he picture "Men in Black II"

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 " 

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.

TI News Release 

July 1, 2005 

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:

This was submitted by GMS

January 21, 2005

Folks in charge of the props for the production of the movie chose the redesigned original Pulsar P3 Date-Command for MIIB, the sequel to MIB! Hamilton, now a Swiss owned watch company used the original case and bracelet as a model for the watch to be used in the movie and latter marketed to the public in a limited production of 10,000 units. The Production models are not exactly the same as the watch worn by Tommy Lee Jones in the movie. The movie prop had a enticing blue LED display and the classical two button style like the original Pulsar. The production model was made with a blue backlit LCD display. Somewhat of a disappointment to collectors but hey, we�ll take it! 

Contact this Hamilton dealer if your looking for one of these watches to wear or for your collection  hotgolfer9@yohoo.com or visit his website at www.hotgolfer9.com

Revised January 21, 2005

Ernest Trovas sketch of the Hamilton Pulsar 

With help from Matt Strauss, artist, collector of Pulsar LED's and a friend of Ernest Trova (see "History"), 12:08 is proud to present what might be the last drawing left that Ernest Trova made for the very first Pulsar.

"..he has said that while he did contract with Hamilton to design the watch, the prototype watch pictured was not the watch he designed. As far as he knows the watch design he submitted was never fabricated.
His 1970 design was based on the shape of a spoon.
I have asked him many times if he still had his design for the watch and he has not been able to find anything until just this week..." says Matt. 

Click to Enlarge

Pulsar  "The Twilight Zone"
This picture was taken of five of the twelve known rare 18k Limited Editions by a collector while the watches were in his possession for restoration. Not since 1972 have there been this many of this model Pulsars under the same roof. All five are in mint condition and are working perfectly. This photo was taken on October 3rd, 2000 with an original brochure and original Pulsar sign. Although more Limited editions exist, only twelve owners have come forth to date.
This picture has been named "The Twilight Zone".

Click to Enlarge 

Jean Wuischpard.........1914 - 2006

May 3, 2006