The Elgin Drum Clock or Cylinder Clock surely catches the eye for it's very unusual time keeping method. This vintage, space age clock uses stacked wheels to tell the hours, minutes and alarm setting which are housed in a clear plastic cylinder (or drum-shaped) housing.

While the Elgin name can be found on numerous clocks including desk and wall clocks, these are not associated with the Elgin Watch Company (also known as Elgin National Watch Company) which operated out of Elgin, Illinois from 1864 to 1968. Online sources assert that wall and other clocks with the Elgin name are not associated with the famous American Watch company and clocks with this name started appearing after the company closed its doors in 1968.

Determining the actual manufacturer or distributor of these clock is difficult, but it was clearly made in Japan (as indicated on the bottom of the clock). The date of manufacture is likewise difficult with some online sellers asserting the clock dates from the 1950s to 1960s. As discussed above, this is unlikely as the makers could not have used the Elgin name until after 1968. The clock fits with the space aged themes of the late 60s and early 70s so this is when we are speculating the clocks were produced.

Reading the time is accomplished by observing the hour appearing behind the red line that runs the length of the clear plastic cylinder, then glancing up to the minutes wheel to determine the minutes.

Setting the clock is accomplished by a brass knob on the bottom that when turned counterclockwise (as indicated by the arrow etched on the bottom) causes the top (minutes) and middle (hour) wheels to spin. In the same way, the knob closer to the outter area of the clock bottom sets the desired hour of awakening, by lining the time with the red indicator.

To be brutally honest, this clock is horrible if you're needing to determine time quickly, or from a distance. Setting a specific time to rise is likewise difficult and it is suspected that often the alarm function and/or the time gets knocked out of alignment with handling or dropping.

Yet, it can't be denied that the clock is high on the cool retro scale, and it's almost certain any collector of flip clocks could find a spot for this clock on their shelf.

Clock Details

Description: Cylinder or can shaped clock with three circular dials indicating, from the top down, minutes, hour, alarm set time. Colors are brown (base) black and bronze (numbers and outline of numbers) with a gold brushed aluminum top with an engraved spirograph.
Dimensions: Height: 3 1/2 inches (9 cm) X Width of 2 3/4 inches (7 cm) and circumference of 10 1/8 inches (25.7 cm)
Materials: Plastic, aluminum, brass.
Date of Manufacture: Likely after 1968, probably late 60s, early 70s.
Made in Japan



Please see the forum post for a video of this clock and to comment.