Uploaded March 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

---

Yes, in the 1970s many, many people got flip clocks for free. And for the most part, they were very good flip clocks. Here we show that advertisements for free flip clocks and see how that may explain some of the clocks we find new in the box still to this day.

CREDITS
Flip Clock Ads From Newspaper.com
in order of appearance:

01
- Copal 222
The Charlotte Observer
The_Charlotte_Observer_Sun__Oct_22__1972_
newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer/143080308


02
- Copal 222
Journal Tribune
Sanford_Tribune_Thu__Sep_26__1974_
newspapers.com/article/journal-tribune-free-copal-222/143076509

03
- Calson Mini-mod
Arizona Daily Star
Arizona_Daily_Star_Wed__Oct_3__1973_
newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-free-mini-mod/143081215

04
- Copal 225
Lebanon Daily News
Lebanon_Daily_News_Tue__Nov_18__1975_
newspapers.com/article/lebanon-daily-news-free-copal-225-with-t/143100380


05
- Copal 225
Hartford Courant
Hartford_Courant_Fri__Dec_5__1975_
newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant-free-copal-225/143078245

06
- Copal 225
The Orlando Sentinel
The_Orlando_Sentinel_Tue__Dec_9__1975_
newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-free-copal-225-with/143075065

07
Sony Digital 24 (8FC-69WA)
Arizona Republic
The_Arizona_Republic_Thu__Dec_18__1969_
newspapers.com/article/arizona-republic-sony-digital-24-clock-r/75259480

08
Ricoh Hallmark Model 3600
The Macon News
The_Macon_News_Wed__Jun_4__1975_
The_Macon_News_Wed__Jun_4__1975_ (1)
newspapers.com/article/the-macon-news-free-hallmark-ricoh-flip/143100040
newspapers.com/article/the-macon-news-hallmark-ricoh-flip-clock/143100152

09
Ricoh Hallmark Model 3600
The Pittsburgh Press
The_Pittsburgh_Press_Sun__Jun_16__1974_
newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-free-hallmark-ricoh/143102007

10
- Copal SP-203
Birmingham Post-Herald
Birmingham_Post_Herald_Thu__Jan_24__1980_
newspapers.com/article/birmingham-post-herald-free-copal-sp-203/143076959

11
- Copal SP-203
Tampa Bay Times
Tampa_Bay_Times_Tue__Mar_17__1981_
newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times/143078026

12
- Copal 227
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
St__Louis_Post_Dispatch_Sun__Dec_15__1974_
newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-free-copal-227/143076641

13
- Copal 227
Lincoln Journal Star
Lincoln_Journal_Star_Sun__Jan_5__1975_
newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star-free-copal-227/143084808

14
- Copal 227
Blooming Prairie Times
Blooming_Prairie_Times_Wed__Jan_30__1974_
newspapers.com/article/blooming-prairie-times-free-copal-227/143080079

15
- Copal 227
Star Tribune
Star_Tribune_Mon__Jul_25__1977_
newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-free-copal-227/143080206

16
- Copal 227 and Elgin W225
The Plattsmouth Journal
Plattsmouth, Nebraska · Thursday, December 12, 1974
newspapers.com/article/the-plattsmouth-journal-free-copal-227-a/143073669

17
- Panasonic RC-1122 and Jetset 3500
Reno Gazette-Journal
Reno_Gazette_Journal_Tue__Nov_20__1973_
newspapers.com/article/reno-gazette-journal-free-panasonic-rc-1/143085105