Miniot’s split-flap clock is what nostalgia sounds like

If you've ever experienced the sight and sound of a split display, you'll immediately understand the nostalgic appeal of Miniot's pixelated wall clock. Klapklok uses mechanical flaps to convey information, just like the departure boards that were common in transport terminals before the introduction of LEDs.

As the name suggests, Klapklok functions primarily as a low-resolution watch, displaying the hour and minute hands using 69 (beautiful) “paper-like” flaps that act like black and white pixels. But Klapklok also has a Bluetooth app that you can use to create pixel drawings if that's your thing.

A closer look at the lightweight flaps.
GIF: Miniot

Like a clock, a selection of flaps are redrawn every 2.5 minutes with a soothing rustle to indicate the progress of the hands. Every hour on the hour, all 69 flaps move simultaneously to display the time in numbers. This makes Klapklock the “gentlest cuckoo clock you’ve ever heard,” according to Miniot.

The time runs from 11:59 a.m. to 12 p.m.
GIF: Miniot

I think the smooth pixel movement looks great, but it's really the sound that sold me when I first saw a working prototype last year. Here, listen for yourself.

The USB-C powered clock is a 17.7 inch (45 cm) rectangle that is just 0.5 inch (13 mm) thick and weighs 3.7 pounds (1.7 kg). When the pixels are at rest, it is completely silent, there is no light and it uses very little power. It's expensive because the numerous keys, coils, hinges, magnets and electronics are all assembled by hand in Peter Kolkman's home workshop – the same place where this small family business eventually refined its impressive wheel record player, which plays records vertically.

Klapklok will eventually retail for €2,400 (approximately $2,600). However, the price for the first shipment of 25 copies, scheduled to be delivered by December 12th to meet the Christmas deadline, is temporarily reduced to €1,800 (approximately $1,950).

Leave a Comment

url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url