The Grandfather of All Flip Clocks - The Plato Clock

[Mackey]

I have had the opportunity to get my hands on what is considered the first true Flip Clock. Made sometime around 1904-1906, the Plato Clock was considered a novelty. Later clocks called Cyclometers (the big wheeled clocks like the "Speed Read" came about, followed by the split flap digital clock we now all call flip clocks.

My Review

UPDATE (2019): I've completed a fairly comprehensive article about The Plato Clocks

[Matthew]

That is one amazing clock - the most interesting thing for me being that it is mechanical. Thanks a lot for sharing. I saw a similar one on eBay and also an interesting "drum" clock somewhere else, made in Japan, I think. Should have saved a picture, now I can't seem to find it.

[Mackey]

I think it's pretty cool too. People have been going crazy for them on eBay. I'm either going to have to sell this back or start selling more clocks to pay for it (I bought it on PayPal credit). My wife found out ... she's cool with it but I definitely got to do one of the above.

[Matthew]

But it's such an uncommon and interesting object today, I think you should keep it.

By the way, I've found a similar clock to the one I have seen somewhere on the internets. It's not a flip clock, but it caught my attention (and it's mechanical):

http://www.objectplastic.com/2013/04/elgin-rotating-tube-wind-up-alarm-clock.html

Would be interesting to have this sitting on my desk.

[Mackey]

You know .... I think I am going to keep that clock.
That Thing or clock you mentioned ... is strange ... but cool. I'm uploading of pic of it here.

[whitaker717]

Hey Mackey if you get your hands on an older one of these you going to do a restoration video?

[Mackey]

Hey Mackey if you get your hands on an older one of these you going to do a restoration video?

Man, I highly doubt it. Even the broken down ones are expensive. I can't say that I haven't thought about it though.
I did take this one apart a bit out of curiosity and I wanted to clean the interior of the glass. I did not feel comfortable doing it though, considering how much it cost.

[Matthew]

:-D Yes, it's definitely a "thing," that strange Elgin thing.