There are certain companies that make me crazy with how awesome their stuff is – Schoolhouse Electric is definitely one of those companies. It’s like Restoration Hardware, except real and everything is made in America. With the launch of its new website (which goes live today), Schoolhouse is releasing a few special items not previously seen. My favorite items is this classic 1960s wall clock which is made in partnership with IBM and offered today for the first time.
More info from Schoolhouse:
Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co. partnered with IBM to exclusively produce their iconic 1960s standard issue wall clock. Over the last 100 years IBM has evolved from producing time clocks to pioneering data processing. This classic clock celebrates IBM’s product heritage and centennial along with Schoolhouse’s recent product expansion into iconic American home and office products.
The clock is a faithful reproduction of the classic IBM clocks found in offices, warehouses and schools during the mid-20th century. Hand assembled in Schoolhouse Electric’s Portland, Oregon Factory, it is constructed with a USA made spun steel case, domed glass lens, and the original graphic hands and faceplate design. Operated by a Quartz movement with a red, continuous sweep second hand.
Available for $235. Check out all of the other good stuff on offer over there. [Schoolhouse Electric]
Just $253, huh?
Sweet topo maps of Oregon and USA
A nice reissue of the Simplex 5645 wall clock — which was commonly used in schools and corporations. I had a vintage one converted to a battery/quartz movement in the 90s and it’s still going strong.
Great work as always from Schoolhouse Electric.
everything made in the US? Except for the first item I looked at – Eq. Chair, product origin China.
Cool clock.
Very cool. Glad I found out about Schoolhouse Electric.
$235
The price of the clock represents its government agency procurement heritage.
Authentic vintage heritage genuine is not enough to make it worth $235. But Schoolhouse also sells $300 trashcans, so what do I know.
Also worth mentioning that originals can be had on eBay for less than $50.
I need one.
What a bargain!
I have the vintage real deal hanging in my barn. You can have it for 50 bucks. Then you can take the leftover $185 and go out for a great dinner or give it to a needy charity or do something else with it that’s not totally insane.
While vintage and and or heritage are both nice. It’s difficult to justify $235 for a wall clock. I think that sort of goes against the spirit of what we’re dealing with here. At the right stoop sale in New York City, you could pick this up for a crisp $10 bill.
I think you’re going to have to strikethrough that “everything” and add a “a lot of it” is made in America.
Still very cool expensive shit. $585 for details like 3 finger hols in a shelf!
You know, up until now I didn’t think those Occupy Thisthatandtheotherthing people had a point.
That was until I saw this unmitigated display of gall. 235 for a clock? One that isn’t encrusted with gems?
Classic.
$15. patina included. (dislike that word)
http://www.etsy.com/listing/54516486/ibm-electric-wall-clock
Thank you for post Michael. Schoolhouse deliberately manufactures most of our products in America. This is rarely easy or inexpensive. At the heart what we do is a sincere love of original antiques and keeping craft manufacturing alive. We sourced some of the products in our new line from off-shore vendors—from Europe and beyond. Transparency is important to us, so on individual product pages we list where products originate so our customers can make informed decisions.
Hey Michael, upside… $235 for a clock makes $109 for a notebook look like chump change!
http://acontinuouslean.com/2010/06/03/wanted-acquired-smythson-notebook/
Ummm… Is it just me or should the hour hand be closer to the 11 than the 10 if it’s 10:41?
This baby is the Rolex of wall clocks.
While I agree with the commenters who are saying that you can find the real deal fro around $50 without too much effort – you’re forgetting that these clocks required a central master clock to function. So to get your $50 clock to work you’ll need to fork out for a master clock or a computer chip impulser to get them to work.
battery operated? so wack…
Also, reiterating that the movement being of US origin is doubtful.
Funny I have 4 original ones I pulled out of a factory in Kentucky…
I assume an Apple version would have no numbers or ticks for minutes, just hands. Also, http://windowtowallstreet.com/images/SteveJobsFingersIBM.bmp
Real?? Made in America??
sure.
http://www.schoolhouseelectric.com/home-and-office/furniture/chairs-stools/george-chair-1.html
Here’s a reason companies have to move manufacturing off shore:
http://www.schoolhouseelectric.com/schoolhouse-backpack.html
$175 Jansport Equivalent. I laughed when I saw it.
This is 1960’s why did they use the Belton Bold logo from ’47-’56 and not the Paul Rand logo that came into place in 1956? Don’t IBM realize sad people like me will notice this sort of stuff……damm Paul would be pissed.
Yeah. 168.00 for a tool bag “tradesmen once used to carry their wares.” Or buy a real tool bag that tradesmen still use to carry their wares for a hundred less. Klein tool. USA made as well. Barnum was right.
As much as I’d love to support a company manufacturing in America, their products are just too expensive. I can find the original version that this clock was inspired by for under $100. That $175 Schoolhouse backpack that TMMH linked to looks like a standard $30 canvas backpack. Oh, but their’s includes a “heavy-duty YKK steel zip closure”. That’s right, a zipper made by YKK. That’s the same Chinese company that makes most of the world’s zippers. Chances are most of the people reading this are wearing something with a YKK zipper.
I believe that YKK (Yoshida Kohgyoh Kabushikigaisha) was originally and is still primarily a Japanese company.
There are certainly inferior zippers, which are a real bummer, as are zippers that are too flimsy for the application. As such, “heavy-duty YKK steel zip closure†is selling point on a canvas backpack. Without it, I wouldn’t pay a penny more than $174.75.
What is the basis of this “it’s too expensive”?
The “I can buy it on ebay for cheaper” is a tired statement. Go buy it on ebay for cheaper and let us enjoy in peace a company that is making good stuff, now.
http://www.schoolhouseelectric.com/george-chair-2725.html
Selling FAKE Eames chairs…. made in China. (even fake Prouvé & fake Nelson on the site)
Sorry, no respect !
I guess I just don’t see it – to me it just a clock and pretty boring one for $235 at that.
We’re extremely conditioned to compare everything to the lowest common denominator (in this case, $10 dollar clocks made with $1.50 worth of material and $1 of labor in Asia) and quickly label higher priced alternatives a “rip-off”. How many times more per hour do you think the American labor rate to manufacture this clock is compared to a Chinese rate?
If we want to support American manufacturing, we’ll need to pay a LOT more for things, and buy a lot less of them.
@Turtle001- At Room and Board right now, you can buy a real Eames side chair, made in Michigan, for 13 dollars less than that Chinese-made KIRF over there. And even at it’s MSRP it’s only 20 dollars more.