© 2024 MICHIGAN PUBLIC
91.7 Ann Arbor/Detroit 104.1 Grand Rapids 91.3 Port Huron 89.7 Lansing 91.1 Flint
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Shinola city clocks unveiled in Detroit

Curbed Detroit video screen shot
The clock outside of Cobo Center.

Shinola makes handcrafted wristwatches in Detroit, and now they're donating four clocks for display in the city.

Today they unveiled one of the Shinola City Clocks at Cobo Center. Other clocks are also located at Eastern Market, Midtown and the College for Creative Studies, according to the Detroit News:

The other three clocks, which also went up Friday, are at Eastern Market’s Shed 3, in Midtown at a future dog park at Cass and West Canfield, and at Shinola’s headquarters at the College for Creative Studies.

Here's a video from Curbed Detroit showing the clock and its second hand at work.

More from the Associated Press:

The clocks are inspired by city clocks that became popular fixtures on sidewalks of American cities in the 1800s. The Shinola City Clocks are mounted on poles or walls, and they're designed in the style of a pocket watch. Shinola partnered with the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority to install the clock outside of downtown's Cobo Center. Currently at the corner of Washington Boulevard and West Larned Street, the clock will be moved to Cobo Square this fall.

Michigan Radio's Lester Graham recently visited Shinola. The company employs around 225 technicians. Shinola president Jacques Panis told Graham there's good reason to build watches in Detroit:

“Manufacturing is in the DNA of the people of this city, and we’re manufacturing watches here. Much like cars, car engines. You know, we have an assembly facility right here in Midtown Detroit,” Panis said.

Mark Brush was the station's Digital Media Director. He succumbed to a year-long battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, in March 2018. He was 49 years old.
Related Content