Weird and Wonderful Vintage Analog Clocks!

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Sean Charlesworth from Tested shares one of his passion projects: collecting, restoring, and creating displays out of vintage mechanical clocks. Taking apart a few pieces from his collection, Sean shows the beautiful mechanisms that operate these timepieces, which may look bland on the outside but are mesmerizing on the inside!
Shot and edited by Gunther Kirsch
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Thanks for watching!
#FlipClocks #ClockMechanisms

[@tested]

Watch this episode in VR with Oculus TV: www.oculus.com/experiences/media/312706093644490/

[@germansnowman]

Technology Connections has a great episode on flip clocks.

[@palmberry5576]

Came here looking for this comment lol

[@nik_cage]

I've seen all of his videos, I really love the work that Alec does.

[@NP-zl7dz]

Loved this show and tell, I felt like I was watching Steve from the Repair Shop geek out and I'm glad there's still people out there who have niche interests and fix things

[@CworthDynamics]

He's my hero.

[@TinkDifferent]

Oohh I love this! It might be out of Seans clock interest-frame. But I have a love for older mechanical clocks, like, medieval ones. They used them in monasteries and the length of the hours was adjustable. Because in those times the time from sundown to sunrise was always 12 hours, no matter what time of year.

[@Occupant]

Vintage clocks are a great option for the watch lover who's tired of throwing away all their money

[@Occupant]

I also really want to know more about that one with the vacuum tubes

[@carmovision]

sounds like they need to... watch their spending

[@CworthDynamics]

@@Occupant Yep - as others said - Nixie tubes - this one was a kit I bought years ago, fun to put together. No longer have the link but there are more out there!

[@thearthound]

@@Occupant yes, google "nixie tube", "nixie tube clock", & "nixie tube clock kit" Ha Ha Ha... That's the rabbit hole I went down.. I got a kit, (everything but tubes), on eBay for about $12. Tubes haven't been made in years, but there is "new old stock" out there. Mine were a set of 4 IN-12 Nixie Tubes for $40. w/shipping from eBay. High voltage tubes, but an easy build if you are familiar with electronics & soldering. Coolest part is making a case that really shows off the tubes. Caution: tubes sold in different configurations/voltage. (IN-12, IN-12A, 12-B, etc.) Make sure the kit matches.

[@Bzy6000]

Throwing away money? My watches are worth way more since when I started collecting

[@ianturner1704]

For anyone interested in some of the design and mechanical oddities of the famous "flipper" clocks, there's a great video from Technology Connections looking at some modern production flip clocks and some of the tricks used to make them more reliable.

[@Lethgar_Smith]

I once had a job as a security guard at a post that still used those old watch-clocks. This was back in the 80s. Those clocks were HEAVY! They weigh a ton and were carried over the shoulder like a purse and were hung on a thin narrow leather strap that would dig into your shoulder. My shift was a shipping and warehouse facility from 11pm to 7am. Every hour you make a tour of the facility with the clock and at various points along your route is a small key chained to a wall. usually inside a small box that is fastened to a post or some out of the way place. you take the key, insert it into the clock and turn it. This would leave a time stamp on a paper tape inside the clock that would record you were at the location of that key at that time. Basically just a way to ensure a guard is there and walking his rounds and not just sleeping in the guard shack. The problem was the route took 45 mins to complete and they wanted you to make a round every hour. So, basically you were just walking the complex continuously with a 15 minute break after each circuit. It was the summertime and in Florida where overnight temperatures dont drop below 80. Minimum wage was about $5.15 an hour. I lasted about a month.

[@CworthDynamics]

Yes! Couldn't believe how heavy that thing is - there's another video on that one.

[@phoenixdk]

That rehousing is amazing! Loved this very much.

[@Pete856]

Something else many people don't realize is just how they measure time and why this makes them so accurate. The electric motors in them are controlled by the frequency of the electricity going into them (50 or 60 Hz), and the electrical grid operators go to a lot of effort to keep this spot on.

[@joanbennettnyc]

HOW can you show flip clocks and NOT mention Groundhog Day???????

[@backpacker3421]

3:23 - that Pioneer PP-215 is in amazing condition. Nice!

[@scottmcgrath4814]

Sean, brilliant idea to rehouse them so you can see the mechanical workings

[@Veptis]

The clock running on 16mm film is really beautiful. It's only a thing people would understand that ever loaded a 16mm spool

[@VizziniAnthony]

What is the tape reel movement called or what clock did it come from?! Too cool

[@wolfielee11]

That Seth Thomas Speed-Read clock is sitting on my office desk right now, absolutely love it

[@Yathuprem]

That's beautiful man. Really want one in a transparent box.

[@TimoNoko]

I remember a digital multimeter with flip-clock numeric display from 1960s. It was made in some eastern-block country and ended up in Finland in some COMECON trade deal. Best part was it had fluorescent letters and ultraviolet light, shining like monsters in horror train-rides of Gothenburg Tivoli. I have never seen anything like it ever since.

[@CworthDynamics]

Welp - have to find that now too.

[@Chromaz]

got myself a nixie tube clock kit the other week with original nixie tubes from the soviet union! so happy with it

[@acme01]

I have an identical looking Panasonic Digital Audio Timer, except mine has a completely different model number. I just love the retro look of it, the metal finish, the paddle switches, and of course, the flip clock!!

[@JesusisJesus]

Price of old flip clocks just skyrocketed. Ok, all worthy of Perspex re-casing projects.

[@Flipclockfans]

Too late! We’re already in the midst of a huge surge in flip clock prices!

[@Nicoya]

"It's got a piezo-electric buzzer" Immediately demonstrates an electromagnetic buzzer

[@CworthDynamics]

My bad.

[@羅金土-x8u]

@@CworthDynamics p

[@NellaCuriosity]

Old clocks and mechanisms are fascinating!

[@peckenstein]

I love this! Fantastic content. That film reel clock was awesome, and I especially love showing off this mechanisms that drive these with the acrylic boxes!

[@gaza102289]

I'd love to see a clock that displays the time using the cistercian numeral system

[@rick74304]

Your cyclometer uses whats called a zone valve motor, used in radiant hot water heat controls to open and shut the valve.

[@thedoneeye]

I keep an old analog, plug in clock just in case the power gets cut. When it comes back on I can check the time difference to see how long power was out.

[@electrictime]

old telechron clocks had a little red dot right about center of the dial - when you set it the dot turns black - you could also purchase an old non-self starting electric clock.

[@jessechappell2]

Enjoyed the video. Would like to see this process or rehousing from start to finish. Including where you locate information for troubleshooting. This would be cool to build into a steam punk lamp.

[@nickademuss42]

my dad has a flip clock he bought when he was 16, a GE, its still running good with a little oil every now and then. Its about 45 years old...

[@shubinternet]

Man, gotta love that Pioneer flip clock! Awesome!

[@pa4tim]

I got one in use, it is beautiful

[@CworthDynamics]

I love it - very elaborate timer to turn your system on/off. Sadly all the plastic drive gears disintegrated - maybe 3D print new ones....

[@pa4tim]

@@CworthDynamics Mine are still OK. If they die I probably make new ones out of aluminium.

[@N4BFRVision]

I have a bunch of clocks including some Numicrons. This video has motivated me to clean a few of them up.

[@rivards1]

I have that TV-styled Numichron. Yours is missing the switch and internal light bulb, but it actully served as a "TV lamp", something you would put on top of your TV which gently lit the wall behind it. It was supposed to be better for your eyes somehow.

[@CworthDynamics]

Yes! I love that bit of trivia - it also glows in the dark with a really nice blue tone. Sadly this eBay purchase was really poorly packed and was mostly destroyed when I got it.

[@alhutchison1535]

I remember having a flip clock growing up in the 80's sitting on top of our console TV (as did my grandparents who likely bought one for us). Ours' had the day of the week (each day was a different color) besides hour and minute. Had no idea the light was neon, but do remember that orange glow in the dark.

[@florisoldemaat9385]

I did this a few years back and my exposed flipclock is still ticking away in the livingroom! Alot of visitors point it out and they all love it. Sadly, when exposed (without a acrylic box) they tend to get stuck due to dust. Nothing an air compressor can't solve but still. Another thing, and I'm not sure of its true or not: I believe these clocks get their timing from the frequency (hertz) of the powernet. Here in the Netherlands (Europe) that is 60Hz. In the USA that seems to be 50Hz. So, when I would use a USA flipclock here in Europe the clock would run to fast! It would be awesome if someone here could confirm or debunk that, I'm really curious...

[@Zayllyaz]

This is really cool and would be a fun project, next time I'm in a Goodwill or similar I'm going to take a much closer look at the clocks

[@DanielleWhite]

When I was a kid I had a 1970s or so clock radio that used a variation of the numachron mechanism. The dials for hours and single minutes had half as many positions. On those two dials each tile mounted into the carrier via hinge pins on the horizontal axis and had two numbers, one front and one reverse. Each tile would be flipped over as it came up the backside of the mechanism. I believe GE model 7-4305 is an example.

[@christophercotton9048]

The clocks with the red/black displays and the seconds can also be found in the consoles of pipe organs.

[@Pygar2]

I had a flip clock radio I'd love to have again... it had a lull-to-sleep lever on it; push it down, and it would play the radio while you dozed off. The mechanism made sounds... after a while I'd wake up at 6:29; my brain monitored the sounds and counted, I guess, and knew that in one minute I'd be hearing WAKY loud enough to wake the dead, or even a high school kid! No idea of the make or model, darn it!

[@mattshaffer5935]

Super Neat! Glad I took the time to watch this episode!

[@MrPleers]

I have a couple of flipclocks from the 70's that still work. We use a Philips one as our livingroom clock. I also have a Urdin Solari one. But that beast is made out of steel (including the numbers that flip from right to left). But that one makes too much noise when the time changes. So we don't use that one.

[@Skios]

This is such a cool idea for these old mechanism. It actually makes me want to run down to the local thrift store and see if I can do something similar.

[@douglasscott464]

This whole video is beautifully done.

[@projekt6_official]

Super neat episode! Thanks for sharing, Sean!

[@matthewbanta3240]

Another way to think about those clocks is how integral they once were to someone's life. They were literally the last thing someone saw at night and the first thing they saw in the morning. Those flip clocks were certainly around and in use in the 80's, but were they really still being sold as new? I am old enough to (barely) remember the 80's, and it seems to me that digital clocks with 7 segment LED displays were in vogue by then.

[@jimmangefrida5207]

Is anyone else bothered by the fact that none of the clocks have the same time?

[@AgentWaltonSimons]

Very, very bothered, yes.

[@CworthDynamics]

I briefly considered setting them all but time was short. I'll see myself out.

[@jimmangefrida5207]

That is alright. I'm sure time was of the essence.

[@completecircuit7712]

I love the flim strip clock I've never seen one of those before

[@kepofshangri-la8942]

I wish Nixie Tube clocks weren't so expensive, they look great.

[@homer090]

If your willing to build it yourself you can get them for under £200 in some case under £100

[@dansv1]

Single digit nixie clocks are considerably cheaper and very cool.

[@radarmusen]

6:40 looks like old radio altimeter in aircraft there was also a tape with tracking holes.

[@xlavahott4547]

Good luck finding these at Goodwill. I was buying these for $3 about 15 years ago at the thrift stores as homes were cleaned out after grandma died. You can't find one with a search warrant now.

[@SteveWood_Commando_at_large]

Well this was a timely video!

[@VincentGroenewold]

Woot, more Sean! Such an interesting guy.

[@miquerto]

Those are really cool. I had a flip clock as a kid for an alarm clock. Nostalgia engaged.

[@MichaelPhillipsatGreyOwlStudio]

I would suggest switching to NyOil instead of sewing machine oil. It doesn't gunge up over time and you need far less to get the same results. As a bonus, it doesn't stink to high heaven.

[@tarstakars]

I love vintage electric clocks, especially lighted waterfall and fireplace clocks.

[@K0Kaz]

I like clocks and watches with different timekeeping methods. For example I have a GPS nixie, and a WWVB wristwatch. This also means I have fewer clocks to reset at DST changeovers.

[@Cjbcampbell]

Flip clocks are beautiful for sure: nice work! But they are actually primitive digital machines, not analog. A sundial, or a premeasured candle would be an analog clock.

[@EF-69]

I had a Seth Thomas like that, light stained wood enclosure with similar metal panel.

[@liquidsonly]

Those motors in the clyclometer clock are the same as in motorised central heating valves in the UK. The speed will differ but making a 3D printed one using a CH valve motor should be do-able. I have one that's 5 RPM that doesn't fit my CH valve. Cost about £8 for the motor. I always have a spare because they _always_ break mid winter, usually xmas week, when the suppliers are on holiday.

[@Mike_Wazowski_z]

Very odd how I've just recently been looking into flip clocks and you post this video LOL

[@meraki1168]

i am also into designing and making of weird electronic based table top clocks.

[@alfulton5946]

I love watches and clocks but mechanical ones. I do like nixie bulbs so anything nixie makes it into my collection.

[@The_Other_Ghost]

Now I feel like a hipster, thanks tested.

[@medioelfo1]

0:25 I love this one

[@xenosns]

Half way through the video and realized we both have that day of the devs shirt haha

[@Dun-N-Dusted]

take that back, Faux wood grain is good

[@matthewdye942]

Really wanted to hear about the pioneer from japan

[@acme01]

Techmoan has a video dedicated to them, they are awesome, not cheap (I paid close to £100 for mine) but imo worth every penny!

[@CworthDynamics]

I love it too - simply used as a timer to turn on/off you stereo system. Sadly the plastic gears in mine disintegrated!

[@CworthDynamics]

@@acme01 Love that channel.

[@jpasell]

I have the clock mechanism of the one you have in the acrylic display. How did you get the motor apart to oil it???

[@Hardwired_Productions]

this is not what I expected..... but I'm not disappointed!

[@mikeparker3865]

big fan of the nixie clocks

[@Flipclockfans]

Very nice overview of some awesome clocks! Thanks!

[@brigganthewolf1461]

I have a Zenith Circle Of Sound C472W which uses the same film strip clock mechanism. It too, has the notorious brittle plastic issue and so it struggles to keep time until it becomes completely stuck. I've heard these are very difficult to repair? I know Jack squat about these clocks but would like to get it working properly again...if I can get one of the stripped screws out in order to separate the plastic base from the plastic cover.

[@WrenchAtHome]

A modern day Emmet Brown! Now where is your Delorean?!

[@mycosys]

that sounded more like an electromagnetic buzzer than a piezo

[@RandysFunhut]

I've been looking for these at thrift stores for nearly a decade but have never seen one.

[@Games_and_Music]

Sounds like you'd have a great time talking to Technology Connections about those flip clocks.

[@brendonedgar2923]

Super cool show and tell

[@donaldasayers]

It is really difficult to collect American flip clocks and otherwise synchronous clocks in Europe. It's easy to adjust for the different mains voltage, but much more difficult to correct for 60Hz instead of 50Hz.

[@fiqifirmansyah8251]

How do a Clock can be this awesome.. Its new for me ..

[@nemo4907]

I have an original Plato Flip Clock. Fascinating mechanism, PITA to overhaul. Runs beautifully, not very accurate.

[@GHILLIESARCADEANDMORE]

7:38 I've seen that same technology used on some vintage arcade games for keeping score

[@Techy2493]

I hope you are flipping the removed parts for other collectors to buy to repair their own clocks if they like.

[@electrictime]

Some notes; Telechron made some of the early flip clocks - one from the 1930's in our clock museum linked below; electricclock.omeka.net/items/show/93 our entire museum is here www.electrictime.com/museum/ the flip clocks use an AC motor for timekeeping this is synchronized with an atomic clock via line frequency. Ferranti Packard made the train station flip displays.

[@CworthDynamics]

Thanks for the links!

[@Bzy6000]

After the second vid I’d like to see your watches also!

[@Schroefdoppie]

Don't dish the woodgrain man, Clint will find you.... 😁

[@dwaynecathers7679]

These are so awesome!! I wanna buy that cyclometer clock for my display case!! Guess I'll have to make one!

[@future_phonk]

Very cool.

[@brettstover1850]

Someone has watch back to the future way to much 😉

[@tomhorsley6566]

I have in the back of my mind 3D printing a giant Devon Tread 1 like gadget to be a desk clock :-).

[@Reubixkube]

Crowley is that you?

[@arcadesunday4592]

Fascinating video. I was however wondering what the time was during shoot... Haha!!

[@CworthDynamics]

I briefly considered setting them all correctly...

[@arcadesunday4592]

@@CworthDynamics Haha! The random time settings work for the video though.... It's as if you're in a parallel dimension!

[@sschmidtevalue]

I had a clock that was very similar or identical in nature to your filmstrip clock. It was about 40 years ago and I can't remember what happened to it.

[@phoebemartin6650]

My grandmother had one. It's amazing how that memory came flooding back. Who make that ... model number please. I'd love to see a photo of one again.

[@sschmidtevalue]

@@phoebemartin6650 There are a couple of photos of the mechanism at industrialalchemy [dot] org. Google image search for "general time corp filmstrip clock." Seth Thomas also made a model. It's hard to find good matches because of so many false positives on both "film" and "clock"

[@tomc413]

Must be my OCD kicking in... all the clocks show different times.... 🤣🤣😂🤣

[@GuyMarsdenMakesStuff]

FYI, those are NOT piezoelectric buzzers, they are electromagnetic!!

[@EpicMuttonChops]

cool hobby

[@JarcodeRover]

Nixie tubes are time-less :D

[@harleking1988]

Hey adam, You can see your KZbin channel in the new Ghostbusters Afterlife Trailer. When the kids watch videos of the old Ghostbusters. On the side you can see a nonexistent video of you. Do you have anything to do with it? ;-)

[@muppetfan77show26]

Cool

[@doriWyo]

Back in the '70s, we were awakened by a clock that had begun to run backwards. I don't remember if was a flip or not.

[@sschmidtevalue]

Since it's gravity based, a flip clock can't run backward. Not in any normal reverse fashion anyway. The filmstrip clock could run in reverse and look pretty normal.

[@GizziMoD]

ohhhhh i dont have the time for this!

[@naythechocolatehead]

Ps your your KZbin video is in the ghostbusters trailee

[@chump54]

fantastic :)

[@RGC-gn2nm]

Flashbacks to middle school