Kaufmann's Clock

The Kaufmann's Clock is an historic, four-faced bronze timepiece located at Smithfield Street and Fifth Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh installed in 1913 by the Coldwell Clock Company.  A renowned meeting spot for over a century, it was designated a landmark in 1981, surviving various store ownership changes. Despite the department store shifting from Kaufmann's to Macy's in 2006, the clock remains a permanent fixture on the building. The clock was refurbished by the Pittsburgh Clock Company in 1987 for $30,000.  

This historic clock is a beloved Pittsburgh treasure, symbolizing the city's history and serving as a traditional meeting point for generations.

"Meet Me Under the Clock"

Prior to cell phones, the clock was the quintessential, well-known meeting spot for shoppers, couples and friends in Pittsburgh.  The clock weighs in at 2,500 pounds and has been a famous meeting spot for over a century, known for the phrase "meet me under the clock".  Installed in 1913 to replace an earlier version, it became a cultural icon and a central part of Pittsburgh's identity.  Even after the Kaufmann's department store closed the clock remains a fixture representing the city's heritage and serving as a backdrop for traditions like holiday window displays.  The Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation designated the clock a significant landmark in 1981. 

HISTORIC LANDMARK

KAUFMANN'S DEPT. STORE and CLOCK

BUILT 1898  CHARLES BICKEL  ARCHITECT

ADDITION 1913  JANSSEN & ABBOTT  ARCHITECTS

PITTSBURGH HISTORY &

LANDMARKS FOUNDATION

Charles A. Bickel

Circa 1905

Charles A. Bickel (1852-1921) was a prominent architect who practiced in Pittsburgh.  He was born  to a well-to-do family in Columbus, Ohio who sent him to Europe for six years to prepare him for a career in architecture.  On his return in 1875, he settled in Pittsburgh and apprenticed with an architect.  In 1885, he opened his independent practice which at its height averaged $3,000,000 a year in commercial structures.  He served for a time as architect to the city of Pittsburgh.