They went on the moon...
July 1969. I was 11. I remember those years before at the time where comments on the TV and radio explained the "Lunokhod", "Luna", or "Apollo" missions and the incredible race conducted by USA and USSR to be the First on the moon. The journalists explained the technical problems sometime with the helps of models that looked like interresting toys for me.
Undoubtly at that time anyone was convinced that nothing could really stop the man knowledge extend. Nowadays anyone believes more or less conscientiously that Man is responsible of Nature destruction and that Science is source of our world decline. Some even revise the history, denying the reality of some past century major events. I may comment more this collectif feeling in a next post...
During my search fo my modest vintage computers and calculators collection, I was first interrested by the inboard guidance computer of NASA Apollo mission. It is easy to find so many details about this machine, that was object of many attention during the missions.
Starting from there, I kept in mind this "moon missions". I found 3 types of personnel objects "that went on the moon" that are still available either as new or a "new old stock". The first one is the most famous : the fantastic Omega watch Speedmaster. Its history can be found from many amateur sites (I appreciated for instance the Chuck Maddox web pages). I bought a new one on Friday from a local retailer, that was a bit surprized of my awareness.
The Omega watch Speedmaster Professional taken on a background picture of the command module Apollo 15 orbiting the moon (NASA picture as15-88-11972HR.jpg : Apollo 15 SIM Bay viewed from the LM during Rev 49, after rendezvous, http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a15/a15.html )
On the moon (using the most famous picture of Buzz Aldrin taken by Neil Amstrong during the initial moon walk of Apollo 11, picture as11-40-5903HR.jpg from NASA web pages http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a11/a11.html)
Orbiting the Earth (using a background picture taken during the Apollo 17 mission ("The Last Men on the Moon"), http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a17/a17.html)
Back from space to Earth...The "Hesalite" plexiglass is a typical feature of these watches.
The "sea monster" symbol of the Omega Speedmaster series and the "dream formula" adopted by Omega after Apollo 11 for their regular production of this type of watch. Many special series and aniversary models were sold as well.
The last model of bracelet Omega reference 849. During the space mission a military velcro strap was used.
If you get interested in Speedmaster watches, you will find the so-called "reduced" version introduced in 1998. Its case is a 38 mm diameter instead of 40. The caliber is an automatic mechanical movement 47 jewels Omega 3220 (ETA 2890A2) with a chrono Dubois-Depraz module, instead of the manually-wound Omega 1861 (Lemania 1873) with 18 jewels. The bracelet is 18 mm wide instead of 20. The aesthetic is quite related but technically it's a different watch. The machined parts, steels, caliber are of the same top class quality. The vendors seems to explained rarely the fine differences and do not always have both watches to let you compare. The "reduced" version is called Speedmaster Automatic.
"Reduced" Speedmaster Automatic (ref. Omega 3510.50.00) on the left vs the regular Speedmaster Professional (here the ref. Omega 3570.50.00 ) model on the right.
The regular Speedmaster Professional (ref. Omega 3570.50.00 ) model on the left vs the "reduced" Speedmaster Automatic (ref. Omega 3510.50.00). The casebacks are screwed (Speedmaster Pro) or clipsed (Automatic). The deployant of the Automatic is inspired from a former model of the Speedmaster Professional. The automatic movement - though very reliable - is likely not as rugged as the amazing Lemania 1873 due to its necessarily more complex technology.
The other two objects I could find out was a Fisher Space pen (from any regular vendor) with their pressurized ink cartridge and a Pickett (Santa Barbara, Calif.) 600 ES pocket slide rule from a new old stock on eBay (a seller in Newport, Oreg.).
Who remembers these amazing slide rules that disapeared in the 70's with the electronic handheld calculators? This one is a pocket size with 13 rules of the "log-log" principle which is quite rare for a pocket slide rule. Its yellow color was claimed to be the best for eyes. It came in its origininal new box a wonderfull leather poutch and all the garantee certificates and user manual, never opened...
From a old stock: a forgotten brand of slide rules that went on the moon...
Most of the pictures display in this post and the following one can be found at 800x600 resolution at this link.
July 1969. I was 11. I remember those years before at the time where comments on the TV and radio explained the "Lunokhod", "Luna", or "Apollo" missions and the incredible race conducted by USA and USSR to be the First on the moon. The journalists explained the technical problems sometime with the helps of models that looked like interresting toys for me.
Undoubtly at that time anyone was convinced that nothing could really stop the man knowledge extend. Nowadays anyone believes more or less conscientiously that Man is responsible of Nature destruction and that Science is source of our world decline. Some even revise the history, denying the reality of some past century major events. I may comment more this collectif feeling in a next post...
During my search fo my modest vintage computers and calculators collection, I was first interrested by the inboard guidance computer of NASA Apollo mission. It is easy to find so many details about this machine, that was object of many attention during the missions.
The guidance computer is indicated in blue. (The best technical info are given directly by NASA Lunar Surface Journals : http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a11/a11.html)
Starting from there, I kept in mind this "moon missions". I found 3 types of personnel objects "that went on the moon" that are still available either as new or a "new old stock". The first one is the most famous : the fantastic Omega watch Speedmaster. Its history can be found from many amateur sites (I appreciated for instance the Chuck Maddox web pages). I bought a new one on Friday from a local retailer, that was a bit surprized of my awareness.
The Omega watch Speedmaster Professional taken on a background picture of the command module Apollo 15 orbiting the moon (NASA picture as15-88-11972HR.jpg : Apollo 15 SIM Bay viewed from the LM during Rev 49, after rendezvous, http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a15/a15.html )
On the moon (using the most famous picture of Buzz Aldrin taken by Neil Amstrong during the initial moon walk of Apollo 11, picture as11-40-5903HR.jpg from NASA web pages http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a11/a11.html)
Orbiting the Earth (using a background picture taken during the Apollo 17 mission ("The Last Men on the Moon"), http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a17/a17.html)
Back from space to Earth...The "Hesalite" plexiglass is a typical feature of these watches.
The "sea monster" symbol of the Omega Speedmaster series and the "dream formula" adopted by Omega after Apollo 11 for their regular production of this type of watch. Many special series and aniversary models were sold as well.
The last model of bracelet Omega reference 849. During the space mission a military velcro strap was used.
If you get interested in Speedmaster watches, you will find the so-called "reduced" version introduced in 1998. Its case is a 38 mm diameter instead of 40. The caliber is an automatic mechanical movement 47 jewels Omega 3220 (ETA 2890A2) with a chrono Dubois-Depraz module, instead of the manually-wound Omega 1861 (Lemania 1873) with 18 jewels. The bracelet is 18 mm wide instead of 20. The aesthetic is quite related but technically it's a different watch. The machined parts, steels, caliber are of the same top class quality. The vendors seems to explained rarely the fine differences and do not always have both watches to let you compare. The "reduced" version is called Speedmaster Automatic.
"Reduced" Speedmaster Automatic (ref. Omega 3510.50.00) on the left vs the regular Speedmaster Professional (here the ref. Omega 3570.50.00 ) model on the right.
The regular Speedmaster Professional (ref. Omega 3570.50.00 ) model on the left vs the "reduced" Speedmaster Automatic (ref. Omega 3510.50.00). The casebacks are screwed (Speedmaster Pro) or clipsed (Automatic). The deployant of the Automatic is inspired from a former model of the Speedmaster Professional. The automatic movement - though very reliable - is likely not as rugged as the amazing Lemania 1873 due to its necessarily more complex technology.
The other two objects I could find out was a Fisher Space pen (from any regular vendor) with their pressurized ink cartridge and a Pickett (Santa Barbara, Calif.) 600 ES pocket slide rule from a new old stock on eBay (a seller in Newport, Oreg.).
They went on the moon...Well, at least their ancestors or similar one...
Who remembers these amazing slide rules that disapeared in the 70's with the electronic handheld calculators? This one is a pocket size with 13 rules of the "log-log" principle which is quite rare for a pocket slide rule. Its yellow color was claimed to be the best for eyes. It came in its origininal new box a wonderfull leather poutch and all the garantee certificates and user manual, never opened...
From a old stock: a forgotten brand of slide rules that went on the moon...
Most of the pictures display in this post and the following one can be found at 800x600 resolution at this link.
