Known Blacklight-equipped clocks (flip or cyclotron)

[Guest]

All known flip and cyclotron clocks with blacklight illumination from the factory. Not in any order at this time. If I have overlooked any please feel free to add to this.

Copal 705L (also in plain brushed aluminum)

Sony TFM-C720W (also in white/grey and AKA ICF-C700 in Japan)

Sony TFM-C400 (Japanese market only)

Sony TFM-C770/660

Panasonic RC-707

Copal LP-245

Copal LP-248

Sony TFM-C620W (also white)

General Electric 7-4333

Panasonic RC-7462

Sony TFM-C650W

Emerson R5100A (same movement as Sony TFM-C770W\660W) Also known under the "Lafayette" name with the same model #.

Sony TFM-C420 (Japanese market only)

XAM DR-300


Copal 321L


Tonecrest DR-300 (Same movement as Sony TFM-C660/770 and others)

[RetroFlip]

Good stuff. Couple other General Electric around 1976:

Model 7-4380A


Model 7-4365A

[Jumblejeff]

Great photos.

I have one black light Sony (TFM-C620) and it’s quickly become a favorite. They look great lit up at night.

[Guest]

Great photos.

I have one black light Sony (TFM-C620) and it’s quickly become a favorite. They look great lit up at night.

Thanks, yeah, some of the photos are not mine as there are a few models I have not had in my hands yet. This was just a post to document the models with blacklights.

[Mackey]

Thanks for doing this.

[Mackey]

This is great. I'm just bumming because I only have two of the ones you show . Three's the charm I think.

[cyb3rbyte]

I'm very lucky to have my two blacklight clocks! One is LED, the other still has it's blacklight tube, for now!

[Guest]

FYI, the TFM-C400 also came in bright red.

[RetroFlip]

Saw this one sell on ebay

Ken Tech Model T-430

[flipoclock]

That's interesting, I have a similar clock somewhere (not labeled as Ken-Tech), with yellow numbering on the tabs, however it does not have blacklight... I wonder if the lettering/numbering would be fluorescent on it.

[Performa]

Ken Tech made blacklight clocks? Crazy!

[RetroFlip]

That's interesting, I have a similar clock somewhere (not labeled as Ken-Tech), with yellow numbering on the tabs, however it does not have blacklight... I wonder if the lettering/numbering would be fluorescent on it.

Oh like some of the Citizen ones, I don't believe those are blacklight, but use the similar yellowing numbering. Interesting thought.

[flipoclock]

I would be highly surprised if they would be, but next time I get my hands on a set of LED blacklight, I will give it a go...

[The Swede]

I would be highly surprised if they would be, but next time I get my hands on a set of LED blacklight, I will give it a go...

It should react the same under blacklight. You don't use a special paint for blacklight. It's certain colors that glows up under blacklight.

While some colors work better than others under a blacklight, almost any color can glow if a fluorescent is added or if it is naturally phosphorescent. A blacklight gives off concentrated ultraviolet light. You can't see this part of the spectrum. When the ultraviolet light is shined on a fluorescent or phosphorescent substance, the fluorescent absorbs the light and casts it back immediately, creating a longer wavelength of light, making it visible to the naked eye and causing it to glow.

White: White paper, paint and fabrics are treated with fluorescent additives to make them brighter. These compounds react to the ultraviolet of the blacklight, casting them back quickly which emits that glow. Laundry detergent whiteners make clothing a bit fluorescent. White toothpaste with tooth brighteners glows incredibly strong.

Yellow: Bright yellows paints and fabrics will glow, due to the additives to make them bright. You can purchase yellow specifically in neon or fluorescent, which has extra additives for the brightness.

Green: Greens which are dark do not glow, however, a lighter shade of green, again due to the fluorescent brighteners, will glow. Neon greens cast an eerie green light.

Orange: Orange glows under black ultraviolet light. Neons glow the most due to extra fluorescent additives. Reds do not glow, or barely glow an orange color, even if fluorescents are added.

Purple: Bright purples, from deep violet to the lavender end of the spectrum glow, as they have a fluorescent tinge. The glow will be stronger if you add a fluorescent compound or a brightening compound.

Blue: The lighter the blue the more pronounced the glow. With a fabric, add a bit of whitener or brightener to emit more fluorescent glow.

Pink: Pink, hot pink in particular, has fluorescent lightwaves in its makeup, causing it to glow under a blacklight.

[flipoclock]

That is nice information, thanks! Will certainly give it a go as soon as I have some blacklight parts back in 'stock'.

[Mackey]

This was such a great post, I just had to make a video about it. Shout outs to Engineer and cyb3rbyte for using their ideas and stuff.

at time of posting video is private - will go public tomorrow evening (3/1/2021)