this post was submitted on 20 Apr 2025
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Mildly Interesting

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139
Talking Watch from the early 90s (infosec.pub)
submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by moitoi@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/mildlyinteresting@lemmy.world
22 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

It announces the time in a clear voice. Fancy at this time.

I found it and took the picture at the international watch museum.

top 22 comments
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[–] PlaidBaron@lemmy.world 11 points 2 months ago

Oh no. Im old.

[–] sirico@feddit.uk 11 points 2 months ago

I had this as a kid, had the most obnoxious cockerel sound as an alarm

[–] half@lemy.lol 6 points 2 months ago (1 children)

!cassettefuturism@lemm.ee

[–] moitoi@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 2 months ago

Thanks! I didn't know about this community. I crossposted there.

[–] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 6 points 2 months ago (1 children)

It looks like a $5 watch today, but I'm sure back then it cost like $200 because of new technology.

[–] moitoi@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 2 months ago

It sells nowadays online for 10-15$.

[–] gofsckyourself@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Cockcrow

[–] thermal_shock@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

Oh yeah, had the rooster alarm. I had one too

[–] toy_boat_toy_boat@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Museum. Museum! i don't doubt you (especially given how special they stood it up), but they sell these at the convenience store down the street from me. it's not a "clear voice".

[–] moitoi@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

The museum display this watch inside a timeline to show you the evolution. It's actually neat of them to put cheap watches in the general exhibition. You have a broad range from this cheap watch to an old disused atomic clock.

[–] toy_boat_toy_boat@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

sorry, my tone is a bit harsh tonight. it's actually a really cool display - i think i'm just getting a little defensive about my age.

i have a friend who goes to flea markets and collects old radium clocks and other stuff that glows his gieger.

[–] davidgro@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I am pretty sure I know exactly what it sounds like. I had a talking alarm clock from the same era and everything that made sound electronically back then did so by using the same chips with the same samples as everything else. (Including pocket 'trick noise makers' and car alarms - those two categories even had some overlapping samples if I remember right)

[–] Deez@lemm.ee 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Boong it’s two fifty nine peee-em

[–] davidgro@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

Yup. And of course the slightly staticy

"Er Er Er-Er Errrrrrrr!"

[–] AceSLive@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

I know a lady who is totally blind who uses one of these to tell the time. Pretty awesome.

[–] DaCrazyJamez@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 months ago

I still have mine in a drawer somewhere. I wonder if a new battery and it would work? Probably....

[–] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Dammit I had one of those.

[–] BigDanishGuy@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Mine spoke German, which I don't... Es ist acht und zwansig Minutten bis zehn

[–] Chozo@fedia.io 1 points 2 months ago

These are still pretty popular today. Maybe not this particular model, but talking watches are still used by many blind people.

[–] stupidcommieopensourceBS@lemmy.world 0 points 2 months ago

What has four legs and ticks?