I am glad to present here a new story, about my new toy/my newest acquisition- an interesting piece of engineering of the late 80's-early 90's: The Madison (and, in my case, a Madison/Meister Anker - with both logos - version of the watch) FM radio/Calculator/Alarm/Worldtime watch.
I already know that this Madison quite rare watch is one of the all time favorites of our fellow forum colleague and high level digital watches expert, Kasper:
http://www.newdwf.com/viewtopic.php?f=72&t=8007
http://digihorloges.blogspot.ro/2012/01 ... dtime.html
Thus I will try my best to bring some (hopefully new) information about it, also for him and You, the other readers of this nice forum:
1. When we try to find which was the first radio wrist watch (not to talk about the first FM radio wristwatch), the ultimate book about the evolution of modern/digital wrist watches, the Pieter Doensen's book -"WATCH. History of the modern wrist watch" seems to provide - totally unexpected - only some inaccurate and even confusing information:
http://doensen.home.xs4all.nl/q8.html
For example, in the chapter - Q. Multifunctional Wrist Watches, 8. Watches with Radio or Television - the very famous/almost mythical 1985 Sinclair FM Radio Watch is not mentioned at all , even if it seems that about 11000 units were produced!
http://www.retrothing.com/2007/02/unreleased_sinc.html
Also the famous Citizen AM/FM Radio D030/D031 watch from the same 1985(?) Year is not mentioned at all in the Doensen book!
http://pocketcalculatorshow.com/nerdwat ... -part-two/
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Watch-Citizen-A ... 1452085695
What should be clearly stated is the fact that an outstanding company like Sinclair (e.g. the producer of famous 80's Sinclair Spectrum Computers with Z80), had in 1985 some clear purposes:"The aim is to design the FIRST/SMALLEST integrated FM Radio Watch IN THE WORLD".. and they somehow DID IT!!!
http://www.retrothing.com/2007/02/unreleased_sinc.html
Anyway, we may never know which company have produced the first FM Radio Digital Wrist Watch (Sinclair or Citizen - cca 1985, Seiko with the 1982 TV watch - even if this one had an external large receiver for VHF/UHF/FM so it was not a self contained FM watch ???), but I had to underline all those above mentioned facts, because in the late years have appeared some claims - based on some misguided posts on some watch forums, that Armitron may have had an (even Stereo!!! ) FM wrist watch as early as 1981!!!
http://geb.ebay.com/geb/ImportHubViewIt ... 2063702868
2.Now about the Madison FM radio/Calculator/Alarm/Wordtime LCD wrist watch discussed above:
i) First of all it was produced(???)/distributed by an somehow obscure (at that time - late 80's) watch distribution company - Madison Watches NY LTD- but which had some good connections as a retailer with some important watch makers companies and other retailers, in the late 80's and who was probably trying - at that time - to make its own path in digital watchmaking (pls see below), quite different from others and with the advent of technology... .
The company exist even now:"Through many years of experience, MADISON N.Y. LTD. has developed into one of the leading exporters for trend-setting, competitive fashion watches. We supply the leading department stores, mail-order houses as well as media houses and sports clubs." http://www.madison-watches.com/menu_sub ... d=1&scid=7
ii) Surprisingly, the above watch was not the only one FM Radio-enabled Watch that was produced (?)/distributed by Madison company. They had also later a metal cased FM radio/Analog Quartz watch (a Sinclair FM Radio watch tribute???) with FM auto-search feature, where the specific logo of Madison FM radio watch (found also on the above mentioned and earlier FM/Calculator watch) may be seen:
iii) Inside the Madison's FM radio/Calculator/Alarm/Worldtime watch, was an outstanding piece of engineering for the late 80's-early 90's: The Samsung IC (S)Ka22429 " FM radio on a chip", thus - combining the 8 Digits LCD/Worldtime/Calculator/ module/PCB + a second PCB with FM Radio - this watch may be considered a unique approach for that time:
http://www.promelec.ru/pdf/ka22429.pdf
iv) Whatever we may like it or not, it was the obscure Madison Watches company (and NOT the advanced SEIKO, CITIZEN, CASIO etc) the one which was able to provide in the late 80's-early 90''s a novelty like the FIRST digital LCD watch with Worldtime/Alarm/Calculator and FM Radio on the same device!!! (Not to mention that the calculator buttons are placed circulary around the bezel, as in the first Citizen Calculator watch from 1978!!!)
v) Finally, Madison seems that was ready - in early 90's - to share its unique at that time FM Radio/Calculator/Alarm/Worldtime watch with other retailers, such as Meister Anker/Quelle, thus my NOT very common and above presented watch have appeared on the market, with both logos of Meister Anker AND Madison (pls look at the blue symbol on the upper left side of the watch!)
If You want more information about this quite interesting and unique line of watches, please let me know.
Regards,
meister_anker_fm_radio.jpg
I already know that this Madison quite rare watch is one of the all time favorites of our fellow forum colleague and high level digital watches expert, Kasper:
http://www.newdwf.com/viewtopic.php?f=72&t=8007
http://digihorloges.blogspot.ro/2012/01 ... dtime.html
Thus I will try my best to bring some (hopefully new) information about it, also for him and You, the other readers of this nice forum:
1. When we try to find which was the first radio wrist watch (not to talk about the first FM radio wristwatch), the ultimate book about the evolution of modern/digital wrist watches, the Pieter Doensen's book -"WATCH. History of the modern wrist watch" seems to provide - totally unexpected - only some inaccurate and even confusing information:
http://doensen.home.xs4all.nl/q8.html
For example, in the chapter - Q. Multifunctional Wrist Watches, 8. Watches with Radio or Television - the very famous/almost mythical 1985 Sinclair FM Radio Watch is not mentioned at all , even if it seems that about 11000 units were produced!
http://www.retrothing.com/2007/02/unreleased_sinc.html
Also the famous Citizen AM/FM Radio D030/D031 watch from the same 1985(?) Year is not mentioned at all in the Doensen book!
http://pocketcalculatorshow.com/nerdwat ... -part-two/
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Watch-Citizen-A ... 1452085695
What should be clearly stated is the fact that an outstanding company like Sinclair (e.g. the producer of famous 80's Sinclair Spectrum Computers with Z80), had in 1985 some clear purposes:"The aim is to design the FIRST/SMALLEST integrated FM Radio Watch IN THE WORLD".. and they somehow DID IT!!!
http://www.retrothing.com/2007/02/unreleased_sinc.html
Anyway, we may never know which company have produced the first FM Radio Digital Wrist Watch (Sinclair or Citizen - cca 1985, Seiko with the 1982 TV watch - even if this one had an external large receiver for VHF/UHF/FM so it was not a self contained FM watch ???), but I had to underline all those above mentioned facts, because in the late years have appeared some claims - based on some misguided posts on some watch forums, that Armitron may have had an (even Stereo!!! ) FM wrist watch as early as 1981!!!
http://geb.ebay.com/geb/ImportHubViewIt ... 2063702868
2.Now about the Madison FM radio/Calculator/Alarm/Wordtime LCD wrist watch discussed above:
i) First of all it was produced(???)/distributed by an somehow obscure (at that time - late 80's) watch distribution company - Madison Watches NY LTD- but which had some good connections as a retailer with some important watch makers companies and other retailers, in the late 80's and who was probably trying - at that time - to make its own path in digital watchmaking (pls see below), quite different from others and with the advent of technology... .
The company exist even now:"Through many years of experience, MADISON N.Y. LTD. has developed into one of the leading exporters for trend-setting, competitive fashion watches. We supply the leading department stores, mail-order houses as well as media houses and sports clubs." http://www.madison-watches.com/menu_sub ... d=1&scid=7
ii) Surprisingly, the above watch was not the only one FM Radio-enabled Watch that was produced (?)/distributed by Madison company. They had also later a metal cased FM radio/Analog Quartz watch (a Sinclair FM Radio watch tribute???) with FM auto-search feature, where the specific logo of Madison FM radio watch (found also on the above mentioned and earlier FM/Calculator watch) may be seen:
madison_ultra_micro_fm.jpg
iii) Inside the Madison's FM radio/Calculator/Alarm/Worldtime watch, was an outstanding piece of engineering for the late 80's-early 90's: The Samsung IC (S)Ka22429 " FM radio on a chip", thus - combining the 8 Digits LCD/Worldtime/Calculator/ module/PCB + a second PCB with FM Radio - this watch may be considered a unique approach for that time:
http://www.promelec.ru/pdf/ka22429.pdf
C360_2011-10-05 23-48-17.jpg
iv) Whatever we may like it or not, it was the obscure Madison Watches company (and NOT the advanced SEIKO, CITIZEN, CASIO etc) the one which was able to provide in the late 80's-early 90''s a novelty like the FIRST digital LCD watch with Worldtime/Alarm/Calculator and FM Radio on the same device!!! (Not to mention that the calculator buttons are placed circulary around the bezel, as in the first Citizen Calculator watch from 1978!!!)
v) Finally, Madison seems that was ready - in early 90's - to share its unique at that time FM Radio/Calculator/Alarm/Worldtime watch with other retailers, such as Meister Anker/Quelle, thus my NOT very common and above presented watch have appeared on the market, with both logos of Meister Anker AND Madison (pls look at the blue symbol on the upper left side of the watch!)
If You want more information about this quite interesting and unique line of watches, please let me know.
Regards,
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Every watch should have its own story...consequently, a watch collector has to be a good storyteller :)