In 1952, Hans Hilfiker was commissioned to modernise the official railway clock dating from 1944. He simplified the dial and added a seconds hand that became a feature of the clock. The seconds hand, in the shape of a red signalling disc, allows passengers to estimate the time remaining until their departure with greater accuracy. As well as the "seconds disc" that recalls the despatching tool used by railway officials, another characteristic of the clock is the brief pause that the hand makes at 12 o'clock. In 2012, Apple copied the famous numberless clock face with its black minute markings and red railway signal for a second hand.

Detailed information

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Title
Swiss railway station clock
Category
Industrial design
Artist
Hans Hilfiker (ハンス・ヒルフィカー )
Material
Metal housing: light metal with hammer-stroke lacquer
Year
Basic design: 1944; Redesign: 1952
Size
87 x 28 cm
Owner

Zürcher Hochschule der Künste / Museum für Gestaltung Zürich / Designsammlung

Museum für Gestaltung Zürich, Toni-Areal
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