[Kidblue]

Hey folks -- I just found a longtime diamond-in-the-rough, a 1977 Computron in great working condition. It's a single-button model, second-generation, with a 229 module. The more-common N6 has the two buttons and there's lots of documentation about them, but I'm having a heck of a time finding any technical documentation on this single-button model.

It is pretty straight-forward to set — hit the button a few times and it enters timekeeping mode. The only thing I can’t figure out is the month — it cycles between 1-12 but there are 5 “stages” — in other words, it’ll go 1-12 with each push and then the number to the right will increase with each cycle of 12 until it hits 5 and then back to 1 — what does this mean? The months on the left will continue to cycle 1 up until 12 and then the number on the right will rise, 1-5, until it hits 5 and resets.

What kind of measurement is "1-5" as it relates to the month?

Thanks!

 

[Kidblue]

Thanks for these! Unfortunately, all of this references either the technical manual for the two-button module model (N6) or just some historical information. I’m looking for the setting instructions or technical manuals on this single-button (N7) version to find out what the heck this extra numeral is there for when setting the month!

Appreciate the help!

 

[Kidblue]

Yeah, I've been trying to figure out what months would be "one out of five" -- If it were 30/31/29/28, that's only four! What's the fifth??? I feel like I'm going crazy.

 

[Kidblue]

Are you sure yours is not module 254 or 255? 229 had two buttons.

There seems to be some confusion -- Mine is marked with "229" on the back, and is the single-button N7 model -- but yes, the 254/255 had a single button. There's also a chance that the 229 went from two buttons to one when it when from N6-N7, but I don't have confirmation on that.

I can't even find technical or setting instructions for the single-button 254/255 models, but I'm still out of luck.

 

[Kidblue]

Thanks!

Pretty obvious based on my pic that this is a six-digit display with a single-button (which was a later design), making it a N7 with a 254?

The big question is still what this 1-5 scale for setting the month is for on it!

 

[Kidblue]

This 254 module has a rare (Day of the Week Function). This is from an ebay posting below: Could the 1-5 be part of the Day of the Week function?

That's a good guess, but then the next screen DOES allow for "Day of the Week" (in two-letter versions), on its own.

So why would the MONTH setting go through FIVE "versions"? Wouldn't it be on a scale of 1-7? Whatever that 1-5 number is, it's connected to the initial month choice.

Is my explanation making any sense? I feel like I'm a crazy person.

 

[Kidblue]

Yup! That circled digit - which goes from 1-5 every time the left digit goes past 12 - is the QUESTION! Any clue?

 

[Kidblue]

I know this is going to be a pain and might cost you a whole set of batteries, but would you try something? Set the watch to mystery# 1, Feb 28 11:58 PM, then mystery# 2, Feb 28 11:58 PM, etc., until mystery# 5, and in each case let it roll over past midnight, and see what date you get after Feb 28?

I feel like the wear-and-tear-and-battery-usage might be a little extreme for this one, but I see where you're going and I LIKE IT!

It would make sense this would be for leap years, and factor in with the type of piece it is... so far, I think this is the best theory.

Wouldn't you agree it is crazy that this rather advanced and specialized function wouldn't be notated anywhere in documenting this 254 module?!

 

[Kidblue]

2. Visit this all Digital watch forum Newdwf.com Link and ask them. If anybody would know, they would. (FYI: I looked over the 22 pages of threads there and I didn't see anything about a Computron 254 but it wouldn't hurt to ask in a new thread).
3. Contact this seller on ebay Ebay Seller Sold Listings Link and ask him. He sold one in Feb and sells several LED watches so he may be a collector with some knowledge and not a Flipper. He seemed to know the inner workings of the 254 he sold.

These are great tips -- I'll look up that seller. I did a deep dive into Digital Watch Forum and I opted against starting a thread there because that place feels very dead, especially for these vintage pieces... unless there's someone particular who's active there? Thanks again!

 

[Kidblue]

Little update -- I tried to join DWF but they have a weird "email us" form that feels very dubious to gain membership. So we'll see.

I emailed that prolific seller of Computron and other "red LED" watches on eBay and she got back to me, but alas, has no idea what this extra digit is for! It's confusing her, too! She said she would dig up some other old-school collectors and ask them, but also suggested the nebulous dead-zone of DWF.

 

[Kidblue]

Rob, that kind of makes sense. The continental US time zones are five total: Alaska Time, Pacific Time, Mountain Time, Central Time, Eastern Time. If the watch allows you to cycle through the time zones, that would be a useful feature.

Another good guess, except that when cycling through the time (outside of setting mode), it will display time (one press) and date (second press) -- There's no third screen to indicate other time zones, and in the month-setting, where this mysterious number is, you have to cycle through ALL months to make it rise, which would mean dozens of presses to switch between time zones, not to mention that the month would have no effect on the time zone!

 

[Kidblue]

Wow! What detective work. Perpetual calendar! It’s wild that there’s no documentation of this sophisticated function. I mean, I can’t even find any kind of N7/254 manual or technical docs!


I don’t know if I have the patience to do the “test”, but how could I even guess which year in the leap year cycle it is if it goes up to five??? This is starting to remind me of Spinal Tap!!

 

[Kidblue]

Major update!

I contacted this seller, who has had some prolific sales of LED watches recently, and they got back to me!

Copied below is her answer to our quandary:

Well, I think I finally have an answer for you, about your Bulova! ..Well, sort of.. I contacted a guy who is VERY well known in the watch collecting community, and he says your extra digit IS a leap-year function, BUT, that yours must have some sort of internal 'glitch', that's causing it to count up to 5, rather than ending at 4. BUT, as long as it's working okay otherwise, and keeping time, I think the general consensus was that you should probably just leave it alone. Anyway, his replies (both of them) were rather lengthy, but here they are::

"I have two of these and always thought, from memory, that it was a leap year setting where 4 = the leap year. That way the watch can keep track of February 29th leap year.
Now i have to dig the watches out, add batteries and see what mine do. I am thinking it is a leap year function and your friends is becoming geriatric (aging electronics and corrupted ROM).
I will get back to you on this. Also surprising is the lack of internet information on the caliber!
Geoff"

And:

"Yes, i was correct, leap year function leading me to suspect that your module is suffering age related electronic failure.
Just to make sure, 5 pushes to get into set mode. When you get to month display cycle through twelve months to get the digit to turn over by one, cycle again for the next digit and so forth until you reach leap year 4 then it should start at one again as mine do.
Pull batteries and short the contacts with some tweezers then re-insert and set the watch again, does the error repeat?
In conclusion if the reset battery change short procedure does not rectify the error then the error is in the PCA. This may be due to age or faulty PCA from the factory.
As long as it keeps time who cares!
Geoff"

So, there 'ya go...that's the best info I have been able to get, is that it IS a leap-year indicator, but for some goofy reason, YOUR watch is counting to 5, rather than 1-4. But, ohh, well, at least it works...LOL.

I am absolutely boggled that we'd be looking at a "bug" or "corruption" on this, especially since the watch functions so perfectly otherwise, but there you have it -- I guess programming these things back in 1977 wasn't an exact science and sometimes an "additional digit" (or in this case, an additional YEAR) found its way in? Feels like I have a very special, unique Computron on my hands, one that, in its own way, gives me a little extra time!!!

 

[Kidblue]

Little update, one of the eBay sellers sent me a copy of the 254 manual! Attached!

 

[Kidblue]

It's being weird for me.

Maybe someone else can figure out how to embed them as images or upload the attachments?

Here's an Imgur link