Introduction: Cool Exposed Retro Flip Clock
Ever since watching LOST, I’ve always been interested in owning my own flip clock, like the one in the Swan Station. Split flap displays have been around since the 1960’s and are still used in many train stations to display the train schedule.
I think these displays look really cool, and it’s always interesting watching the displays change, as they can’t just change every word at the same time, it has to go letter by letter until the correct letter shows up.
In this Instructable, I’ll be taking an old split flap alarm clock and turning into a cool piece of mechanical art. You can buy very similar clocks online anywhere from $40 to $100, but I’ll show you how I made mine for just 2 bucks. I think this could make a great gift!
Step 1: The Find
The hardest part of this Instructable might just be finding the right clock for the right price. You can buy a retro flip clock on eBay for under $30, but if you look in Goodwill and other thrift stores, you might be able to find one for a great price. The one I’m using cost me $2 at my local Goodwill.
If your clock looks anything like this, you will probably be able to follow right along. This is the second clock I’ve modded like this, and even though they were different companies, the insides were basically identical. Just make sure it actually has a split flap display. Also, check online to see if it’s actually worth more than you paid. For example, the alarm clock that wakes Marty McFly in Back to the Future is actually worth a decent amount money.
Step 2: Open It Up
Opening these clocks is pretty simple. You just need to remove the screws on the bottom and pull off any knobs on the sides or top. The knobs might need a little force to come off, but they should come off without damaging anything.
There should be about four screws under the clock’s display. Leave those in for now-- They hold the display mechanism in place.
Step 3: Scoping It Out
This is what most flip clocks look like on the inside. From left to right, you can see the power transformer, the clock mechanism, and the radio. Notice how the radio and the transformer take up so much space.
The transformer is only used for the radio, not the clock. Believe it or not, the clock’s motor and light just get plugged directly into the wall without any circuitry.
Step 4: Split the Clock
In this step, we'll be separating the clock from the radio and everything else.
Start by freeing the power cable. There should be a screw holding it in. Also, unscrew the transformer.
When that’s all done, carefully remove the screws holding the clock to the plastic base. There should be four screws.
Step 5: Wires Wires Wires
Now you're probably noticing, there are a lot of wires in there. But it's pretty simple actually.
If your clock is like this, it has a motor to run the clock itself and a single light to light it up. There should be four wires for the whole thing; two for the motor, two for the light.
If you follow the power cable into the clock, you’ll find that all four of these wires are probably directly attached to it. There also should be wires going to the transformer. Cut these off, we’re not using the transformer.
The clock part should now be free from the box. If it's not, cut any wires that are left over. There might be wires for the alarm switches. I'm not using this as an alarm clock, so I cut all those wires.
UPDATE: It's not the best idea to have any wires exposed, even the ends of wires you cut. I'm going to updating this Instructable shortly with instructions on how to do this properly with solder and heat wrap.
Step 6: Make It Pretty
Now it should look like this. Do whatever you want to clean it up a little. Cut off any wires you’re not using and try to remove any components that you’re not using such as the switches for the alarm clock.
You can also shorten the wires and use shrink wrap if you feel inclined to be fancy.
Step 7: Set the Time and Plug It In!
That should be it! All you have to do now is set the time and plug it in. You set the time by twisting the knob on the left. Note that it only goes one way, so if you go past the time it is, you can’t dial it back. You have to dial it all the way back around through all 24 hours.
When you plug it in, you should notice the motor spinning. It spins all the time, but should be pretty silent. Mine here is pretty neat since there is a spiral pattern on the motor which is constantly moving. Pretty trippy/awesome.
Check out the video for the exciting moment where the time changes!
42 Comments
11 years ago on Step 3
Fun fact:
Older electric clocks often used the 60Hz AC signal of the power grid to count seconds and keep the time. At 60 cycles per second, 60 cycles = 1second.
This made it easy to build AC electric motor driven mechanical clocks. Clever huh?
Reply 7 years ago on Step 3
That is interesting. I wonder how they got that to work on the UK versions. (It's 50Hz over here.)
Reply 5 years ago
Not just frequency, the voltage too. So in this case, they usually provided a flip switch in the clock or timer to switch to 50 Hz so you could have the correct time. The Japanese made devices I have seen had switches for changing voltage and frequency both.
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Sorry for the late reply on this, but just came across this Instructable. Gorgeous work, but unfortunately Congress will be doing their part to ruin it's functionality. There is a proposed change to the power grid that would actually change the 60Hz cycle to a variable cycle to reduce power consumption during non-peak hours.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/24/clock-problems-power-grid-clock-disruptions_n_884259.html
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Yet another reason I'm glad I'm Canadian :P
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Oh wow, well that would really suck... That would make a lot of things not work right, not just these clocks!
7 years ago on Step 3
Interesting. Would you know if all flip clock-radios are laid out like that?
(The clock totally independent from the radio.)
If so, I have an interesting project for one.
8 years ago
Thank you very much, because if i didn't read your instructable i would left the transformator in it, and it looks so much better without that. :-D
9 years ago on Introduction
Found exactly the same for 8eu
http://i.marktplaats.com/00/s/NTk3WDgwMA==/z/aBAAAOxyRNJSnzr3/$_85.JPG
9 years ago on Introduction
I think its time! lol
10 years ago on Step 7
What if it's one of the one's where it's just the clock (no radio)? Do you just remove the case and take off anything extra?
BTW: Is this safe to have plugged in for everyday use?
10 years ago on Introduction
So this is the closest thing to a Lost clock I could find. Would it be possible to make this play a recording of the Swan countdown as an alarm? I've been looking into stuff like this because I really want an alarm clock like the Swan station.
11 years ago on Introduction
Oh I love that !
11 years ago on Introduction
My first thought came from my mother, so you forgot how to put it back togeather?
I like these projects but for some reason when I strip much of what I buy it's
boring or cheep, you got lucky with the retro look on this one nice job.
11 years ago on Step 7
Just exposing the workings of this style clock goes a long way to making it look 'punky.
I have an idea for the truly ambitious glutton for tedious punishment.
Carefully clean the ghastly Helvetica typeface off the flaps and replace with a more stylized one. ooohhh.
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
I've often thought about doing this... Or even changing colors. Like spray painting the flaps white and getting number stickers and putting them on the flaps.
11 years ago on Step 7
If you pass the correct time by only one minute (aww), simply unplug for one minute to let reality catch up instead of taking one to two minutes to flip through 24 hrs worth. :)
11 years ago on Introduction
Can you still use the radio as a radio once you have removed it?
11 years ago on Introduction
Talk about "not judging a book by its cover"!
I have seen many of these out garage sale-ing and have thought that I should get one and do something...
But, I was never able to get past the vague high school memories of that thing keeping me awake at night when it clicked over.
Now, I will have my revenge!
(and show it off at the studio, where it won't keep me awake at night, clicking out the minutes!)
11 years ago on Introduction
Nicely Done!
I had one of these clocks as a kid but it got knocked off the bedside table, the cover came off and something inside was damaged. 24 hours later the number halves were spread all over the room and I had no more flip clock.......
Cheers