Clocks · Clock radio
Clock by Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd, Singapore, 1976
- Maker / attribution
- Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd (maker)
- Date
- 1976
- Historical period
- Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
- Country of origin
- Unrecorded in source
- Place
- Singapore, Singapore
- Object type
- Clock radio
- Dimensions
- overall: 172 mm x 245 mm x 95 mm,
- Holding institution
- Science Museum Group, London
- Accession / object no.
- 1994-579
- Credit line
- Murphy, C.
- Catalogue title (original)
- FM/AM 2 band solid state clock radio model RM5020 No.9023855
Record summary
Held and catalogued by Science Museum Group, London (object number 1994-579), this is a clock radio by Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd, made in Singapore, Singapore, dated 1976. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Clocks collection. Recorded dimensions: overall: 172 mm x 245 mm x 95 mm. The record is illustrated with 1 photograph.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
The source record does not include a narrative description. The structured fields above are reproduced from it.
Historical context
Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.
Quartz movements and digital displays made accurate clocks cheap and ubiquitous after the early 1970s. LED and LCD clocks, clock radios and radio-controlled clocks appeared, while traditional mechanical clockmaking contracted sharply in Germany, France and Britain.
Read the period in the timelineMore clocks from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology
Atlas type guide
Quartz, digital and designer clocks
Transistors, integrated circuits and quartz crystals brought precise timekeeping into every household after the 1960s. Quartz clocks divide the 32,768 Hz vibration of a tuning-fork crystal down to one pulse per second to drive a stepping motor or a digital display. Digital clocks with flip cards, nixie tubes, LEDs and LCDs, and clock radios became emblems of modern design.
Designers such as George Nelson, Max Bill, Dieter Rams and Richard Sapper treated the clock as a field for industrial design; manufacturers including Junghans, Kienzle, Braun, Seiko, Citizen and Sony produced landmark models now collected and held by design museums.
What to look for
- Battery compartments and quartz movement labels.
- Display technology: split-flap cards, LED, LCD, vacuum fluorescent.
- Designer names and model numbers on the base or back.
Dating clues
- Transistorised clocks: from the late 1950s.
- Consumer quartz clocks: from the early 1970s.
- Radio-controlled clocks: from the mid-1980s.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
Related records
Clocks · late 20th century
Clock, 'Peter Rabbit', Queen's ware, transfer printing, Josiah Wedgwood and Sons, Barlaston, late 20th century (V&A WE.17466-2014)
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Clocks · late 20th century
Clock, 'Peter Rabbit', Queen's ware, transfer printing, Josiah Wedgwood and Sons, Barlaston, late 20th century (V&A WE.18029-2014)
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Clocks · late 20th century
Clock, 'Peter Rabbit', glazed earthenware, transfer printing, Josiah Wedgwood and Sons, Barlaston, late 20th century
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Clocks · 1960-1996
Electric clock by Efratom GmbH, Germany, 1960-1996
Science Museum Group, London
Clocks · 1964-1988
The clock from BBC children's television series 'Playschool', c 1977
Science Museum Group, London
Clocks · 1964-1988
The clock housing from BBC children's television series 'Playschool', c 1977
Science Museum Group, London
Clocks · 1965-1975
9-inch wall clock (School/3/P) by English Clock Systems, London, England, 1965-1975.
Science Museum Group, London
Clocks · 1965-1974
Cifra 6 digital clock
Science Museum Group, London