I've got an old digital display alarm clock in my bedroom. Actually, it's my wife's. When she moved in with me, it went into the bedroom and it's stayed with us through all our moves over the past thirty years.

When I was changing the time on it the other day, I noticed that it's a Timex (yeah, it took me only three decades to pick up on that), a model 5209-5A. When I search the web, all I encounter are people trying to sell me one. I tried finding the history but no luck.

It was made in Japan, which accounts for its longevity. Remember when we thought 'Made in Japan' meant cheap goods?

Can anyone find a Timex model history? Thanks

Definitely prior to November 5, 1994.

Estsy listing

While not authoritative, this Etsy listing does list dates of manufacture of 1970-1979. From the design that sounds right, pretty ubiquitous for that time.

If you want a verifiable source have you considered emailing Timex directly? That result could depend on whether your question lands on desk of someone curious or someone looking to clear their queue, but worth a shot?

You can understand how it took me thirty years to notice that it's a Timex, what with the word 'TIMEX' stamped RIGHT THERE ON THE FREAKIN' FACE YOU LOOK AT TO TELL THE TIME.

Anybody could miss it after looking at it daily for a few decades.

Then again, maybe I noticed it right off and I've forgotten. At my age, anything is possible.

I’m glad I’m not the only one dealing with CRS. It stands for “Can’t Remember …” [scratches head, looks up and to the left, finally shrugs and mutters…] “Something.”

this is a longshot since the clock is so old, but by any chance is there a UL label with some random assortment of numbers/letters near it??

Again, it's so old, probably not, but you could search here to see when the clock got it's UL authorization:

https://productiq.ulprospector.com/en/search

otherwise you would have to remove the cover for more hints, which would risk breaking the thing.

quote:

see when the clock got it's UL authorization:

That's genius, and I didn't know there was a reference tool for UL certifications, but that makes sense. The pics I saw show a UL label. So, 6 minutes for a smarts halfway helpful answer and 2:23 for a really good one!

Para, have you tried taking a good clear photo of it and then doing a reverse Google Image search?

Might give a clue.

Very nice, thank you, kkina.

Any time, Boss.