For decades, the name has been synonymous with innovation in public timekeeping. From the iconic flip-dot "Split Flap" boards in international airports to the robust analog and digital clocks in train stations across Europe, Solari engineered machines built to last. Among their most revered, yet often misunderstood, pieces of equipment is the Solari Udine MCK 2245 .
First, to appreciate the MCK 2245 is to understand its physical and operational context. Produced by Solari di Udine, a company famous for its “flap boards” or tabelloni a palette , the MCK 2245 was likely a modular unit designed for information points such as train departure gates, airport arrival boards, or bank exchange rate displays. Its core mechanism is a marvel of deterministic simplicity: each character position consists of a series of rigid plastic or aluminum flaps, each stamped with a letter, number, or symbol. These flaps are attached to a central rotating hub. The “work” described in the manual involves a controlled electrical impulse to a solenoid, which advances the hub until the correct flap is facing the viewer. The resulting clack-clack-clack —a sound as iconic as a steam locomotive’s whistle—is the auditory proof of a successful operation. solari udine mck 2245 manuale work