Okay, I hadn’t been planning to pimp Shinola product directly just yet, but this was announced today.
If you have done any domestic travel over the years, you’ve got an opinion on the MD-80. The ol’ Mad Dog had a version for each of the major American carriers—I did most of my time on Delta’s MD-88.
From the Shinola website:
“The MD-80 airplane, also known as the Super 80 and Mad Dog, was the workhorse of the American Airlines fleet throughout the 1980’s and beyond. When introduced, the Mad Dog was one of the most fuel-efficient commercial airplanes in the sky due in part to its iconic polished aluminum skin, and its retirement marked the end of an iconic era in American Airlines’ history.
Shinola has been given the honor of capturing a piece of that history. Original MD-80 aluminum paneling has been harvested and repurposed into one-of-a-kind limited edition Shinola Runwell desk clock dials and ID plates.
Assembled in our Detroit watch factory, this desk clock is built with a durable chrome casing and fastened with a caseback plate that displays an individualized serial number.”
I’ll probably buy one. If you spent any time in the seat of the MD, you might want one too. $395 is a steal.
As a reminder, a portion of the proceeds of any Shinola sale using our link goes to fund this website. This is #sponsoredcontent.
“Alexa, what time is it?” I have 2 family heirloom clocks from the 30s that kind of sort of tell time.
My phone tells time.
My PC tells time.
My stove tells time.
My microwave tells time.
My car has a clock.
I’m good. Thanks anyways.
Then it sounds like the point of a decorative clock is lost on you, and you should save your money. Thanks for commenting!
Definitely has my attention… the website says the repurposed part from an MD80 is the clock’s face. I have to admit, there’s something pretty alluring about the fact that the face of that clock traveled more than any person ever will. I’m not sure how many hours our MD’s had when they were retired, but I’m guessing over 50,000… that’s a lot of hang time for a clock face. Pretty cool…
That’s what I like about Shinola—the partnerships and the ingenuity behind the design. They’re not doing ground breaking technology, and nor do they want to. But they always have brilliant ideas.
If you have any influence with the folks at Shinola, perhaps you can convince them to source some of their leather goods from Reed Sportwear, which still makes varsity and motorcycle jackets in Detroit (most of their line is imported but they still have a crew cutting and sewing on Fort St just west of downtown). When Shinola was selling varsity jackets they were made in California. Detroit has a long history with leather motorcycle apparel and accessories. Brooks was here and so was Buco accessories. Marlon Brando’s iconic Wild One motorcycle jacket was likely sold by Buco and made by Reed.
I have zero influence. Unfortunately, American leather is getting worse all the time, and Shinola is struggling to find good quality leather that can be sourced here.
I just bought my wife a Vinton via clicking on the link to the desk clock. I wanted to get a Runwell auto but they are just too big. Pee-Wee is nice but not formal enough, Birdy is too funky, and the Canfield is cool but not practical, so Vinton it is. I hope you guys get the affiliate link credit.
Thank you! She will love the Vinton, it’s a gorgeous watch.
Can you hit me up at barkm302 at Gmail with your name and email address that you used to make the purchase? They aren’t finding it in the system.
$400 bucks is a lot for what I assume is still a $15 Ronda quartz movement, and can never be considered a ‘steal’. There are really no alternatives that I’m aware of; if you NEED an American desk clock, I guess this is the only option. Once you’ve seen one in person, does the “6” line up with the laser etched notch on the bezel? I hope I’m seeing some parallax in the photos on their site.
The non MD-80 version is $295, if you’re not sentimental about the Mad Dog. Some of us are. 🙂
The repurposed airplane aluminum is cool, and I support Michigan based businesses, but for $400, I can buy a decent Ball Railroad pocket watch, which will hold its value better than a desk clock.
My favorite desk clock is the Jefferson Golden Hour, in production from 1949-1991. It’s also known as the Jefferson Mystery Clock. My uncle had one in his home office and it fascinated me as a kid. The hands seemingly revolve on the face of a glass disc, with no visible means of propulsion. How it works is the glass disc itself spins the fixed minute hand and a clever gimbaled gear chain drives the hour hand.
Aesthetically, I’d say it bridges Art-Deco and Mid-Century.
Safety note: Pre 1965 models use radium for lume.
http://www.roger-russell.com/jeffers/jefhour.htm
While it is great that Shinola is making American made products out of the reminants of a once cutting edge American technoloy. Other American companies are standing up for the rights of women and minorities in the workpance, it not relevant that they just happen not to be Americans.
See how a number of great American companies are stepping up to the plate to protect 90,000 American jobs for people other then Americans, fresh off the presses at CNBC:
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/14/google-leads-court-filing-supporting-tens-of-thousands-of-us-visa-holders-ability-to-work.html