The Official Flip Clock Fans Wristwatch

[Mackey]

A little about the watches that were considered, followed by my choice. Also, I expose the fraud Pallweber photo.

[Mackey]

I believe I've discovered a wristwatch that may be suitable for a fan of flip clocks. I'll let you decide.

But first I have to make the bold assertion that there will likely never be a flip clock on your wrist. Proper flip clocks rely on gravity to work - the reason flip clocks were not considered as an option during the Apollo Missions. So we're going to have to look at a cyclometer or drum-type clock as a possible candidate for an official flip clock fan watch. And that's ok. Most flip clock fans don't even roll their eyes when they see a rolling drum clock (aka a cyclometer) referred to as a flip clock on eBay. In fact, I've never run into a flip clock fan that didn't appreciate the cyclometers as well.

BACKGROUND

Production of marketable digital display watches began after Josef Pallweber invented a pocketwatch with numeric display. Pallweber was granted numerous patents between 1882-1887 related to these watch types, and licensed the concept to various watch manufactures (including IWC).



As an aside - Joseph Pallweber, as you all may know by now, was not only credited with the first digital display watch, but also the first digital readout clock and most importantly the first flip clock.

The type of watch invented by Pallweber came to be known as a "jump hour" watch due to the hour advancing rapidly. These watches had a short run in the late 1800s then essentially stopped being manufactured.

The first Jump Hour wristwatches appeared in the Art Deco period in 1920s and into the 1930s but that was just a short revival of this technology.



The biggest jump hour revival took place in the 1960s and 1970s with these digital display watches being marketed as a cheaper alternative to the new electronic digital watches. These watches contain standard mechanical movements but have rotating discs instead of moving hands.

THE CONTENDER

During this time period, around 1974, the Derby Swissonic “JAZ” came to be. Now this was more of a flip clock type watch with the drums instead of flat discs to display the time. The watch is definitely an eye catcher, especially to the fan of flip clocks, and could be said to be similar to a rolling wheel, rolling drum or cyclometer clock. However, there are issues. First, this watch is also a jump hour watch. In fact, it's a jump hour and jump minute watch. The numbers don't roll, they rapidly advance.



These Derby Swissonic watches are hard to find in working condition and are reportedly hard to keep working. In fact, an expert in the field stated on his website, "The Derby is a brilliant yet stupid invention, once you solve one issue another one is Just around the corner." This one pictured recently went for over $700 US dollars on a Japanese auction site. While I’d have to have one if I were a watch collector, it’s not quite the perfect watch for a flip clock fan.



Before I reveal a modern watch for the fan of flip clocks, it has to be mentioned that there are today multiple makers of very high end (read, "highly expensive") modern jump hour watches. They are as stunningly beautiful as they are expensive.


So here it is, the Future Funk Roller Drum Quartz wristwatch. These have been on the market, primarily in Japan, since about 2018. I'm not sure how I stumbled upon these originally, but it was while looking at the Derby's that they popped up on my radar. It seems that the Future Funk watches were the first - based on the literature on their site, and I'm presuming that these were originally Japanese made. But now, as you may have expected, Chinese made knock offs are available. I've actually ordered one (for about $30 dollars) to check the quality against this Future Funk watch.

I cannot find any US distributor of these watches so I had to buy this watch directly from the distributor in Japan. With tax and shipped it still only cost about $111 dollars.

The watch does make considerable noise when operating, but this just adds to its charm, I think.

The Future Funk Roller Drum Quartz wristwatch - the watch no flip clock fan needs - but just Has to look at, at least once.

[Mackey]

The watch does make some noise when operating.
Future Funk Watch Sound


Update: Consider that I put the microphone right up to the watch to get this sound.

[Johan de Jong]

Nice! I get very tempted to buy one I was also looking for a flip clock fan worthy wrist watch. I considered the Derby Swissonic but price and lack of reliability put me off. So instead I was looking for a jump hour watch, not knowing about this "Future Funk". Bit worried about the noise though. Is it doing that constantly or only when the minute switches?

[Mackey]

... Is it doing that constantly or only when the minute switches?

Only when the wheels are rolling. The sound was recorded pretty close to the watch - it's not that loud in real life.
I'm really interested in getting one of the Chinese models. It's very possible, maybe likely, that they have all been made in China all along. Someone who viewed my video said they're Chinese made watch is fine. I'll update when I get the $30 watch.

[Johan de Jong]

Only when the wheels are rolling. The sound was recorded pretty close to the watch - it's not that loud in real life.

That sounds ok, I can get used to that. And probably even love it, just like I love to hear the rumble every minute of two battery powered roll clocks in my living room

Curious how the Chinese version will perform, so I await your report.

[Mackey]

Curious how the Chinese version will perform, so I await your report.

And here's the full report:

[flipoclock]

Nice video, thanks! I wasn't going to buy any more watches for myself but this is indeed tempting, especially at that price...

[Johan de Jong]

Thanks Mackey! I searched a bit more on AliExpress for "roller drum watch" and found there are even more brand names that sell the same clockwork in different housings. What surprises (and kind of disappoints) me is that nearly all of them have a round faceplate and often even with a 12 hour scale on them which does not make any sense. It think this is a missed opportunity by the designers to come up with something that would more clearly differentiate it from the normal watches. Something like the Derby Swissonic.

But nevertheless, I still want one!

[flipoclock]

But nevertheless, I still want one!

I normally only wear Swatch watches, the vintage type, but for this one I would make an exception.... I don't do leather but found several specimens with a metal/mesh strap so that would work.

[flipoclock]

I just got mine in today, unfortunately it is not working the way it should. It does not switch hours from 59 to 00, it only does that once it reaches 73 minutes. It seems that the rolls are misaligned. Now had I bought this 2nd hand, I would have opened it up to see whether I can fix it, but since this is brand new, I opened up a dispute with the seller. Let's see where that will get me.

[Troy]

Yeah I also had the same problem flip clock I thought mine was broken.. I was really annoyed, i worked out through trial and error what it was.

[Guest]

Watches....another weakness of mine...dang it!

[Mackey]

I just got mine in today, unfortunately it is not working the way it should. It does not switch hours from 59 to 00, it only does that once it reaches 73 minutes. It seems that the rolls are misaligned. Now had I bought this 2nd hand, I would have opened it up to see whether I can fix it, but since this is brand new, I opened up a dispute with the seller. Let's see where that will get me.

Have you done the alignment procedure? When you do you must set the wheels to 1200.

[flipoclock]

Thanks! I just figured out with the help of the seller that there is a procedure for that. That does seem to do the trick.

[Mackey]

Good. I was feeling guilty.

[Johan de Jong]

I couldn't make up my mind which one I wanted, but today I cut the knot: I ordered the Megir, same model as Mackey has

[Mackey]

I think you'll like it.