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Comment by duxup | Hacker News Reader

Distantly related but when I was in Europe decades ago I was at a train station where they had a massive split-flap display ( I want to say at a couple places ). I loved watching it update.

Aesthetically it was so much better than big super bright screens.

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What you're looking for is called a Solari Board, there's some mesmerising videos of them around, and a few places still have them!

There's a company in the US that will make you one/rent you one, you can even control it via API. They sound really cool too.. I think I need to expense one for my office!

https://www.oatfoundry.com/split-flap/

Yeah if you have to contact them to get a price.... dang.

We can build a Split Flap for you!

The main international terminal at Auckland airport still had a huge Solari board until just a few years ago (~2012).

Sadly, they had to go digital in the end due to spare parts becoming difficult to source.

According to Wikipedia, there are still some airports (eg Frankfurt) and many rail stations that still have them in active service.

The San Francisco Ferry Building has one that's in use today.

I need one for my house .... maybe put the weather on it and have a button to cycle it.

You're in luck! https://hackaday.com/2018/08/18/custom-split-flap-display-is...

The board in Utrecht Centraal (the Netherlands) was taken down a few years ago, but you can still enjoy it in all its clackety goodness as https://itunes.apple.com/nl/app/blauwe-bord/id474162209 -- developed by the railroad company itself and showing real data off their open API.

South Station in Boston had one of these until maybe 5 years ago; sadly it's been replaced with a digital one. Though they do have a loudspeaker play a recording of the flapping sound whenever the display changes to alert travelers.

Frankfurt Airport still has an enormous one (landside, not for those already waiting to board). It's absolutely beautiful to watch.

They still have it at the Gare de Lyon in Paris

And Gare du Nord

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