u/Greedy-Print-1550

I originally started buying vintage ladies’ Casios because I wanted to find a watch for my daughter.
But before I knew it, they had become a whole new category in my collection .
I finally finished organizing them all.
I guess I really do love the designs from back then.
Hope you’re all having a great Sunday!

Sorry for posting again so soon. I finished everything I wanted to get done on my Casio room today, and now I’ve kind of lost momentum.

This is a little collection of Casio items that were never sold to the public.

The book at the bottom right, “15 Years of Casio,” was compiled for internal company use in 1972, and I have a feeling it might actually be pretty important.

It was published before Casio entered the wristwatch business, so maybe it won’t be that interesting to all the watch lovers here.
And please don’t tell me, “If you’ve got time to post this, just read the damn book.”

Honestly, I don’t know about the old-established watchmakers, but I do know that Casio makes some seriously cool analog watches too.
I’m meeting clients today, so maybe I’ll go for an elegant look!
I’ll start working out when I’m in my 50s 🏋️

Overview
Model: AQ-701
Module: 306
Production Year: 1988
Factory: JAPAN MN
Material: Stainless Steel Back

Functions
Time Display (Digital & Analog)
Date / Day Display
Alarm
Dual Time

Even if I get drunk, I’ve gotta be able to tell the time, so this is the one for tonight!

Overview
Model: B630
Module: 632
Production Year: Early 1980s
Factory: JAPAN MT
Functions
Time Display
Date Display
Only

One of those calculators that is so typically Casio.
The year was 1978. Back then, the smoking rate among adult men in Japan was around 78%, unbelievably high by today’s standards.

This calculator truly symbolizes that era.
A calculator with a lighter, wrapped in this elegant design.

Needless to say, it was the world’s first.

When I was a kid, from the 1980s to around the early 1990s, people smoked absolutely everywhere.
On trains, at their desks… Basically, everything indoors was yellowed from cigarette smoke.

Well, it was basically an era when, as long as you were awake and breathing, it felt like you were breathing air through a cigarette filter!

Overview
Model: QL-10
Year of Release: 1978
Made in: Japan

Functions
• Date, time, and day-of-the-week display
• Calculator (8 digits)
• Lighter (refillable gas type)
• Alarm
• Timer
• Dual time
Mine has an LCD problem, so the last two digits are no longer visible.

This animation appeared on the LCD right after I installed the battery and did an AC reset. Does it only appear when the watch first powers up? Once I set the time, is there no way to see it again until the next AC reset?

The NATO strap finally arrived for the $2 watch I posted about a while back!
And while this is probably common knowledge among TAG Heuer fans, I looked into this watch and found out it’s actually a pretty fascinating piece.

It turns out it’s an early model from the Formula 1 series, which was introduced shortly after Heuer was acquired by TAG. The Formula 1 became one of the key collections that helped rebuild the brand.

I also ended up liking the crown even more. The reason is the logo—it doesn’t say “TAG”; it only has the original HEUER shield.

Thinking that it might have been fitted with a leftover Heuer-era crown during the transition period makes it even more interesting. Learning the history behind a watch always makes me appreciate it even more.

Lastly, I wanted to share my favorite antique shop where I found this TAG Heuer.
The watch was buried right where the red circle is.

I may have finally found the earliest Twincept.
This might be well known among collectors, but honestly, I had no idea this model even existed.

The reason is simple: it doesn’t appear on Casio’s official website, nor is it listed in the Casio repair price guide that was distributed to authorized dealers.

I’d always assumed the ABX-51 was the first Twincept.

Then, just a few days ago, I came across an ABX-50 at auction. Surprisingly, I was able to win it without much competition.

Based on the model number, I think the ABX-50 came before the ABX-51.

Maybe it was a pre-production or limited release model before the full market launch. Or perhaps it was released overseas first.

It’s genuinely a mystery.
If anyone knows the story behind the ABX-50 or has any catalogs, advertisements, manuals, or other information about it, I’d love to see them. Please share if you can!

The watch arrived yesterday, and today I installed a battery. To my surprise, it fired right up.
Then I discovered something even cooler.

It has both Light Mode and Dark Mode.
I noticed an arrow on the bezel labeled “DARK,” so I rotated it—and the display switched to a dark mode.
That is just unbelievably cool.

So why doesn’t the ABX-52 have this feature? Why did Casio remove it?

Specifications
Model: ABX-50
Module: 786 (same as the ABX-51 and ABX-52)
Year: Around 1994
Material: Resin
Features
Twincept
Light Mode / Dark Mode
TELEMEMO
FAX MEMO

I found this CASIO headphone at an antique shop I’ve been visiting about once a week. It seems to be from the 1980s.
The retro design has come full circle and somehow feels stylish now, so I picked it up for just about 1.5＄
I honestly wasn’t expecting it to work—I thought it would just look cool hanging on the wall.
But… it actually works!
And the cable is about 3 meters (10 feet) long.
I guess people used to sit much farther away from their audio equipment back then.
It’s little details like this that really make you realize how much technology—and our habits—have changed over the years.

I thought I’d share another Pop Tone today.

My wrist is about 18–19 cm (7.1–7.5 inches) around, and it just barely fits me.

The dial uses matching colors for each section and its text, giving it a unified look, but honestly, it’s not the easiest watch to read.

Well, they say fashion requires a little sacrifice, and since this was probably aimed at younger people, I guess that’s not really a problem.

By the way, this watch was made in 2008, the same year I earned my national qualification.
That was also the year of the Lehman Shock.

The Pop Tone series really is stylish.

Specifications
Model: LDF-30
Module: 3125
Made in: China
Materials: Resin / Stainless Steel Back

Functions
Time, date, and day display
Stopwatch
Dual time
Light
50 m water resistance

When people think of CASIO’s POPTONE series, they usually picture watches for teenage girls. But this model has a unisex design that looks perfectly natural on adult men too.

I originally bought a few POPTONE watches for my daughter, but after exploring the lineup, I found one that I felt comfortable wearing myself.

Somehow, this relaxed, easygoing design reminds me of my own personality… don’t argue with me.

I’ve always liked timeless designs, and I think this is one that won’t be affected by trends. It feels like a watch people will still appreciate for many years to come.

Specifications
Model: LDF-10
Module: 3036
Year: 2007
Country of Manufacture: China
Materials: Resin / Stainless Steel Back

Functions
• Time, Date & Day Display
• Timer
• Alarm (with Vibration)
• Stopwatch
• Light

Yesterday I posted about this one after discovering severe battery leakage and a broken positive battery terminal.
Today, after about three hours of work, it’s finally back to life.
I cut a new positive terminal from a phosphor bronze sheet, soldered it in place, and kept filing and adjusting it until everything fit just right.
At one point, the new terminal was too tall, causing the PCB to sit too high. That prevented proper contact with the zebra strip, leaving parts of the display missing. Then I realized I could simply file the terminal down, and everything started coming together.
There were three moments that made the whole repair worthwhile:
① When the PCB finally passed the continuity test after all the cleaning.
② When the new battery terminal fit perfectly and the LCD came to life.
③ When the display came back with no missing segments.
Thanks for the adventure, 88CS-63.

Specifications
Model: Casiotron 88CS-63
Module: 88
Year: 1979
Made in: JAPAN B
Material: Stainless Steel
Functions
Time / Date / Day display
Stopwatch
Lap time
Light

Sorry for the back-to-back posts.
The two Casiotrons I received today (88CS-63 and 53CS-20) were a nightmare from the start. I struggled just to open the case backs, and I already had a bad feeling about them. Sure enough, both had battery leakage. Then, as soon as I removed the battery, the positive terminal snapped clean off.
At that point, my heart snapped too. I’m calling it a day and going to bed.
I’ve learned my lesson: if the area around the case back is dirty or rusty, it’s probably best to pass. The chances of bringing one back to life are pretty low.
It’s especially disappointing because the 88 has such a cool-looking dial.

Today, the two quirky watches I’d been looking forward to finally arrived. Both were non-working, and I bought the pair for about $40.

The first one is the H110.
This is one of the earliest legendary Marlin models. On the case back (Photo 2), someone had hand-engraved what appears to be a birth date—“May 30, Showa 61 (1986)”—along with the name “Kawaguchi.”

The other one is the W-24.
Made in Hollywood? A G-SHOCK? A Marlin? A coelacanth?
It even boasts 200-meter water resistance, beating the H110’s 100 meters on paper.
It looks like a handmade watch built by some mysterious G-SHOCK fan.
And it gets even weirder.
Although it has a case back, it’s actually integrated into the case, so you have to remove the crystal to access the module.
To make things even more interesting, the battery is marked “Watch Cell” in Japanese katakana (Photo 3).
I can’t help but wonder about the history behind this watch.
In the end, the H110 came back to life with nothing more than a battery replacement.
As for the W-24, after removing most of the battery leakage from the circuit, it seems to be getting power. The LCD still doesn’t display anything, but surprisingly, the light works!

Specifications

H110
● Module: 106
● Year: 1980
● Factory: JAPAN R
● Case: Resin / Stainless Steel Back
Functions
● 100-meter water resistance
● Time / Date / Day display
● Light
● Stopwatch
● Timer
● Alarm

W-24
● Module: Unknown
● Year: Unknown
● Factory: Unknown
● Case: Resin
Functions
● 200-meter water resistance
● Time / Date display
● Light

Today I went to a small antique shop in Japan to look for a Kashio Seisakujo ring pipe, one of the products from before CASIO was founded.
The shop didn’t even have air conditioning, and it was absolutely packed with antiques. Nothing was really organized, so you just had to dig through everything yourself.
I spent about two hours searching in the heat, but I couldn’t find the ring pipe.
Then the owner brought me a slice of watermelon.
I felt bad about leaving without buying anything, so I picked up this TAG Heuer for about $2 simply because it was a brand I recognized.
When I got back to my office, I put in a new battery…
It started running.
Considering how rough it looked on the outside, I was convinced it was dead.

I was so happy that I just had to share it.

I’ve recently started to appreciate resin watches. I bought this one because I loved the design, even though it was a filthy, non-working watch. The problem is, I don’t really know much about how to properly clean resin.

The only thing I know is to gently wipe resin parts with purified (distilled) water.

How do you all clean this kind of resin?
If possible, I’d love to learn the best way to clean and preserve it for the long term without damaging the material.

If you have any recommendations for cleaning products, things to avoid, or general tips, I’d really appreciate hearing them.

Specifications
Model: W-18
Module: 596
Year: 1986
Factory: JAPAN M
Materials: Resin / Stainless Steel Back

Ever since I discovered the AT-550, I’ve been completely captivated by the foresight and individuality found in CASIO products.

Honestly, I know almost nothing about the watch industry, and I don’t really know how CASIO is regarded within the wider watch community.

But to me, CASIO feels like a slightly unusual presence—something fundamentally different from the other watchmakers.
I think the reason lies in its roots as a calculator manufacturer, something that is reflected in the company’s very name.

So, for me, beginning to explore calculators—the source from which CASIO emerged—felt like a completely natural progression.
And as it turns out, they are every bit as fascinating as the watches.

Now, I’ve finally managed to acquire what is probably the oldest CASIO product that I could realistically trace my collection back to!

To be honest, I don’t really understand the technical side of it all, haha.

But there are three main “MOE” points that make this machine irresistible to me.
① The indescribably warm orange glow emitted by its 14-digit Nixie-tube display.
② According to CASIO, it was the world’s first electronic desktop calculator with a software-based programming function.
Rather than requiring components or wiring to be rearranged, it could memorize a sequence of key operations and then execute them automatically—an extremely innovative idea at the time.
③ Next year, this machine will turn 60 years old.
Another groundbreaking aspect of the AL-1000 was that CASIO managed to incorporate this programming capability into a machine that was roughly the same size as an ordinary desktop calculator.
Compared with today’s technology, its specifications may seem no more significant than a grain of sand.
But there is no doubt in my mind that this is a landmark machine deeply engraved in CASIO’s history.

Model: AL-1000
Year of manufacture: 1967
Country of manufacture: Japan
Functions
・14-digit Nixie-tube display
・Programming function with up to 30 steps
A software-based program that memorizes a sequence of key operations and executes it automatically
・Four memory registers
Allows multiple numerical values to be stored independently
・Non-volatile magnetic-core memory
A physical memory system using magnetic cores, capable of retaining stored data and programs even after the power is switched off
・Square-root calculation function

My daughter and I took a short trip together!
Her wrist is still too small for a regular wristwatch, so I decided to let her make her CASIO debut with a pendant watch instead.
I hope this little CASIO becomes one of those things she’ll remember years from now.

Specs
Model: LP-300
Module: 210
Year: Around 1980
Made in: Japan (Factory S)
Functions
Time
Date

The watch with the stubborn case back that I posted about before is finally open!
*The watch that finally opened is the one sitting on the bench-style case back opener.

https://www.reddit.com/r/casio/s/6QYJ9E7Gid

A lot of people gave me advice, so I decided to try as many methods as I could. I ended up buying several different tools, tested them one by one, and finally succeeded.
Huge thanks to everyone who gave me advice, everyone who commented, everyone who read the post, and the moderators of r/Casio.

Here’s what I learned. This isn’t meant to judge which product is “best.” The biggest problem was probably my lack of muscle.

① Rubber Ball
I probably just haven’t mastered the technique yet.
The biggest advantage is that it’s very unlikely to scratch the case or the case back.
I’d definitely recommend trying this first.

② Case Holder (the stand under the blue ball in the photo)
I actually liked this one a lot.
It’s heavy enough to keep everything stable but still light enough to move around by hand.
It made opening stubborn case backs noticeably easier.

③ Three-point Case Back Opener
This worked well too.
It didn’t open the watch that started this whole adventure, but it did open another watch with a stuck case back.
I think my failure was mostly due to my lack of experience. I still struggle a bit to line the pins up perfectly with the grooves.
Once you get it set correctly, it’s a great tool and doesn’t take up much space.

④ Bench-style Handle Opener
This thing might be on another level.
It’s extremely easy to use, and getting the pins seated into the grooves is much easier than I expected.
After the three-point opener failed, I honestly thought I was out of options.
Then this opened the watch without much drama.
If you have the workspace for one—and you’re the kind of collector who keeps buying watches with ridiculously seized case backs like I do—I think it’s absolutely worth owning.

One more thing: I also tried heating and cooling the case to take advantage of the metal expanding and contracting, but unfortunately that didn’t work this time either.

Again, this isn’t a ranking of the products.
The biggest lesson I learned: muscles solve everything.

Thanks again to everyone who helped me. I learned a lot from this community.