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

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

Miniot’s Klapklok wall clock uses paper-like flaps to flip pixels to show the time. The sound and motion is soothing to experience. | Image: Miniot

If you’ve ever experienced the sight and sound of a split-flap display then 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 commonly found in transportation terminals before the arrival of LEDs.

As its name suggests, Klapklok primarily functions as a low resolution clock, showing the hour and minute hands using 69 (nice) “paper-like” flaps that act like black and white pixels. But Klapklok also features a bluetooth app to create pixel drawings if that’s your thing.

GIF: Miniot

A closer look at the lightweight flaps.

As a clock, a selection of the flaps are redrawn every 2.5 minutes with a soothing rustle to show the progression of the hands. At the top of the hour all 69 flaps shuffle at once to display the time in numbers. That makes Klapklock the “gentlest cuckoo clock you’ve ever heard,” according to Miniot.

GIF: Miniot

Time ticking over from 11:59 to 12 o’clock.

I think the smooth pixel movement looks great, but it really is 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 (45cm) squircle that’s just 0.5 inches (13mm) thick and weighs 3.7 pounds (1.7kg). When the pixels are at rest it’s completely silent, there’s no light, and it uses very little power. It’s expensive because the array of flaps, spools, hinges, magnets, and electronics are all hand assembled in Peter Kolkman’s home workshop — the same place that this small family-run business eventually refined its impressive Wheel record player that plays vinyl vertically.

Klapklok will eventually retail for €2,400 (about $2,600). However, it’s temporarily reduced to €1,800 (about $1,950) for the first batch of 25 which are scheduled to ship by December 12th to meet the Christmas deadline.