Browsing through FB Marketplace, I came across this JCPenney Flipclock radio. I instantly knew this was a rebadged Panasonic clock radio and knew the JCPenney version was probably rarer. I didn't even know there was one! The radio looked a little rough around the edges with dirt and scratches around its plastic body. I went back and forth thinking if I should message the seller and ultimately decided to after a few days of contemplation.
After negotiating on price, I messaged the seller and picked it up in the late evening. It looked just like it was pictured, dirty!
The clock radio looked to have been placed in a shed or somewhere that allowed it to collect a lot of dust and dirt. I plugged it in and the radio would cut in and out and the motor was slow to start up. I knew what I was getting into when I purchased it, so I was hoping I could fix it. Upon opening it up, I could tell that some condensation also manifested during its storage time.
I was drawn to this radio by the design mostly. I was intrigued by its Dorito-like shape and the ability to separate the radio portion from the clock radio. The slim radio reminded me of those portable car radios that slid into the dash and could be carried out and powered by batteries. I have a Sharp portable car radio that is similar in design to the radio on this clock. It even uses the same tuning knob! The clock housing is super tall and raked. It doesn't need to be steep like it is but hey, that midcentury design for you! It's almost like the predecessor to the iHome. Notice the sticker on the motor that advises what replacement motor is compatible with this clock should it need replacement.
Everything on the radio needed a deep scrubbing and cleaning. The case was super dirty and so were the knobs. I also dipped the screws in vinegar since they were a bit oxidized as well. Surprisingly, the bulb that lights the digits was functioning. It is different from the neon bulbs in that it's a small incandescent bulb with a white light. I find that Panasonic used those bulbs as well as the neon glow bulbs. After some cleaning and lubricating, I got the clock motor spinning and the radio to work. I had to disassemble the sleep timer gear and I should have taken pics beforehand. I was surprised to find a lot of brass gears in the clock mechanism. I had trouble reassembling the sleep timer gear as I couldn't figure out why it wasn't deactivating when the timer wasn't on. Turns out the sleep timer is on a long post with a small pole on it. That rests against another pole on a bracket that the sleep timer gear goes through (pic on the right above). The bracket goes on behind the "whirligig" cover. If you put it in front, it will cause the sleep timer to not create an open circuit by pushing in the relay button and keep the radio on at all times. It took me a while to figure that out and I'm glad I had a few pics of how it was before I took it apart but I should have taken more.
My tip to everyone: take lots of detailed photos!
After that debacle, the clock was in pretty good working order. I noticed that the switches on the radio are hard to change but I didn't want to take that apart since it's compact and would require de-soldering. All in all, the clock radio turned out pretty good with nothing needing replacement. My favorite part about buying clock radios is the cleaning portion and that first plug-in to see what works and what doesn't. It's always nerve-wracking but the feeling of triumph is well worth it!
This radio is a rebadged Panasonic 7052FB. The Panasonic one has a black case with more plastic chrome parts whereas this one is grey and black. JCPenney usually rebranded Panasonic items and sold them for a cheaper price and sometimes with lesser features. It's almost funny how matter of fact the "FM AM Clock Portable Radio" nameplate is on the front. It makes the clock seem generic. I think the Panasonic clocks have a lighted dial whereas the JCPenney one does not. I could not find any info on this JCPenney branded clock and there aren't many pictures of the Panasonic model either. I was able to find an old ad for the Panasonic model. I'd assume this model was not a popular seller and it likely was more costly than a more conventional clock radio. It sure is neat, though! It also reminds me of the 'Planada' which is another clock on my list. Taking about a whole day to clean up and tinker with, this was a fun little Labor Day weekend project, and believe me... I put in lots of labor!
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