History of Seiko Clocks

The story of Seiko begins in 1873, long before the company was founded, when Japan adopted the solar calendar in place of the lunar system. The old Japanese time system had come to an end and noone in Japan had the experience or know-how to make clocks that could be used for the new time system.

At first, clocks were imported from America and Europe, but soon after, new technology introduced from the West, led to the creation of an entirely new horological industry in Japan.

In 1877, Kintaro Hattori started a clock repair service, Hattori Clock Repair, which laid the foundations of modern clock and watch making in Japan. It also provided the foundation for the organisation that was to become, by the end of the 20th century, not only Japan’s most important watch and clock company, but also one of the largest and most important in the world. Kintaro’s success, earned him the nickname “King of Timepieces”. Just four years later in 1881, he set up a new company, K Hattori, as a vehicle for expanding his business beyond simple repairs.

This new company was to sell as well as repair second-hand clocks. Shortly after, he saw further possibilities for expansion and soon developed the company to become an important clock wholesaler. However this was not enough to satisfy Kintaro; he was anxious to start production of his own clocks.

In 1892 Kintaro bought a disused factory in Tokyo and Seikosha was formed. It was here that he produced his first clocks and these marked the beginnings of a company that was to become one of the world’s most important manufacturers of timepieces. Seikosha started by making wall clocks and later graduated to pocket-watches, alarm clocks and wrist watches.

By 1897 Seikosha had become the largest wall clock manufacturer in Japan. In 1899 the company achieved another ‘first’ for a Japanese clockmaker by producing alarm clocks. In 1906 Seikosha’s alarm clock production had grown to 70,000 units. By 1907 this jumped to 120,000 and by the following year 170,000 units. Seiko was now truly competitive and its clocks were the finest available. In subsequent years the Seikosha name was changed to Seiko.

It was the far-sighted genius of Kintaro Hattori that laid the foundations of the present Seiko Corporation. Since his death in 1934, his descendants have demonstrated skills of imagination, innovation and business acumen that enabled the company now known as Seiko, to become the world’s largest watch and clock producer.

Poster shows the Seikosha factory and some of its earliest products

A Seikosha alarm clock assembly line around 1930

This wall clock was made by Seikosha in 1892, the year Kintaro Hattori set up his first clock factory