[hmcq6]

It sounds weird when you put it that way because that's not what happened.

> he disassembled a digital clock then put the pieces in a pencil case?

The Wikipedia article does say he "reassembled" the clock but if you check out the linked source The Dallas Morning News is very clear that it is a homemade.

He did not disassemble a digital clock and reassemble it in another case. He took existing parts and built them into a clock.

From the pictures my guess would be that he took an existing clock and connected it to that older 8 segment display (he may have also changed the power source photos are inconclusive but I don't see a 9 volt in the 9 volt reciever/mount point).