Copal Caslon - Clock History

by Hanna McPhee

 

Copal Caslon 101 clock on a wooden shelf next to a plant

Copal Caslon clocks are a series of mostly flip clocks manufactured from 1965 into the 1980s. These highly coveted clocks were Japan's first flip clocks (the Copal Caslon 101 being the first) and actually Japan’s first digital clock. 

The Copal Company Ltd.

The Copal flip clocks were designed and manufactured by Copal Company Limited (now known as the Nidec Copal Corporation). Copal originally manufactured photographic shutters in 1946 - and to this day produces equipment for the photographic industry. 

The first Copal clock - The Copal Caslon 101 - was launched in 1965.

Riki Wantanabe

The first Copal clock - the Copal Caslon 101 was launched in 1965 and designed by Riki Wantanabe. Wantanabe is considered the godfather of post second world war design in Japan and is often compared to Charles and Ray Eames. Working alongside many international famous designers, and well versed in the school of Bauhaus, Riki took the rules of modernism and fused them with Japanese culture. 

Wanatabe focused on minimalist, accessible design and often used inexpensive materials so many could afford his work. He is often referenced for his 1952 Rope Chair, and 1956 Torrii stool. 

Designer Riki Wanatabe's rope chair - a simple wooden chair with rope as the seating areaRiki Wanatabe's stook chair - a simple wooden stool with a woven seat

Image source: https://metrocs.jp/special/rikiwatanabe/collection.html


As a cultural and design icon in Japan and around the world, he won many accolades like the gold medal at the Milan Triennale (a highly regarded international exhibit of art and design) and the Japanese Medal of honour with purple ribbon. 


Apart from furniture, Riki Wanatabe also designed several famous clocks. Responsible for the Copal Caslon 101 (1965),  Copal Caslon 601 (1967) and the Copal Caslon C61 (1973).



In 1972 he created the “Hibiya pole clock” at Dai-ichi Life Holdings in Hibiya district which continues to be referenced as the standard in wall clocks.

Designer Rikie Wanatabe's Pole Clock - a clock on the sidewalk that is attached to a pole. There are two clock faces, one 8 feet up and on 4 feet up for townspeople to know the time.

 

Photo credit: https://www.lemnos.jp/en/archives/1508


 

Anyway, back to Copal Caslon 

Riki Wantanabe’s original Copal Caslon 101 design leveraged the camera shutter and motor technologies of Copal Corporation LTD. The typeface for the clock is called “Calson”.


Flip clocks were not popular in the U.S. until the 1970s - and many collectors give credit to the Copal Caslons clocks for starting the wave. Although the 101 paved the way, the slightly more angular and larger Copal Caslon 201 was the more popular purchase. On top of their stylistic influence, Copal also manufactured most of the internal mechanisms of flip clocks in the United Stats. 


Congratulations  if you own one of the older Copal Caslon models as they are a piece of flip clock history that started a whole new era of clocks!

 

Price in 1970

The cost of a Copal Caslon 101 in 1970 was $14.99-$25.00 - adjusted for inflation, if this clock was sold in 2021 it would cost $103.57-$172.73 (from dollartimes.com)

 Old 1970s Copal Caslon Advertisement - image shows 7 different Copal clocks. All are flip clocks of different sizes.

Source: https://www.pinterest.es/pin/430938258079596252/

Shoutout to flip clock fans for the idea of adjusting the original cost for inflation! Here is their amazing video on the Copal 101 disassembly if interested in learning more about the inside of one of these clocks.

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