Pulsar on Johnny Carson........1925 - 2005
On May 5th, 1970 Johnny Carson was the first to show the world the very first LED digital watch, the Hamilton Pulsar. This was the watch that never made it into production but it all started right then. Back in those days no single person could endorse a product like Johnny Carson and I think credit is due here. No advertising campaign could match the power of Johnny Carson reaching 30 million people around the world watching the The Tonight Show on any given night!
Johnny's comment after introducing the Prototype and the plans for the production model the following year at a price of $1,500 was typical Carson." The watch will tell you the exact moment you went bankrupt "
Then in December of 1975 it was Johnny again, introducing the first Calculator watch to the world at a price of $3,950 for the 18k Limited Edition solid gold calculator watch. Once again he came up with a line most collectors remember the most. While holding up the watch he says......." If you have that much money you don't have to be on time anywhere! " and then just moments latter he says "Actually the secret to this is there's a tiny Japanese accountant in here "
January 25, 2005 |
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Jack
Kilby.........1923 -
2005 Inventor of " The Chip", or most commonly known as the Microchip or IC (Integrated Circuit) died on June 20th. In 1958 while working for Texas Instrument Kilby had an idea to place several resistors, capacitors, and transistors together on a piece of silicone. This concept would soon evolved into a single chip that would serve as "The Brain" and would be installed as a component in a multitude of devices. Kilby was in the R&D lab by himself because he was one of the few employees that did not qualify for a two week vacation his first summer with the company. Kilby was involved in building the first computer incorporating an IC and was a co-inventor of the First Hand Held Calculator as well as the portable Thermal Printer. Every electronic device we use today most likely has a microchip thanks to Jack Kilby. Without Kilby the Pulsar LED digital watch would have only been a dream. The next time you look at that LED display, remember that "The Chip" decides every thing your watch does. In early 1959 Kilby filed a patent for his invention of a Miniaturized Electronic Circuit , he was granted a patent in 1964. Kilby owns more than 60 patents and was awarded the famed Nobel Prize for his invention of the Microchip in 2000. The link below will guide you through an enormous amount of information on Jack Kilby and his life long achievements. Interestingly, this invention has a familiar ring to it as others were working on similar concepts at the same time but the credit clearly goes to Kilby. July 1, 2005 |
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In October 2004 an alert collector captured the Jeopardy episode with the big question. If your not familiar with the format, the Game Show host gives the answer and then the contestants have to reply with the Question. This was when the famous smart guy Ken Jennings (the biggest Jeopardy winner ever) was still on his winning streak. He went up against our hero Pat Greene on that particular day.............. it went like this: The category was "In The Smithsonian" for $800 "Answer" given by Alex Trebeck was "The Pulsar was the first all-electronic one of these and in 1972 this would have set you back $2,100" Ken Jennings hit the buzzer first, his reply was........"What is a computer"....Alex! Alex Trebeck.........."I am sorry, that is incorrect"! Pat Greene slaps the button and says "What is a Watch" Alex Trebeck.........."That is correct for $800" This was submitted by GMS January 21, 2005 |
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Pulsar
in the MIIB Movie
Revised January 21, 2005 |
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Hamilton Pulsar Ernest Trovas Sketch
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Pulsar "The Twilight Zone"
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Pulsar - Jean Wuischpard. . . . . . . 1914 - 2006 Jean M. Wuischpard . . . . the man who designed Pulsar! May 3, 2006
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President Gerald R. Ford . . . 1913-2006 Click for Photos of this U.S. President and his Pulsar December 28, 2006
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Tom
Reindl .
. . . . . . 1934
- 2009 Pulsar icon, Tom Reindl, A.K.A. Pulsar Tom passed away in April. Tom was by all means the first true dealer for collectors of Pulsar LED watches. As a member of the NAWCC, he started to see an interest in Pulsars from Asian enthusiasts attending the shows in the 80"s. Through the 80�s and 90�s, if you collected Pulsars, you dealt with Pulsar Tom somewhere along the line. After Tom�s stock of completed units dwindled, he dabbled in providing parts for collectors and enthusiasts for most of the 2000�s. I met Tom in the early 90�s and spent time with him over the years at his winter home here in Florida. He was a kind and generous person that always managed to sport a smile. I will miss his friendship and that perpetual smile.
October 5, 2009 |