Compiled from 5 sources; we haven't tested this product ourselves yet. How we research
Quick answer
The Penco Clipboard O/S is HIGHTIDE's old-school clipboard: an MDF board with a strong metal clip and a stopper that keeps pads level. Four sizes run from A4 (230 × 345 mm) to Mini (85 × 150 mm); the A5 is 152 × 245 mm and 140 g. Clips are silver, gold or bronze; it's made in Taiwan.
On this page9 sections
A5 gold beside the Check and Mini sizes; clip shapes drawn by eye (1 mm = 0.85 px).
Product facts
Product
Penco Clipboard O/S, A5, Gold (DP161; also A5 DP111 and A4, Check and Mini sizes)
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Notes on these facts
Made by HIGHTIDE Inc.. Made in Taiwan: HIGHTIDE's Japanese product pages for the A5 (DP111) and the gold A5 (DP161) give 生産 (production): 台湾 (Taiwan). Source. Price: example listing.
Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43 = CZK 21.7; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).
Key takeaways
The A5 board measures 152 × 245 × 29 mm (6 × 9.6 × 1.1 in) and weighs 140 g; the A4 is 230 × 345 × 45 mm and 370 g, per HIGHTIDE.
Four sizes: A4, A5, Check (100 × 230 mm, for restaurant bills) and Mini (85 × 150 mm, for business cards).
HIGHTIDE Japan lists the A5 at ¥660 (about US$4.20) and the gold-clip A5 at ¥880 (about US$5.60), tax included.
The board is MDF and the clip has a stopper at its root to hold legal pads square, HIGHTIDE says.
The gold A5 (DP161) averages 4.4 stars from about 183 Amazon US ratings; the gold A4 has about 417 (October 22, 2026).
What is the Penco Clipboard O/S?
It’s a plain brown MDF clipboard with a heavy metal clip, sold by Japan’s HIGHTIDE under its Penco brand. HIGHTIDE’s page calls it “CLIP BOARD OLD SCHOOL”: a standard office clipboard kept in its traditional American shape.
HIGHTIDE says the clip grips hard enough that papers don’t slip, and a stopper at the clip’s root holds a legal pad level with the board. It suggests the board for legal pads, fax paper and pamphlets, and for cafes, salons and shops as well as desks.
Sizes and weights come from HIGHTIDE’s Japanese product pages and prices from its clipboard category, read on October 22, 2026; prices include tax. Depth is the clip’s height above the board. The Journal Shop gives the A5 as 229 × 153 mm, within a few millimetres.
Each size gets its own clip size, HIGHTIDE says (1 mm = 0.62 px).
Which size should you buy?
A5 for a notebook-sized pad on a desk; A4 for letter pads; Check and Mini for receipts and cards.
A4 (230 × 345 mm): wide enough for 8.5 × 11 in letter paper and legal pads.
A5 (152 × 245 mm): fits A5 sheets and 5 × 8 in junior legal pads with room to spare.
Check (100 × 230 mm): made for the bills you see in cafes and restaurants, HIGHTIDE says.
Mini (85 × 150 mm): business-card size, HIGHTIDE says.
HIGHTIDE varies the clip size with the board, so the small boards don’t look top-heavy.
Gold, silver or bronze clip?
Same board and clip, different finish. HIGHTIDE sells the clip in silver, gold and bronze, and the gold costs ¥220 (about US$1.40) more than silver on the A5 in Japan.
On Amazon US, the gold versions are the best known: on October 22, 2026, the gold A5 (DP161) averaged 4.4 stars from about 183 ratings, and the gold A4 (DP162) had about 417. In the US the A5 sits in our $$ band ($5–20).
How does it compare with a plastic clipboard?
It’s heavier and better looking than a plastic board, but MDF doesn’t like water. HIGHTIDE notes that the MDF edges can have small burrs. MDF is wood fibre bonded with adhesive, so keep it away from spills.
For receipts or a stack of loose sheets with no board at all, Penco’s Plastic Clampy Clip is a 100 mm wide spring clip in 20 colors.
Where is the Penco clipboard made?
In Taiwan, per HIGHTIDE. Its Japanese pages for the A5 and gold A5 both give Taiwan as the place of production, packaged with a paper band. Penco is one of HIGHTIDE’s brands, and HIGHTIDE is a Japanese stationery company; it describes this board’s look as distinctly American.
Frequently asked questions
What size is the Penco A5 clipboard?
HIGHTIDE lists it at 15.2 × 24.5 × 2.9 cm (6 × 9.6 × 1.1 in), with a weight of 140 g. It holds A5 paper and 5 × 8 in junior legal pads.
What is the Penco clipboard made of?
MDF, a board of finely ground wood fibre bonded with adhesive, with a metal clip. HIGHTIDE says the material is hard and strong but can show small burrs at the edges.
What does O/S mean on the Penco clipboard?
HIGHTIDE's page heads the line "CLIP BOARD OLD SCHOOL", so O/S stands for old school: a standard American-style design kept as it was.
What colours does the Penco clipboard come in?
The board is natural brown MDF; the clip comes in silver, gold or bronze, HIGHTIDE says. Not every size comes in every clip colour.
Will a US letter pad fit the Penco A4 clipboard?
Yes. The A4 board is 230 mm (9.1 in) wide, wider than an 8.5 in letter or legal pad, and HIGHTIDE names legal pads as one thing to clip.
Is the Penco clipboard made in Japan?
No, in Taiwan, per HIGHTIDE's Japanese product pages. Penco is HIGHTIDE's brand, and HIGHTIDE is a Japanese company.
