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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Clock · Wall clock

Popclox David Bowie Serious Moonlight wall clock

Partially verified

This wall clock is constructed using a vinyl record as the dial, featuring a central printed photograph of musician David Bowie during his 1983 'Serious Moonlight' tour. Produced in Great Britain by Popclox, the dial incorporates white printed Arabic numerals and simple metal hands. The reverse of the disc houses a quartz movement mechanism by Tochigi Tokei Ltd., which includes a battery compartment and a wall-mounting bracket. The clock is accompanied by a custom-designed plastic and cardboard display box branded with the Popclox name. The materials utilized in the fabrication of the object include machine-cut vinyl, paper, metal, and plastic. This example is identified within the V&A collection as being lent by the V&A Americas Foundation.

Front view of the Popclox wall clock featuring a photograph of David Bowie.
Front view of the Popclox wall clock featuring a photograph of David Bowie. — V&A Museum. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
collections.vam.ac.uk
Category
Clock · Wall clock
Maker / attribution
Popclox
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
LOAN:AMERICASFOUNDATION.1406:1 to 3-2024
Source-reported date
1983
Source-reported place
Great Britain

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Construction and Design

The Popclox wall clock utilizes a circular vinyl disc as its primary housing, repurposing the record format to create a musical-themed timepiece. A photograph of David Bowie performing during the 1983 'Serious Moonlight' tour is printed directly onto the central label area of the record. The dial layout is completed by large, stark white Arabic numerals printed in a circular arrangement around the center.

The physical composition involves a blend of industrial and consumer-grade materials, including plastic for the housing components and metal for the hands and the wall-mounting fixture. A specialized box, fashioned from cardboard and plastic with a viewing aperture, provides both storage and a retail-ready presentation for the clock. The design effectively integrates pop-culture imagery with functional horological hardware.

Evidence for this section
  • “Record-shaped clock printed with photograph of David Bowie performing on the Serious Moonlight live tour, 1983”
  • “A small wall-clock made of vinyl disc, printed in the centre with a photograph of David Bowie performing on the Serious Moonlight live tour.”

Movement and Mechanism

The timekeeping function is provided by a quartz movement sourced from Tochigi Tokei Ltd. The movement is fixed to the rear of the vinyl disc using a plastic housing that also serves as the battery chamber. The mechanism is described as an unadjusted unit, characterized by its standard quartz oscillating circuit.

The assembly includes an integrated metal bracket designed for wall suspension. Operation of the clock requires an external power source, specifically a battery, which was not included in the original retail package.

Evidence for this section
  • “START STOP QUARTZ TOCHIGI TOKEI LTD. NO(0) JEWELS UNADJUSTED PAT. PEND. JAPAN”
  • “The reverse of the clock has a plastic and metal battery pack attached.”

Provenance and Documentation

The object includes specific printed inscriptions regarding its production and commercial origin. The markings include explicit language regarding the protection of the recorded work and a mention of the graphic artist 'Wilb!' who contributed to the design.

The clock was later acquired as part of the V&A Americas Foundation loan program, established through the Jones/Tintoretto Entertainment Company LLC. It remains preserved within the V&A museum archives under the accession designation LOAN:AMERICASFOUNDATION.1406:1 to 3-2024, providing a record of 1980s music-related merchandise design.

Evidence for this section
  • “URN THIS WARRANTY REGISTRATION WITHIN 7 DAYS TOl LIGMELL ART LTD., 44 BRANTFELL ROAD, BLACKBURN, LANCASHIRE”
  • “Lent by the V&A Americas Foundation through the generosity of Jones/Tintoretto Entertainment Company LLC”

Open research questions

  • What is the relationship between Popclox and Ligmell Art Ltd?
  • Was the vinyl record used for the clock dial a functioning music record or a blank disc?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Popclox David Bowie Serious Moonlight wall clock
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerPopclox“Popclox (designed and made by)”
OriginGreat Britain“Great Britain (made)”
MovementQuartz movement by Tochigi Tokei Ltd.“START STOP QUARTZ TOCHIGI TOKEI LTD.”
MaterialsVinyl, plastic, metal, and paper“Machine-cut and printed vinyl, plastic, metal and paper”
Dimensions17.5 cm diameter“Diameter: 17.5 cm”
Warranty12 month limited warranty“WARRANTY THIS CLOCK MECHANISM IS GUARANTEED FOR A PERIOD OF 12 MONTHS”
InscriptionsCredit to Wilb! for artwork“A LOVELY BIT OF ARTWORK DONE BY WILB! AT GRAPHICS”

Visible details

  • Dial formed from a vinyl record
  • White printed Arabic numerals 1-12
  • Quartz movement attached to reverse
  • Accompanied by branded box

Research qualifications

  • Long-term stability of printed vinyl elements
  • Battery compartment functionality unverified

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

Clock

Reviewed 2026-10-26 · Record a2063f2513

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

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