Kit-Cat kept on ticking through the 90’s when the first Limited Color Edition Kit-Cats began to be manufactured, including the first 3/4 size Kitty Cat which was introduced in 1996. With no other alternative, the California Clock Company was driven to develop a new battery technology. A battery motor powerful enough to move Kit-Cat’s exclusive “one-second” animation had yet to be invented. In 1982, the owner of the California Clock Company convinced Ohio native and serial entrepreneur Woody Young to take over as President/Owner and keep Kit-Cat going strong into the new millennium.īut in the late 1980′s, the American Made legacy of Kit-Cat was almost lost! In the span of a few years, American electric motor manufacturing was almost exclusively relocated to Asia, leaving Kit-Cat without a US motor supplier. In 1962, Allied Clock moved production to Southern California and renamed itself the California Clock Company. Due to his popularity, it wasn’t long before Kit-Cat became synonymous with the 1950’s in America. The top paws and the Kit-Cat’s dapper bow tie were added. The 40s and 50s were decades of explosive growth for Kit-Cat’s popularity and marked the first (and last) changes in his design. Allied Clock soon adopted the increasingly popular method of plastic molding and moved to Seattle, WA. They also had starter knobs on the front to “start” the motor spinning in the correct direction when it was plugged in, because “self-starting” motors were not widely used in clocks in the 30’s. The earliest clocks had no markings on the back and most had metal bodies, metal clock hands and four toes on each of the two paws. The Allied Clock Company was founded in Portland, Oregon to manufacture these uniquely animated pendulum clocks. ![]() The manufacturer ( California Clock Company) is based in Ontario, California and they remain dedicated to keeping this part of Americana alive by keeping the same look that survived since the 1950’s.įUN FACT: Did you know that the opening scene of the wildly popular move from 1985 ( Back to the Future) features Kit-Kat…remember this ticking intro.?įollowing is a brief history of the Kit-Kat clock and how it evolved over the past 8 decades… 1930’sĭuring the height of The Great Depression, the Kit-Cat clock was first invented in 1932 in Oregon by designer Earl Arnault (1904-1971). That’s 86 years of bringing time to life in purrfect rhythm.įUN FACT: Here’s a staggering statistic…believe it or not, for the last 50 years, someone has purchased a Kit-Cat clock every 3 minutes! >^.^<Īll Kit-Cat clocks are true to the original design and have been made in the USA since their inception. Believe it or not, this frisky feline time keeper with its iconic swinging tail, rolling eyes and contagious smile has inspired smiles from cat lovers around the world since 1932. It’s probably a good bet that everyone has seen (or maybe even owns) a Kit-Cat clock. Silent movement.Well we’re finally doing an article about clocks…and it’s about time! This now timeless piece of Americana continues to spread cheer with his wily expression and contagious grin. Through the 1950s, Kit-Cat's popularity skyrocketed, and the dapper feline became a fixture in the American kitchen and synonymous with the era. The clock was created by a designer from a small town in Oregon during the height of the Great Depression. ![]() With his signature wagging tail, rolling eyes, and irresistible smile, the Kit-Cat Clock has been an indelible part of American history and popular culture for more than 80 years. ![]() Design in Oregon, America during the Great Depression, it became a symbol of the American kitchen and is now a timeless piece of Americana with its contagious smile. The Classic Kit-Cat clock in black with its wagging tail, rolling eyes and wily smile is a classic part of pop culture for more than 80 years.
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