One of the coolest things yet on the blog: A working Kit-Cat clock! In celebration of the 80th anniversary of this American icon, I connected with the nice folks at the California Clock Company — the sole manufacturers of the Kit-Cat Clock — and they gave me the pieces to make my own little online eyes-moving, tail-wagging Kit-Cat clock. 
I have named him Englebert. Happy birthday, K-C, you don’t look a day over 21! Seriously, the Kit-Cat clock has an illustrious past — and a remarkable present — including the dedication of the company’s owner to keep it Made in the USA. Read on for more about the fabulous Kit-Cat clock.
Made in the USA — for 80 years
One of the things that I learned in my conversation with the California Clock Company, is that the only changes to Kit-Cat clock in the past few decades have come when various component manufacturers started moving their production overseas. But Woody Young, the owner of the company, did not want such a famous piece of Americana to have made-in-Wherever parts — he wanted everything Made in the USA (with occasional exceptions, such as the special-edition clocks made with Austrian crystals.) So, there have been some redesigns to the internals to make sure the company could get all the parts here. That is: They spent money — they went the extra mile — to keep the jobs in America. Wow. The Kit-Cat clock continues to be super popular today — not only in the U.S. but also all around the world. An export! There’s even a fan club and a Kit-Cat® Creed:
Put a smile on everyone’s face;
Love in everyone’s heart;
Energy in everyone’s body;
and Be a positive force in everyone’s life!
History and how to date of a vintage Kit-Cat clock
The Kit-Cat clock was born in the 1930s, during the Great Depression. And while it’s had some minor modifications over the years, it’s pretty much the same swingin’ cat. The Kit-Cat history page is excellent at providing info about marks and features that can help you date a vintage clock (tip: Dinner and a movie are always appropriate.) Here’s just a tidbit:
If the back of the clock states “Portland, OR” it is late 30’s.
If the back of the clock states “Seattle, WA” it was made in the 40’s if it is a metal back.
If the back of the clock states “Seattle, WA” with a plastic back and no front paws it was made in the early 50’s.
If the back of the clock states “Seattle, WA” with a plastic back and has front paws it was made mid to late 50’s.
The bow tie was added about 1954.
etc….see the website.
You can buy new Kit-Cat clocks today straight from the California Clock Company. They come in a large number of colors, and the company comes out with several special editions every year. There are also upgrades — like a Kit-Cat with a football helmet — oh, and increasingly, they have sports team colors on the clocks, too. Hmmm, Father’s Day is coming up, this gives me an idea.
Sherry Holdridge says
Oh wow, I had no idea the clock was Made in the USA. Now I love it more. I spent a lot of time staring at it as a kid. Thanks for featuring it.
Sherry Holdridge
OHSAY USA
Jen says
Too fun, Pam! Especially this big!
My parents gave me a Kit-Cat for Christmas last year—I’d long wanted one, and they found a Route 66 one to celebrate my two successful shoots! Receiving one of these wonderful clocks made me so happy I got all choked up and almost cried. (Sap here.) He now hangs on the kitchen wall, and it’s true—you smile every time you see him! Now I just need more and more and more of them. It’s a whole new kind of crazy cat lady!
BTW, their customer service is really fabulous. Everyone should have a Kit-Cat! Or twelve.
pam kueber says
🙂
Retrosandie says
Pam, what a delightful story!! I think you should somehow add one of those cute little working kit-kats onto your page!!! Wouldn’t it be cool if it could show the correct time whenever someone stops on your blog??!! Now I’ve added a pink clock to my list of “wants” (“needs, gotta-haves”!)!! 🙂
Ann-Marie Meyers says
Who can forget their first Kit-Cat clock? My room-mates got me one for Christmas back in the early 80’s. It was a vintage one. It was electric, had no bowtie, and did have front paws, so that would put it at from the early 50’s. It was black.
It gave out early in my marriage, somewhere around 1985, and my husband and kids got me a new one in the 90’s, but I have no idea what happened to it.
Guess I need to buy myself one. I will put it on my list of possible birthday presents for myself!
Jennifer says
Great to see these today! A black one is my “Kitchen is Done” last purchase “prize.” My aunt had one in her kitchen that I always loved. Wonderful to see they are Made In America – I didn’t know that!
Katie B says
I have a cute mini pink one, complete with eyelashes and pearls! Although it no longer works, it still looks fantastic on the wall.
JKaye says
I have loved Kit Kat clocks since seeing one in the bedroom of the little girls I babysat for way back in the mid-70s. I’ve often thought I would like one. I still have some Christmas gift money, and maybe a Kit Kat clock is the very gift to give myself. Hmm, what color?
Leslie says
I have always loved his cute clock and finally bought one several years ago. I knew the history of the clock but not the “made in USA” piece. Great news!
Wendy M. says
I love these…my grandma bought me one in the late ’80’s. Sadly, when I plugged it in the last time the motor only ran for a minute and gave out. I need to contact them about the possibility of retrofitting it with a battery-operated motor…thanks for reminding me I need to do that!
Retrosandie says
Wendy, check the Kit Kat web site that Pam gives a link to. There’s lots of info about repairs, etc. Hope you get yours working!!! 🙂
Wendy M. says
Thanks Retrosandie- I will!
My kids really want it in their playroom, but if it was battery-operated, I could put it up in my laundry room. That way I would get to enjoy it more (and it would be less likely to be knocked off the wall! 🙂
ChrisH says
I really like that they came up with a battery movement when they could no longer get American made electric movements.