM proto watch also differs from Microma with 24h standard.
As to this watch - there's almost no info about it. I've met a few cases for this model - NOS replasement cases and... a photo from watch factory museum - with two variants of case for this model (Chrome and GP).

here's a pic from the book, concerning the first LED and DSM LCD watches, designed and produced at the factory.

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As to extra functions...
1. 24h time at first push and seconds if you still push the upper button
2. Days and days of week - the lower button

The logic is very common to normal serial LED watches in the USSR. The only difference - the central button (to ZERO seconds ) in serial watches placed ophosite to other buttons - from the left...
Pics of proto case, even not in metal - just in plastic with base 2651 movt inside:

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I've made a red glass for more attractive composition

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Re: Russian prototype LED watch. The first!

Post07 Feb 2016, 23:38

I like the look of the third watch from the left.

The black plastic proto watch what a strange looking thing.
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Re: Russian prototype LED watch. The first!

Post08 Feb 2016, 01:25

The third one - just a watch, which was under production till the early 90s. The most common model with slight differences.It is based on 2651 caliber (26 mm)
Another quite common model is based on 3051 caliber (30mm). The cirquit block is almost the same - contacts for buttons and plastic base are different.

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This one is much more rare to find, based on 3051 caliber (30 mm). It supplied with quite rare for USSR bracelet 22 mm. The years of production maybe 1980-1981. The inscriptions on the bracelet to adjust its lenght - in english. Maybe the watch was produced for export.

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As to plastic proto case - i didn't find the watch in metal, so guess not only you consider it strange :)
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Re: Russian prototype LED watch. The first!

Post08 Feb 2016, 11:59

Whoa, awesome watches. I didn't even know there were soviet DSM watches. These LED prototypes are also awesome.
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Re: Russian prototype LED watch. The first!

Post06 Mar 2016, 19:55

Very interesting info/history.
Cheers for sharing.

Fg.
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Andrew Babanin

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Re: Russian prototype LED watch. The first!

Post21 Aug 2019, 02:11

Afrer years of search I found a few more interesting watches, the first ones, produced in 1974-1975.

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A pic from Pulsar (Moscow) museum:
1. Early type of russian proto with digits on top, cromed model
2. Driver led proto watch Погоня-М (Pursuit-M)
3. Three button LED watch tith perpetual calendar and digital correctiom like in Syncronar
4. Gold plated version of 1.
5. Early DSM proto

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My cosplay for this foto :)

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Andrew Babanin

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Re: Russian prototype LED watch. The first!

Post21 Aug 2019, 02:16

At least I found the last design of the case, but in steel. The case has no movt, but LCD is real, one of the first DSM with really strange shiny mirrored surface

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Andrew Babanin

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Re: Russian prototype LED watch. The first!

Post20 Oct 2019, 22:37

I found instruction for the watch. So my version has confirmation - this watch is b6.03 like later models. Small quantities of watches were for sale. The price was terrific - 250 roubles. First LCD watches of that period we approx. 105 (chromed) and 120 roubles (Au10).

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Driver watch also found papers. It is B6.302 (1977-78) - no confirmation about sales.

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Scans of instructions are here:

http://www.horology.ru/ei01.jpg
http://www.horology.ru/ei02.jpg
http://www.horology.ru/ei03.jpg
http://www.horology.ru/ei04.jpg
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Re: Russian prototype LED watch. The first!

Post23 Oct 2019, 00:07

Superb reaserch there Andrew, I'd like to own a good few of those watches myself.
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Re: Russian prototype LED watch. The first!

Post27 Oct 2019, 14:44

Yes he keeps posting these super rare led watches.. :O`~ :O`~ :O`~ :O`~ Incredible :dwf:
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Andrew Babanin

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Re: Russian prototype LED watch. The first!

Post09 Mar 2020, 12:54

Some prototype design of E1 LED watch. Caseback is not of stainless steel - so the watch not for wearing.

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Re: Russian prototype LED watch. The first!

Post19 Jul 2020, 22:39

I looked for this watch for a long time. Now it is in my collection. The watch from the pic in the book. The watch like in museum at Pulsar (Moscow).

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I decided to group this watch with DSM one to see in details how many common things between these watches. I guess these two samples - are protos from late 1973, early 1974.

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Andrew Babanin

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Re: Russian prototype LED watch. The first!

Post27 Aug 2021, 22:32

A few more pics
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Andrew Babanin

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Re: Russian prototype LED watch. The first!

Post27 Aug 2021, 23:36

One more restored watch

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my set of watches like in museum

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real photo from museum

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Andrew Babanin

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Re: Russian prototype LED watch. The first!

Post27 Aug 2021, 23:43

decorated with semi precious stone

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Re: Russian prototype LED watch. The first!

Post20 Aug 2022, 03:58

Hi I am interested in LEd watch russian prototype
E1 in working condition

My email is ronald2@gmx.de

Whatsapp thats the best way 00491735436816

Greetings

Ron
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Andrew Babanin

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Re: Russian prototype LED watch. The first!

Post28 Aug 2022, 20:06

Hello, ok. Will keep in mind. Now in vacation, all september will be interferred with opening of watch and clock museum in Moscow, common to Klaipeda watch museum, so for now thinking about qty of timepieces for permanent and temporary exhibitions. After that will know about qty of extra watches.
Nonworking ones are quite expencive now. I'm in shock. The second one in auction is collector from Klaipeda. I was the third. 1360 Euro for nonworking timepiece! :(
https://meshok.net/item/275636685_%D0%A ... 0%BD%D1%83
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