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The Story of a Passion: From Texas Instruments to the Watch Museum 

In a few words, we tell the story of how one of the greatest passions was born: the passion for technology related to Texas Instruments (TI). A passion that came to life in a unique context, a corner of the world where history and innovation intertwined. The birth of this passion took place in my parents' home, "Teresa and Giorgio," during the '70s and '80s, located near the Texas Instruments facility, a place that represented the beating heart of a true technological revolution.

During those years, the proximity to the factory allowed me to accumulate a large amount of material: production scraps, direct purchases from the factory store, gifts from friends and relatives of my parents, and much more. This is how the journey began a journey that slowly saw the growth of an extraordinary collection, the result of an overwhelming passion. Over the following years, the acquisitions became increasingly numerous and uncontrollable, coming from all corners of the world. The search for rare and significant pieces fueled a passion that extended far beyond mere curiosity.

This journey would not have been possible without the help of many people, who shared their love for the history of technology, offering objects and materials from all over the globe. My deepest thanks go to them, as they made it possible to expand a project that eventually took the form of a true Watch Museum dedicated to Texas Instruments.

But how did this passion start? It all began with the fascination for Texas Instruments' iconic products: the famous Datamath calculator, the TI99/4A computer, and the unmistakable TI-500 watch. Each object told a story of innovation and technology that marked an era. These products, along with many others, contributed to writing the history of Texas Instruments and, by extension, that of an entire generation.

From this passion for technology, what is now considered the largest watch museum dedicated to Texas Instruments was born. A place that not only houses historical objects but also a piece of living history, capable of telling how innovation changed our way of life. Each object, each displayed piece, is not just a memory, but a witness to a time when Texas Instruments was at the center of an extraordinary age of innovation.

The passion for these objects is much more than just a collection. It is the result of a love for technology, history, and the evolution of a brand that changed the course of history. Today, the museum stands as a point of reference for enthusiasts and scholars alike, a place where past and future meet, where every object tells a story that continues to live through time.

A journey that began with a simple passion has given life to an extraordinary work, a museum that continues to grow and enrich itself with new pieces every day. A tribute to a brand that has left an indelible mark on the history of technology.

From this was born the largest watch museum......

My little anecdote !!

When I was growing up in the 1970s, the first most memorable watch I ever owned was a digital watch made by Texas Instruments (TI) ... and when I got it for Christmas, I was living in the FUTURE !!! TI-500 LED Watch (Slim Dial) The watch was part of TI's TI-500 line of LED digital watches. The heart of the watches in this watch line was the same for everyone, but the style of the case was different. Although the LED watches of the era were quite futuristic as it is, the version I got is what I think can be considered the most futuristic looking watch in the TI-500 line. It had a narrow dark red lens that sat squarely in the middle of a "stacked trapezoidal" case. The narrow lens resembled the visor of a space robot.There were some special versions of this watch that had images printed, such as racing cars, at the bottom of the dial. Under the battery cover, two LR44 watch batteries are inserted which will give you around 30-40 days as long as you don't keep pressing its shiny buttons all day. 

A watch like this didn't show the time all the time. He would drain the battery in days, if not hours. LED displays weren't very efficient back then. To view the time, press a silver colored button that protrudes at the top right of the watch body. Pressing it once displays the time for about one second, then switches off. You can hold the button so that it is displayed longer and after a few seconds it will switch to the display of the actual seconds that are increasing. Press the button twice and it will show you the day in MM / DD format. It does not keep track of the current year. 

The only other watch button is recessed into the watch body at the bottom right. Use a pen or pencil to press it and you can set the time and date through a series of button presses. You can also "synchronize" the number of seconds, as I did every morning when I came to school and synchronized it with the school bell clock. I knew until the SECOND when the bell would ring at the end of the lesson!
That said, this style watch was the first in my life when it came to digital watches. Yet it was the only LED watch I would ever own for a long time. LCD based watches soon entered the scene in the late 1970s and I never thought I'd spend the rest of my life buying "cool" Texas Instruments digital watches !!