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 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month 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 1 month ago

Oh no. Im old.

[–] sirico@feddit.uk 11 points 1 month ago

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

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

!cassettefuturism@lemm.ee

[–] moitoi@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 1 month ago

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

[–] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 6 points 1 month 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 1 month ago

It sells nowadays online for 10-15$.

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

Cockcrow

[–] thermal_shock@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

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

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

Boong it’s two fifty nine peee-em

[–] davidgro@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

Yup. And of course the slightly staticy

"Er Er Er-Er Errrrrrrr!"

[–] AceSLive@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month 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 1 month 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 1 month ago (1 children)

Dammit I had one of those.

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

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

[–] Chozo@fedia.io 1 points 1 month 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 1 month ago

What has four legs and ticks?