The creation of watches based on the use of modern developments in the field of electronics can be called one of the main achievements of Soviet industry. Some models exceeded foreign analogues.
Soviet electronic watches were very popular among the country's population. Models of this type can be divided into three groups: wall, manual and desktop. All of them had different characteristics.
Wall Clock
Similar time meters were very popular before. Soviet wall-mounted electronic clocks were developed and put into production at the Reflector factory, which is located in the city of Saratov. To this day, they are used in various administrative and industrial premises. Often they can be seen on the street, on the facades of buildings.
The most common among them can be called "Electronics 7". They have a housing with fluorescent indicators. So-called segmented lamps form numbers. There were also watches with LED indicators. Several varieties of the Electronics 7 model were produced:
- "06M";
- "06K";
- โ34โ;
- "35".
Modifications differed from each other in the following characteristics:
- the height of the numbers (the most common sizes are 78 and 140 millimeters);
- the number of digits (the hours, minutes and seconds could be displayed on the scoreboard);
- the color of segment lamps (there were varieties of red and bright green shades);
- the presence or absence of the ability to determine the temperature.
Currently, the successor of the plant continues to produce such products, but under a different trademark.
Wrist Watch
This is the most popular type of chronometer. Wrist Soviet electronic watches were produced at two enterprises:
- At the Pulsar plant located in Moscow. Here they were produced with an LED indicator.
- In the scientific and production association "Integral" (at the Minsk factory "Electronics" and at the production "Tuning fork" in the Belorussian SSR). This watch was produced with liquid crystal indicators.
Both options were developed almost at the same time, but initially the issue was entrusted to the Belarusian plant.
The most popular were the watches of the Electronics 1 brand. They first appeared in 1974 and were made in the high-tech style of the seventies. They were distinguished by a massive chrome body and a solid appearance. By pressing a button, it was possible to turn on the backlighting of numbers. A characteristic feature of this watch is the presence of a red filter.
Power was supplied from two elements (SC-O, 18), ensuring uninterrupted operation for nine months. Models differed in appearance, but the main characteristics remained unchanged.
There were several modifications of the "Electronics 5" watch:
- "202";
- โ203โ;
- โ204โ;
- โ206โ;
- "208".
For individual instances, a manual adjustment of the clock was implemented. Foreign counterparts did not have such an opportunity. Since the beginning of the nineties, the number of manufactured products has fallen significantly, but quality has remained at the highest level.
Desk clock
Previously, time-measuring devices of this type were quite popular. Desktop Soviet electronic clocks were produced at the Reflector factory.
The most common models include:
- "Electronics 8" - this modification was distinguished by its exact progress;
- "12-41A (B)" - had a solid body;
- "B6-403" - recognized as a bright representative of the correct ratio of price and quality;
- โ16โ - worked on liquid crystals;
- "G9.04" - was equipped with vacuum fluorescent indicators;
- "B1-22" - was intended for use in the car;
- โ2-14โ - characterized by the presence of a musical signal;
- โ7-21โ and โ6.15Mโ are almost the same models equipped with an alarm function.
In Soviet times, a large number of chronometers of this type were produced.
High quality
The main disadvantage of such a watch was the problem with the drying of the capacitor, as a result of which there were failures in the power supply of the network. But the malfunction began to appear only after twenty years. At present, such an indicator can be considered a virtue.
Another watch problem was the destruction of quartz. One happy owner of several hundred faced a similar problem.
Many of the above models were marked with a quality mark, so it becomes clear nostalgia for solid, reliable and in its own way beautiful Soviet-made products.