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Tuesday, September 7.1976
University Dally Kansan
Electronic watch gains popularity
By TERRY BAHNER
Staff Writer
"You are now the owner of a solid state quarts watch one of the most accurate and reliable watches in the world."
What that advertising message and others like it are saying is true, according to most watch retailers in the Lawrence area. And consumers are apparently taking
A survey in Jewelers Circular-Keystone, a trade magazine for jewels, predicts that by 1990 three-fourths of watches will be electronic.
With no main springs, balance wheels and gears, electronic watches are able to operate without moving parts. And, in two out of the three types being marketed in Lawrence, there's no hour hand, minute hand or sweep second hand.
The solid state watch has become a product of mass production, swamping consumers with a variety of styles and prices.
Solid state watches, built on the same principle as the transistor radio, have integrated circuits. Like a radio, the electric current rely on batteries as an energy source.
There are three types of solid state
watches on the market in Lawrence. The light-emitting diode (LED) is the liquid sensor.
Most Lawrence jewelers agree that the LED is by far the most popular of the solid states being sold, although some jewelers think that the LCD is cheaper to own because it generally wears out one battery to the LED's two.
The LCD displays the time constantly in a small panel with digital numbers. And depending on the price of the watch, it can also tell seconds and the date.
The LED, on the other hand, displays the time at the press of a button or by a flick of the wrist, this being the characteristic of the Pulsar, a watch manufactured by Time Computer, Inc. The LED is recognized by its black face with red numerals.
The third type of solid state watch is the analog, which looks like a conventional wristwatch.
The accuracy that solid state watches provide over most conventional timepieces is a contributing factor in the success of the watches, jewelers say.
"They are much more accurate. There are no two ways about it," Horace Masden, owner of Masden's Watch Shop and Bible Supplies, 618 Mass. St., said last week.
Although Lawrence jewelers agree that this type of watch can't be surpassed for accuracy, servicing it has become a problem for them.
He said the watch's average deviation,
notably for the LED, was five seconds a
Richard McQueen of McQueen Jewelers, 809 Mass. St., said that the less expensive watches were being mass produced by small independent electronic companies and the knowledge of the watch industry and the practicalities of watches for consumers.
McQueen, one of the few jewelers who service the watches, is limited in the extent of repair work he can do. He said that the only way he could repair one of the watches was to replace the entire electronic unit of the watch.
If the module has to be sent in, it takes anywhere from a week to a month, depending on the manufacturer, before it's returned.
Joe Mangun, assistant manager of Brinan's Leading Jewelers, 743 Mass. St., said most of the watches were made by one of four was built by a watch company.
One of the problems plaguing consumers
who happen to take advantage of a less expensive watch, he said, is that many of the independent electronic companies have filed for bankruptcy and that, if a problem does occur with the watch, it is impossible to because it is no longer manufactured.
"Ninety per cent of the watches in the stores we can't do anything with," he said.
stores we can't do anything with," he said. He said that Texas instruments, Inc., was manufacturing an electronic watch for $19.95 that was intended to be discarded. Mangrum said the company had moulded a plastic case around a camera, making it look like a knife. Knowing that the "throw away-watch," he said it lasted about six months to a year.
"You couldn't even get inside to change the batteries if you wanted to," he said.
Mangrum said that many discount houses and even a few Jewelers carried the watches because they didn't require as much attention as the conventional watches.
"There aren't too many good watch-makers around anymore. Not too many people are going to work for the type of salary they get," he said.
As one employee at a discount store said,
a bargain is not what it always appears to
me.
Science Fiction
by popular demand:
STUDENT UNION ACTIVITIES
two additional showings of Stanley Kubrick's & Arthur C. Clarke's
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
Tuesday, Sept. 7 3:30 and 9:30
Woodruff Aud. 75°
Theater board members elected
Undergraduate representatives to the School of Fine Art's theater board were
The new representatives are: San Haelh,
Lawrence senior; Theresa Roberts, Independence senior; and Bruce Schetes, Clairmont, Calif., junior.
The theater board comprises drama faculty members, three undergraduate theater majors and three theater graduate students. The graduate student representatives were elected two weeks ago. They are: Cathy Rogers, Lawrence masters
sudent: Eleanor Gilray, Onsenta, N.Y.,
student: Roger and Roger Boade, Bison,
Idaho. PhD in Psychology.
Haeil said Wednesday the theater board was responsible for making policy in the theater division of the School of Fine Arts. Included in the policy decisions, he said, were responsibility for the selection of plays, theater center locations and location of faculty members and establishment of the theater division budget.
The board meets every Tuesday
MEN'S and WOMEN'S SIZES
ALL LEAGUER
- Multi-Cleat All Sports Shoe
Football
$8^{95}
- Soccer
- Baseball
- American-made
- Long wearing vinyl upper
- One piece non-marking upper
813 Mass. St
VL 3-2091
A PRIVATE CLUB 842-2458
944 MASSACHUSETTS LAWRENCE, KANSAS 66044
The Arena is now open. Join us Tuesday, Sept. 7 to see the U.C.L.A./Arizona State game on our big, seven foot video screen. Enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres in the unique surroundings. As a special introductory offer, get your favorite beverages at half price during Mary Hartman Mary Hartman Happy Half Hour.
Memberships are still available, but there is a ten day waiting period, so come in The Arena, 944 Massachusetts.
Free Grandstand Entertainment!
Save on advance gate tickets!
Adults $1.50 Children 75c
(At the gate: Adults $2.00.
Children $1.00)
Reserved
grandstand seats:
$2.00 & $4.00
Sept.
18-26
The Kansas State Fair
Kansas State Farlands
Hutchinson, Kansas 67501
SATURDAY
Sept. 18 / 2 Shows: 5:00 & 7:30
BOBBY
GOLDSBORO
with special guest star
SHARI LEWIS
1:00 / Championship
Super Modified Auto Race
Super Modified Auto Races
2 Shows: 5:00 & 7:30
TANYA TUCKER &
RAY STEVENS
with special guest star
SHARI LEWIS
1:00 / Championship
Super Modified Auto Races
SUNDAY Sept. 19 /
2 Shows: 5:00 & 7:30
MONDAY
september 20 & 2 Shows: 2:00 & 7:30
MONDAY
TUESDAY
Sept. 20 / 2 Shows: 2:00 & 7:30
TONI INGRAHAM &
The Blackwood Brothers
with special guest star
SHARII LEWIS
Sept. 21 / 2 Shows: 2:00 & 7:30 ARMED FORCES ENTERTAINMENT TROUPES
WEDNESDAY
Sept. 22 / 1:00 & 7:30
STATE FAIR
TRACTOR PULL
THURSDAY
THURSDAY
Sept. 23 / 2 Shows: 5:00 & 7:30
ROY CLARK
with BUCK TRENT & HANK THOMPSON and his Brazos Valley Boys 1:00 / Championship Rodeo
FRIDAY
FRIDAY
Sept. 24 / 2 Shows: 5:00 & 7:30
ANITA BRYANT &
WOODY HERMAN
1:00 / Championship Rodeo
SATURDAY
SATURDAY
Sept. 25 / 2 Shows: 5:00 & 7:30
FREDDY FENDER &
Up With People
1:00 / Semi-Late
Stock Car Races
SUNDAY
SUNDAY
Sept. 26 / 2 Shows: 5:00 & 7:30
RICHARD &
PATTI ROBERTS
plus
The World Action Singers
1:00 / Semi-Late
Stock Car Races