This is a watch I have not seen here before but is interesting when seeing how technologies were added to watches over time.
Introduced July 1990 in Portland the Seiko Receptor MessageWatch combined a traditional digital watch with pager functions.
The paging ability allowed people to call an automated service and send specific messages to your watch. This paging capability relied on a FM sub-carrier signal and it was limited to certain geographic areas.
Initially the watch was just released in Portland OR and Seattle WA and due to the use of the FM signals only a relatively small reception area was available. Maps of the supported reception areas were provided with the watch.
To receive the signal an antenna is embedded into the wrist band. A thin metal strip is inside the strap and when connected with the metal clasp this makes a loop antenna.
The strap connects to the watch body by use of a leaf spring mechanism. This connection mechanism was awarded US Patent US5168281 and the inventor credited on the patent is no other than Ikuo Tokunaga who is famous for many Seiko innovations.
In addition to messages from friends and family it was also possible to subscribe to services that provided information like weather, sports scores, stock info, snow reports and lottery numbers.
While the service started in Portland and then Seattle it was expanded to include at least the Los Angeles are as well. I do not know what other areas were eventually included or when the service was discontinued. It is possible that this service ran for a few years as pagers were in use in the US for a long time even when the rest of the world had already moved onto SMS messaging.
As the service is no longer available the watch shows just dashes when the message button is depressed as no message has or will be received.
My watch came with the original packaging, manual and paperwork.
Also included was a copy of the original subscription agreement. This agreement shows the ten models of the watch that was available. My watch is a MA50 with a black and titanium case.
Seiko Receptor – Subscription Agreement (4MB)
The subscription fees are also detailed in the agreement. People would pay a monthly fee of $12.50 for a single city or $22.50 it you wanted subscription in both Portland and Seattle. If you wanted the various information services these were provided free to subscribers.
The watch came with a reference card to remind users how to retrieve and send messages and change their password.
Also included is a sheet of tear off cards that could be given to people to give them instructions how to send you a message.
The original manual was also provided with the watch and it provides activation information as well as operational and troubleshooting information.
Seiko Receptor – MA-51 User Guide (6MB)
Other than the paging functionality the only other complication that the watch has is a dual time display to allow you to set the time in another city for when you are traveling.
The watch it is quite simple and it will not really win any awards for looks, but the use of the bracelet as an antenna and the unusual paging functionality of the watch, along with the original paperwork make it a nice addition to my collection.
Introduced July 1990 in Portland the Seiko Receptor MessageWatch combined a traditional digital watch with pager functions.
The paging ability allowed people to call an automated service and send specific messages to your watch. This paging capability relied on a FM sub-carrier signal and it was limited to certain geographic areas.
Initially the watch was just released in Portland OR and Seattle WA and due to the use of the FM signals only a relatively small reception area was available. Maps of the supported reception areas were provided with the watch.
To receive the signal an antenna is embedded into the wrist band. A thin metal strip is inside the strap and when connected with the metal clasp this makes a loop antenna.
The strap connects to the watch body by use of a leaf spring mechanism. This connection mechanism was awarded US Patent US5168281 and the inventor credited on the patent is no other than Ikuo Tokunaga who is famous for many Seiko innovations.
In addition to messages from friends and family it was also possible to subscribe to services that provided information like weather, sports scores, stock info, snow reports and lottery numbers.
While the service started in Portland and then Seattle it was expanded to include at least the Los Angeles are as well. I do not know what other areas were eventually included or when the service was discontinued. It is possible that this service ran for a few years as pagers were in use in the US for a long time even when the rest of the world had already moved onto SMS messaging.
As the service is no longer available the watch shows just dashes when the message button is depressed as no message has or will be received.
My watch came with the original packaging, manual and paperwork.
Also included was a copy of the original subscription agreement. This agreement shows the ten models of the watch that was available. My watch is a MA50 with a black and titanium case.
Seiko Receptor – Subscription Agreement (4MB)
The subscription fees are also detailed in the agreement. People would pay a monthly fee of $12.50 for a single city or $22.50 it you wanted subscription in both Portland and Seattle. If you wanted the various information services these were provided free to subscribers.
The watch came with a reference card to remind users how to retrieve and send messages and change their password.
Also included is a sheet of tear off cards that could be given to people to give them instructions how to send you a message.
The original manual was also provided with the watch and it provides activation information as well as operational and troubleshooting information.
Seiko Receptor – MA-51 User Guide (6MB)
Other than the paging functionality the only other complication that the watch has is a dual time display to allow you to set the time in another city for when you are traveling.
The watch it is quite simple and it will not really win any awards for looks, but the use of the bracelet as an antenna and the unusual paging functionality of the watch, along with the original paperwork make it a nice addition to my collection.