The Jet-Age Time Machine: The Boomerang Clock

There is something undeniably magnetic about mid-century design. The decade between 1950 and 1960 captured a moment when humanity looked up at the sky, mesmerized by the sleek lines of commercial jetliners, the promise of space travel, and the bold geometry of atomic-era architecture. Few pieces captured that optimistic Jet-Age spirit quite like a little-known, short-lived masterpiece: the Westclox 707.

The Legend of the Westclox 707

In late 1959, Westclox released a clock that broke away from traditional boxy mantel designs. Named in homage to the booming jet aviation era, most notably the revolutionary Boeing 707, the Westclox 707 featured an unmistakable winged, boomerang-inspired body suspended gracefully on a sleek metal foot and spire. It looked as though it were hovering, ready for takeoff right off your side table. Produced in a very limited run from 1959 to 1961, the original 707 became a quiet legend among mid-century design collectors.

Where Mid-Century History Meets Midwest Craftsmanship

When I set out to design the Xylem Wrx Boomerang Clock, I did not want to merely copy a classic, I wanted to honor its jet-age soul while reinterpreting it through my love for natural timber and architectural detail. Here is how I brought the Boomerang back to life:

1. A sculptural floating silhouette: just like the 1959 original, a custom metal foot and spire elevates and suspends the body, creating an illusion of weightlessness against the density of real hardwood.
2. A layered hardwood body: instead of molded plastics or mass-produced metals, I build each Boomerang body with stacked, contrasting ribbons of locally harvested black walnut, rich cherry, and radiant hard maple.
3. An architectural face with Iowa roots: I paired the body with an authentic clock face originally designed by the celebrated Sacramento architectural firm Greene and Greene, contemporaries of Frank Lloyd Wright, precision-crafted right here in Kalona, Iowa.
4. Tailored options: a classic glass cover or a high-clarity protective lens, and a subtle numeric dial or a bold, decor-inspired face.

When you place a Xylem Wrx Boomerang Clock on your desk, mantel, or vinyl storage cabinet, you are displaying a piece of mid-century design history that bridges 1950s optimism with hands-on Midwest craftsmanship. Looking to add a touch of Jet-Age mid-century style to your space? Explore the Boomerang Clock and my full line of handcrafted woodware at xylemwrx.com.

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