Ball Clock

About This Work

George Nelson wall clocks, handmade in Poland

George Nelson wall clocks (shown at relative scale)

GEORGE NELSON BALL CLOCKS
The iconic mid-century modern clock. In an 1981 interview with Ralph Caplan, George Nelson told the story of the creation of the Ball Clock:

‘We were all involved in cooking up these clocks, and Irving [Harper], in the end, was the one who made them complicated, beautiful, and so on. And there was one night when the Ball Clock got developed, which was one of the really funny evenings. [Isamu] Noguchi came by, and Bucky Fuller came by. I’d been seeing a lot of Bucky those days, and here was Irving and here was I, and Noguchi, who can’t keep his hands off anything, you know—it is a marvelous, itchy thing he’s got—he saw we were working on clocks and he started making doodles. Then Bucky sort of brushed Isamu aside. He said, “This is a good way to do a clock”, and he made some utterly absurd thing. Everybody was taking a crack at this...pushing each other aside and making scribbles.

At some point we left—we were suddenly all tired, and we'd had a little bit too much to drink—and the next morning I came back, and here was this roll [of drafting paper], and Irving and I looked at it, and somewhere in this roll there was the Ball Clock. I don’t know to this day who cooked it up. I know it wasn’t me. It might have been Irving, but he didn’t think so. [We] both guessed that Isamu had probably done it because [he] has a genius for doing two stupid things and making something extraordinary...out of the combination...[Or] it could have been an additive thing, but, anyway, we never knew. So we did the Ball Clock, which was, in its piddling way, a sort of all-time best-seller for Howard [Miller, because] suddenly it was decided by Mrs. America that this was the clock to put in your kitchen. Why [the] kitchen, I don’t know. But every ad that showed a kitchen for years after that had a ball clock in it.’

****

Source:
Vitra, https://www.vitra.com/en-us/magazine/details/the-best-ideas-come-at-night, date accessed: June 1, 2020
Technical Specs
- GEORGE NELSON BALL CLOCK
- Handmade in Poland
- Original George Nelson Clock produced by Vitra
- Dimensions: 13 diameter, 2.5 deep in. (33 x 6.4 cm)
- Weight: 1.25 lbs
- High quality quartz clock movement
- 1.5v battery powered (included)
- Materials: metal, wood (balls), acrylic lacquer finish
Quick Help & Manual

Coming soon. Please contact us.
Pre-Sale Questions
- Are you an authorized Vitra retailer?
  
  Yes, we have been authorized Vitra partners since 2020. All our clocks are new from the factory and inspected before shipping.
- Do you buy or sell vintage George Nelson clocks?
  
  No, we exclusively sell contemporary Vitra-produced George Nelson clocks with quartz movements. These clocks are manufactured post-2000.
- Where are Vitra produced George Nelson clocks made?
  
  The clocks are produced in Poland and the movements in Germany.
- How long do the movements last?
  
  With proper care, quartz movements typically last 15-25 years. They're reliable and easily replaced. We provide a 5-year warranty on all movements.
- How can I extend the life of my movemenet?
  
  Only adjust the time using the back knob. Though tempting, never move the hands directly as this can damage the movement hand minute hand. Replace batteries annually using quality brands like Duracell or Energizer. Avoid placing clocks in areas with high humidity, dust, or direct sunlight.
- Do you sell replacement parts?
  
  Yes, we stock movements and replacement hands. Wall clock mechanisms are simple to replace, while desktop clock repairs behind plexiglass require professional service.
- Why choose authentic over knock-offs?
  
  Authentic Vitra pieces offer superior build quality and maintain their value over time. While replicas may look similar in photos, the difference in craftsmanship becomes evident with use. Genuine George Nelson clocks often appreciate in value on the secondary market.
- Where do you ship from?
  
  George Nelson clocks ship from our Charlotte, NC warehouse. Custom orders may have longer lead times but are worth the wait due to their limited production. We'll keep you informed about any delays.
- Why buy from Clock Forward?
  
  We often hear praise for our customer support, which is perplexing because we simply run our business the way any company that cares about their customers and makers should. Reflecting on our own experiences with other businesses, we have realized that exceptional customer service in the U.S. has become rare. We genuinely want to hear about your experience with your clock, and once our pieces find a good home, we want them to stay there.

George Nelson wall clocks, handmade in Poland

George Nelson wall clocks (shown at relative scale)

GEORGE NELSON BALL CLOCKS
The iconic mid-century modern clock. In an 1981 interview with Ralph Caplan, George Nelson told the story of the creation of the Ball Clock:

‘We were all involved in cooking up these clocks, and Irving [Harper], in the end, was the one who made them complicated, beautiful, and so on. And there was one night when the Ball Clock got developed, which was one of the really funny evenings. [Isamu] Noguchi came by, and Bucky Fuller came by. I’d been seeing a lot of Bucky those days, and here was Irving and here was I, and Noguchi, who can’t keep his hands off anything, you know—it is a marvelous, itchy thing he’s got—he saw we were working on clocks and he started making doodles. Then Bucky sort of brushed Isamu aside. He said, “This is a good way to do a clock”, and he made some utterly absurd thing. Everybody was taking a crack at this...pushing each other aside and making scribbles.

At some point we left—we were suddenly all tired, and we'd had a little bit too much to drink—and the next morning I came back, and here was this roll [of drafting paper], and Irving and I looked at it, and somewhere in this roll there was the Ball Clock. I don’t know to this day who cooked it up. I know it wasn’t me. It might have been Irving, but he didn’t think so. [We] both guessed that Isamu had probably done it because [he] has a genius for doing two stupid things and making something extraordinary...out of the combination...[Or] it could have been an additive thing, but, anyway, we never knew. So we did the Ball Clock, which was, in its piddling way, a sort of all-time best-seller for Howard [Miller, because] suddenly it was decided by Mrs. America that this was the clock to put in your kitchen. Why [the] kitchen, I don’t know. But every ad that showed a kitchen for years after that had a ball clock in it.’

****

Source:
Vitra, https://www.vitra.com/en-us/magazine/details/the-best-ideas-come-at-night, date accessed: June 1, 2020

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