Design Classic: Electric Wall Clock

Designer: Jim Read, 1993

Details: The 50’s ‘Electric’ wall clock in Chrome, £75, Newgate (opens in new tab)

Clock watching is a forgivable offence when the timepiece in question is an example of great British design at its finest. At first glance, it may look like time’s stood still – the Newgate 'Electric' wall clock is a clear nod to the mid-century modern electric clocks that adorned the walls of factories and train stations during the Thirties, Forties and Fifties.

Details: The 50’s ‘Electric’ wall clock in Chrome, £75, Newgate

Designed by Newgate founder and creative director Jim Read in 1993, this design classic's influence is clear in its deep metal cases, bold retro dials and the black metal propeller hands of the classic industrial designs.

But while the clock is named ‘Electric’ after the original clocks, which were powered by electrical current, there’s nothing behind the times about what’s inside. Quartz movements make it far more convenient in domestic situations, hence its enduring popularity for nearly a quarter of a century.

Founded in 1991 by Jim and Chloe Read from the spare room of their apartment, Newgateis known for its vintage, industrial, retro and mid-century style designs. Fusing vintage designs with a twist of modernism, the Newgate 50s Electric Wall Clock is a strong reminder of the days of dodgy sci-fi movies, leather greaser jackets and roller skate waitresses, with its retro numbers and stark, sharp clock hands.

Jim Read's grandfather was an inventor for MI5, so we think time-keeping and clever design must run in the family!

No 15 minutes of fame here... This is a truly timeless British icon.

Photography: John Day