Early Casios (Casiotron)

[trilo]

I created this thread to store/collect information on early Casios (Casiotrons).

I was motivated by exhange with dapellegrini through which I realized I had outdated information on my Casios. I realized that information available on these watches (especially manufacturing dates) has increased massively within last two years!

For one, I thought Casio R-11 was their first digital model, but turns out it's Casiotron QW02 (information directly from Casio) and their (first?) world timer appears to be X1 from 1976 (instead of 1974). Also seems that R-11 might date from -81 (which I personally doubt because of the casing style and Nippon Electric Company module which Casio used in their early watches *see post below*).

Confusion and limited information on these stems partly from the fact, that serial number on the early Casios doesn't indicate the year of manufacture and until recently it has been mostly matter of searching manuals, ads and anecdotal information. I think one reliable source on this would be Casio itself, as they seem to take pride on their heritage.

It would be nice to see Casiotrons from user in this post and information they have on them (personal inscriptions, original acquisition dates etc.). I know that atleast akable has few of these and there many of us who are keen to aquire these early Casios.

My personal goal with this post would be to establish 1. When did Casio introduced their inhouse modules over NEC modules? *see post below* and 2. when did they drop the Casiotron name on their watches?.

I don't mind the topic branching out into transitional models (Casiotron on the caseback, but not on the dial) and into their "first models", such as F-100, which was the worlds first all resin cased watch, but lets try to keep it strictly in 1970-80's Casios with real steel and no G-shocks (apart from the design influences that derive from the early Casios).

I'll start with the two I own.

X1 (s-14) 



R-11



P.s. I might edit this later as I wrote it with my phone with a low charge.

[inboost]

trilo thank you for starting this topic. Of the large Japanese watch brands I agree that Casio is the most difficult to learn about and find information on. I look forward to seeing more information here, as I will use it to guide in my collecting of these early watches. I would very much like to own a nice example of the S-14 X1s!

[dapellegrini]

Excellent!  I have a few inbound and will share when the arrive.  I am still trying to understand all of the model numbers, vs module numbers etc.  

[dapellegrini]

Here's and interesting thread I stumbled on while doing some research

www.watchuseek.com/threads/vintage-casio-collection-and-casiotron-series-and-model-numbering.5436628/

[gerald]

Super to see a thread started on these. I've been digging into them for a while, and have "a few" in my collection.

One can be seen in a video on this Instagram post, where I also discuss some of the aspects of the very earliest references.

http://instagr.am/p/Cnvv1a4qELa

I also have what I believe is a launch brochure for the first Casiotrons, and the service manual folder - I must get around to scanning and sharing these at some point!

For those who don't click through (/edit -oh, it embeds the entire post, although rather oddly!), you can date the early ones because the date the batteries were inserted at the factory will be stamped on the plate that holds them in place -



Also seen here is the caseback with the triangular logo based on the design of Casio's head office.

Kind regards,


Gerald.

[trilo]

That module looks awful lot like western tech! Also I have been under the impressiom that first modules were NEC modules *see post below*.

I know Tissot and Hamilton branded Casio watches under their own name. Could this movement be a result of that collaboration (Tissot/Hamilton sending their tech for Casio)?

NEC modules are distinctive and have a ceramic circuit boards. *see post below*

gerald , what is the model number on the cae back and how do you read the date on the cover. I couldn't figure it out. Also some times chip (transistor?) have the year of manufacture, but in this case I can't figure any sensible year.

[gerald]

Apr 2, 2023 22:25:11 GMT -8 trilo said:

That module looks awful lot like western tech! Also I have been under the impressiom that first modules were NEC modules.

I know Tissot and Hamilton branded Casio watches under their own name. Could this movement be a result of that collaboration (Tissot/Hamilton sending their tech for Casio)?

NEC modules are distinctive and have a ceramic circuit boards.

gerald , what is the model number on the cae back and how do you read the date on the cover. I couldn't figure it out. Also some times chip (transistor?) have the year of manufacture, but in this case I can't figure any sensible year.

I can probably find out a lot more information on these as I also have an issue of a Japanese electronics magazine that has very detailed articles on the early digital watches from all the manufacturers. Again, it’s just a matter of prioritising the time to get around to translating it and sharing.

The date of the one in the photo is 50/3/12. YMD, but the year is as per the Showa calendar, so it’s March 12th 1975 in our vernacular.

The earliest I have is dated December 28th 1974.

Model number for this one I can’t remember - I will check tomorrow.

Re the serial number on the chip, this seems to be a batch number. I have two with 4Y32 on the chip - this one, and another dated to 17th February 1975.

Other chips (not necessarily all in earlier watches - there is an overlap) on watches that I have are numbered between 4025 and 5521, spanning about 6 months of production.

I have more examples incoming - these days I pick up any of the earliest examples (basically those without the Liquid Crystal text) regardless of whether they are running or not. They don’t turn up very often though!

Regards,

Gerald.

[trilo]

Apr 3, 2023 5:33:01 GMT -8 gerald said:

Apr 2, 2023 22:25:11 GMT -8 trilo said:

That module looks awful lot like western tech! Also I have been under the impressiom that first modules were NEC modules.

I know Tissot and Hamilton branded Casio watches under their own name. Could this movement be a result of that collaboration (Tissot/Hamilton sending their tech for Casio)?

NEC modules are distinctive and have a ceramic circuit boards.

gerald , what is the model number on the cae back and how do you read the date on the cover. I couldn't figure it out. Also some times chip (transistor?) have the year of manufacture, but in this case I can't figure any sensible year.

I can probably find out a lot more information on these as I also have an issue of a Japanese electronics magazine that has very detailed articles on the early digital watches from all the manufacturers. Again, it’s just a matter of prioritising the time to get around to translating it and sharing.

The date of the one in the photo is 50/3/12. YMD, but the year is as per the Showa calendar, so it’s March 12th 1975 in our vernacular.

The earliest I have is dated December 28th 1974.

Model number for this one I can’t remember - I will check tomorrow.

Re the serial number on the chip, this seems to be a batch number. I have two with 4Y32 on the chip - this one, and another dated to 17th February 1975.

Other chips (not necessarily all in earlier watches - there is an overlap) on watches that I have are numbered between 4025 and 5521, spanning about 6 months of production.

I have more examples incoming - these days I pick up any of the earliest examples (basically those without the Liquid Crystal text) regardless of whether they are running or not. They don’t turn up very often though!

Regards,

Gerald.

Tremendous information here! Thank you.

So it seems yet another anecdote on these is bunked: first modules don't seem to be NEC (I need open my watch backs and take some shots).

Any idea who's made that chip? Is the module Japanese or European?

[gerald]

Here's the brochure.

You'll note on the back cover someone has kindly dated it to November 7th 1975, so this almost certainly won't be the earliest pamphlet for these - it's hard to imagine Casio launched with such an extensive range.

My understanding is that the very earliest to be released were the QW-02-10's (note they don't have the "Liquid Crystal" text).

Front cover -



Inside spread showing all the watches -



Back cover -



*No re-hosting please*

Not shown here is the ladies model. More on that to come...

[gerald]

Apr 3, 2023 11:57:18 GMT -8 trilo said:

Apr 3, 2023 5:33:01 GMT -8 gerald said:

I can probably find out a lot more information on these as I also have an issue of a Japanese electronics magazine that has very detailed articles on the early digital watches from all the manufacturers. Again, it’s just a matter of prioritising the time to get around to translating it and sharing.

The date of the one in the photo is 50/3/12. YMD, but the year is as per the Showa calendar, so it’s March 12th 1975 in our vernacular.

The earliest I have is dated December 28th 1974.

Model number for this one I can’t remember - I will check tomorrow.

Re the serial number on the chip, this seems to be a batch number. I have two with 4Y32 on the chip - this one, and another dated to 17th February 1975.

Other chips (not necessarily all in earlier watches - there is an overlap) on watches that I have are numbered between 4025 and 5521, spanning about 6 months of production.

I have more examples incoming - these days I pick up any of the earliest examples (basically those without the Liquid Crystal text) regardless of whether they are running or not. They don’t turn up very often though!

Regards,

Gerald.

Tremendous information here! Thank you.

So it seems yet another anecdote on these is bunked: first modules don't seem to be NEC (I need open my watch backs and take some shots).

Any idea who's made that chip? Is the module Japanese or European?

Remember that these were born out of Casio's expertise with digital calculators (which dates back to the 1950's). I would very much expect the chips to be in-house. I'll see if there is any insight into this in the brochures and the magazine article I mentioned.

[trilo]

That's what I thought too, but those NEC modules widely used in their *see post below* early "regular" and world time models confuses me.

Maybe NEC modules were strictly for export and the inhouse stuff was for JDM or Casio had to outsource the modules due to demand?

I'll try to post some photos today.

Meanwhile, I found this:

casiotron.info/watches/

The brochure is at its earliest from 1977(?) (Cameo systems, Langley was filed in 1977). It describes the X1 module and displays it in an R-11 type case (so most likely not from the 1981 like suggested in time art).

I have not come across X1 in R-11 case, but the module would fit as it is the same size. Funny thing is, that the button layout in the picture doesn't allow to use all the functions on X1 (X1 has 3 buttons instead of 2) but in the photo one can clearly see that the module is indeed world timer, because is has two rows for cities and days.

[gerald]

Once again - no rehosting of this anywhere please.

Front cover of the May 1976 issue of Electronic Technology.

This issue was devoted to electronic watches, covering the strategies of both Japanese and foreign companies, and detailing more than 300 watch references.




Four page article on the Casio digital watches. As far as I can see from a quick google translate, there is no specific mention of the origin of the integrated circuits used.




Note the ladies reference on the right. This is really rare, and I'm delighted to have a fully functioning example in my collection.




At the end of the magazine are 20 pages of tables detailing electronic watches from many companies.

Here are the Casios -

[trilo]

Wow, my humble thank you for sharing these!

[inboost]

gerald thank you so much for sharing your wealth of knowledge on the Casiotron line! I'm really enjoying learning about them!

[trilo]

Just stumbled across this by coinsidence:

"Calculator manufacturer Casio followed closely behind with its 1974 release, the Casiotron. Somewhat ironically, the Casiotron was based on technology purchased from Swiss electronics firm Brown, Boveri & Cie (BBC)."

Source: www.fratellowatches.com/what-is-an-ana-digi-display-watch/.

This would explain the western look on early modules seen above.

[gerald]

Apr 5, 2023 12:37:52 GMT -8 trilo said:

Just stumbled across this by coinsidence:

"Calculator manufacturer Casio followed closely behind with its 1974 release, the Casiotron. Somewhat ironically, the Casiotron was based on technology purchased from Swiss electronics firm Brown, Boveri & Cie (BBC)."

Source: www.fratellowatches.com/what-is-an-ana-digi-display-watch/.

This would explain the western look on early modules seen above.

In that article they appear to be referencing just the display as using bought-in tech from BBC?

FWIW, the Casiotron was not the first digital watch with a calendar function - that honour falls to the Citizen 9010, which had a date display in the bottom right (you could temporarily change this to a running seconds display by holding in the crown.


www.instagram.com/reel/CoWCIBLpmpc/

There are loads of photos of one of these here - 20centurywatches.com/citizen-first-lcd-ever/ - but note that the author makes an error in stating his watch is from January 1973. This is not correct - it's from December 1973. Citizen, unlike Seiko, use two digits to indicate the month of production, not just one, so you need to read the first three digits to get the production month ("YMM...").

The Casio was however the first digital watch with a full annual calendar (day, date and month, with the day and date correctly accounting for the different length months except for February).*

Regards,


Gerald.

*
/edit - in a leap year.

[inboost]

Oh man, there is always 'another watch' isn't there ? That 9010 is very intriguing gerald. Not to hijack this Casio thread, but maybe you could put up a quick group photo of the three colors so I know which one I'll be chasing next? What are the caseback markings on it?

[dapellegrini]

Here's a caseback shot of the 9010 from the article link above:

[trilo]

I need to correct some misinformation from me.

I could have sworn one the modules on my Casios read "NEC". This is not however the case, as I could not find such text on any of my modules.

Many digital watch sources indicate that early Casios used NEC modules but I have not managed to find any official source for this.

NEC and Casio have made work together, but it doesn't prove that the modules are from NEC.

I have corrected this in posts above.