I've always been fascinated by the flip clocks. I think it's a cool technology and I love the sound of it!

They have been used in various public places. As an example they were used on danish train stations.

I the 60's and 70's they were popular as bedside clocks.

But as the digital clocks took over, the flip clocks were forgotten.
Some companys still produce flip clocks. An english company called Grayson Time Management produces a special variant for Established and Sons. It has been on my wish list for many years and last week I finally bought one.


It displays 12 different fonts and changes look all the time. 11 of the fonts are existing designs, which includes Helvetica, the last font was designed to the project. It's so cool!

Do any of you have a flip clock?

 

Great thread. I don't have one but I love flip clocks and need to add one to my office. There are several modern takes on it but the one you picked up is especially cool. See also, Karlsson clocks.

 

Also, didn't even hit me at first but that really looks like a photo taken at/in/under Nørreport.

 

Yep, I think you're right They were used, as far as I know, on all danish S-train stations and were replaced in 2013-2014.

 

Here's another one from Copenhagen

 

French railways SNCF sadly took down the giant flip information board at Paris gare du Nord and replaced it with TV screens dotted around the station

It was a work of art!

I visited the company who installed and serviced the flip board all those years, they were rightly very proud of having been a part of such an iconic clock.

 

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/its-departure-time

Good article from earlier this year about the removal of the last flipboard at an airport...

 

A fellow Copenhagen’er perhaps?? Only a few of us here as “active” members I think.

 

Not Copenhagen - but northern Jutland

 

Turn on sound

 

In busy places like airports and train stations where they were pretty big they made a particular whirring sound as they were refreshed en masse. They captured the busyness of the location with people coming and going to their destinations. Now replaced by big digital screens, more color, no sound, no soul. Progress I suppose.

 

I think we all understand why digital screens replace flip clocks. They are cheaper, not much maintenance and when the technology is there, why not use it. But you're right - the soul is lost when there is no mechanical parts.