[Dell Deaton]

Hoping for some advice and creative thinking for my Hamilton Pulsar P-2 "Astronaut" LED from the early 1970s. (You know: The one Roger Moore wore as James Bond 007 in Live and Let Die.)

Batteries for it, I'm told, are no longer made. But putting that aside for a moment....

Does anyone have advice on how I might power the watch up on the bench using an alternative source, and, if so, what that source might be (voltage, et cetera)? I'm interested in clipping or soldering something in for working w/ the caseback off. Also, given that power wouldn't necessarily be limited, would there be a way to make the display always on? If so, risk of damage to the circuits, et cetera?

Thanks!

 

[foghorn]

Wow!
That question is way out of my league-but we may have an expert or two who may have an answer.

 

[Rusty]

And I am not an expert but here is a link that you might find interesting:

http://blogs.spectrum.ieee.org/tech_talk/2007/12/ode_to_the_pulsar_p2_led_watch.html

 

[eddiea]

Rusty LED's are still for sale ...did you searched google for a source and then compared batteries??????

 

[Rusty]

eddie,

The article I sourced claims that there is a work-around using a smaller battery system with
rubber spacers. If I remember correctly, that watch may have four batteries. Again, I am not expert and maybe Rene may know more or even service them?

 

[HamiltonElectric]

No, I'm afraid I don't work with LED watches. I suggest www.retroleds.com or www.ledwatches.net for possible help.

 

[Dell Deaton]

oldpulsars.com

And I am not an expert but here is a link that you might find interesting: http://blogs.spectrum.ieee.org/tech_talk/2007/12/ode_to_the_pulsar_p2_led_watch.html

Very nice like; thank you. Hadn't seen this one.

Some sort of a battery and spacer item appears to be currently available from oldpulsars.com <LINK>, I see. But I have no personal experience with this.

Also, by way of technical inference (as opposed to interference), I noticed in a Seller's description on one of the auction sites that the push-button used to activate the time on the P-2 he was selling did not work. He went on to say that moving a strong magnet next to the switch activated the light. Very interesting, if true, given my original question here.

If you all are interested, I'll keep you posted on my efforts.... :blush:

 

[Rusty]

Dell,

Please do keep us informed. Also check the links provided by Hamiltonwristwatch.com. He is one of the most knowledgeable people in the world. . . seriously.

 

[Dell Deaton]

Thanks!

Dell,

Please do keep us informed. Also check the links provided by Hamiltonwristwatch.com. He is one of the most knowledgeable people in the world. . . seriously.

Absolutely!

Thank all of you for the great links, all of which I've visited so far and found helpful.

As many of you know, my tangent here is James Bond. And it's funny, depending on the Forum, how often I'll read someone write as if its obvious that "the James Bond watch" is "only" ever used to reference ... Rolex (if it's a Rolex Forum), Omega (if it's an Omega Forum), et cetera. But I think that sort of hubris misses out on what I find most fascinating about the study: How great a range we have to choose from in the 007 history, how often the watches (and technologies!) were covered by Bond, and how often it actually captured moments in time (no pun intended).

As I understand it, the P-2 missed a debut in 2001: A Space Oddyssey by random cut of scent. Then EON got it, and the rest is history. There's more than enough room here to honor, respect, and study each brand, and the unique, irreplacable value it brought to the character. Truth be told, I bet a lot of people who think of James Bond's wristwatch and his image of "cool," close their eyes and see the Pulsar LEDs glow.

Sorry if I'm getting a bit carried away--.

As it makes sense, I'll add updates and progress images here. Meantime, thanks again to all you guys. You're the greatest! :thumbup:

 

[mgiraz]

Hey Dell send some pics of that baby as well!

 

[GradyPhilpott]

As many of you know, my tangent here is James Bond. And it's funny, depending on the Forum, how often I'll read someone write as if its obvious that "the James Bond watch" is "only" ever used to reference ... Rolex (if it's a Rolex Forum), Omega (if it's an Omega Forum), et cetera. But I think that sort of hubris misses out on what I find most fascinating about the study: How great a range we have to choose from in the 007 history, how often the watches (and technologies!) were covered by Bond, and how often it actually captured moments in time (no pun intended).

Hear, hear!

 

[Dell Deaton]

"Live and Let Die" watch

Hey Dell send some pics of that baby as well!

Okay-- sorry for the delay in getting back to you all on this. I have Posted images to my blog for this project, and you can see them there now. (Feedback, of course, is welcome and encourged!)

But the short answer to my originating question is that the activating button (or "crown," as Hamilton called it) can't simply be held in for a long period of time to keep the display lighted. Holding the button in causes the watch to cycle over into seconds-mode; so you can't simply keep watching the time glow.

I also discovered in my own watch (before finding it also on the Internet) that the switch is completely sealed in the case. In other words, there is no moving part w/ in the case, nor an opportunity for moisture to get in. How does the call for time activate, then? Well, there's a magnet inside, and the pushing of the button brings that magnet w/in proximety of a reed switch that is part of the workings, and that closes the circuit to activate it.

:blink: