Page 26 - The Collector's Companion: Issue CC103

Meow Kit-Cat Timeline

1932
First Kit-Cat clock
Late 1930s
Has electric cord
‘Portland, OR’ on back
1940s
‘Seattle, WA’ on metal back
New colours - red and white
Kit-Cat has remained remarkably unchanged since his featuring in video games and merchandising. Faul
birth (see our timeline), his enduring popularity rooted says Kit-Cat is part of “a desire for nostalgic home Early 1950s ‘Seattle, WA’ on plastic back
in nostalgia. His popularity soared in the 1950s and décor that comforts and uplifts in this time of change.”
then again with jewelled versions (the idea of the sales Mid-late 1950s Front paws added
manager’s wife, jewelling the first one in her kitchen) According to the company, someone buys a Kit-Cat
being the Kit-Cat of choice in the 1960s and 1970s. Klock every three minutes – an average perhaps 1954 Bow tie added. Handsome!
helped along by Lucille Ball buying a case of them ev-
There was a period of time, starting with Pluto the dog ery year to give as gifts! I asked Faul how the company Late 1950s Jewelled Kit-Cats introduced
(sold exclusively through Disney outlets) when the innovates whilst staying true to the original design,
company made other animals - a poodle, a bear and an and the answer? Limited editions. The company uses Early 1960s ‘El Monte, CA’ on back
owl - but with the change to battery power in the 1990s fashion colour forecasts to create several limited edi-
the cost of moulding these variants was too high when tion clocks per year and more recently that includes Mid 1960s ‘San Juan Capistrano, CA’
it was the Kit-Cat that remained the most popular. hydrographics and glow in the dark coatings to make, - Early 1990s on back
as Faul puts it, “even more exciting clocks.” They have
Primarily a USA-based icon for many years, interest also introduced Lady Kit-Cat (with a 1964 No number stamped on back
in Kit-Cat has surged across Japan, then Europe and pearl necklace and eyelashes) and a -1981
Australia. Jennifer Faul of Kit-Cat’s California Clock three-quarter size Kitty. 1982 ‘Kit-Cat’ on clock face
Company told me they partly put this down to “widely-
accessible internet-based shows such as Stranger Pre-1960s electric models change 1982 Stamped number on back
Things that included Kit-Cat in pivotal scenes.” hands for £100+, with jewelled mod- -1989
els generally priced higher. With >1990 Change to battery
Surrounded by a digital world, there has been a move vintage parts still available from operated
back to analogue with vinyl and cassettes in recent the manufacturers, a broken clock
years, a trend which Kit-Cat fits in with, even Mickey can still fetch a fair price. Bizarrely, 1992 First annual limited
Mouse and his friends have revisited the original despite the detailed dating timeline colour editions released
animation style in a new series of shorts and after 60 available, many vintage Kit-Cats (starting with flamingo
years Oswald the Lucky Rabbit has made a comeback, are still wrongly dated when sold red, teal and white)
so look carefully at the back
plates before purchasing. 1996 Three-quarter size
Kitty Cat introduced
2001 Lady Kit-Cat with
pearls and eyelashes
introduced
2016 Hydrographic
Clockwise from top: 1940s Seattle (black), finishes introduced
early 1960s El Monte (yellow), 2020
hydrographic edition (leopard), 2018 limited
edition Lady Kit-Cat (ultra violet - Pantone
Colour of the Year), late 1960s/early 1970s
El Monte jewelled Kit-Cat (avocado), 2021 Timeline courtesy
Kitty Cat (ocean waves). All Kit-Cat photos of California Clock
supplied by California Clock Company. Company
26 27