Split-flap display unit
Unmatched. Irreplaceable. Pure Solari.
The Solari split-flap display: when technology becomes an icon.
There is a sound that has marked departures, arrivals, and anticipation across places of travel for generations: the rhythmic clack-clack of Solari split-flap displays—a sound woven into our collective imagination that, even today, evokes a sense of movement, wonder, and emotion.
Invented in the 1950s and refined through the 1960s, the split-flap display panel by Solari di Udine revolutionized public information systems in railway stations, airports, and transit terminals worldwide.
An extraordinary breakthrough for its era, this electromechanical system updated schedules, destinations, and track numbers in real time—delivering unprecedented accuracy and reliability.
Design Icon
Beyond sheer efficiency, Solari split-flap displays captured minds through their unique visual and acoustic allure: the synchronized dance of rotating flaps, the unmistakable click-clack accompanying every update, and their clean, purposeful graphics. It created an aesthetic so recognizable that it became a symbol of modern travel and an icon of industrial design.
Their impact resonated deeply, inspiring architects, directors, artists, and collectors alike. Featured in films, exhibitions, and cultural landmarks, Solari displays have evolved into true cult objects.
It is no coincidence that the Alphanumeric Split-Flap Display designed by Gino Valle earned the prestigious Compasso d’Oro in 1962—one of design’s highest honors—and remains on permanent exhibition at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York today.
Today, as the world moves toward digital, the analogue fascination of the split-flap display remains unchanged. Because it is far more than a way to convey information: it is a time machine, telling a story of Italian excellence, ingenuity, and beauty in motion.
Believing in the power of an idea and turning it into a success: this is what brothers Fermo and Remigio Solari achieved.
