this post was submitted on 20 Apr 2025
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Mildly Interesting

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submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
 

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

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

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 week ago

Oh no. Im old.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 week ago

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

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago

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

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 week ago

It sells nowadays online for 10-15$.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week 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)

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Boong it’s two fifty nine peee-em

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

Yup. And of course the slightly staticy

"Er Er Er-Er Errrrrrrr!"

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

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

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week 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".

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 week 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.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week 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.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago
[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

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

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

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

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

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

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Dammit I had one of those.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

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

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 week ago

What has four legs and ticks?