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New Baby Ben Alarm Clocks Have Lost Their “Soul”
When the Big Ben alarm clock was introduced in 1908, one of its important features was that the entire back of the case was the bell. This made the alarm ring louder and deeper than other alarm clocks...
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Westclox Big Ben and Baby Ben Identification Guide
In 1984, my friend Richard Tjarks and I published the “Westclox Big Ben and Baby Ben Identification Guide” to go along with the display of Westclox clocks and watches at the NAWCC National Convention...
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The Westclox Factory in Scotland
An article about the Westclox factory in Scotland was just added to the ClockHistory.com web site. This factory produced over 50 million clocks in its lifetime. Many of these clocks are still around...
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1919 Westclox Parts and Repair Manual
In 1919, Westclox (Western Clock Company) published a parts and repair manual called “First Aid for injured Westclox.” I have only a fair photocopy of this manual, but hope to buy or borrow an original...
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Westclox History Summary Added to ClockHistory.com
In the late 1970’s, Westclox typed up a document giving highlights of the company’s history from 1885 to 1976. The document is now on ClockHistory.com Share this post:
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Massive Fire at Former Westclox Plant in Peru, Illinois
The fire started shortly before the new year, and two teenagers were charged with arson. Peru assistant fire chief Jim Duncan said the middle building portion of the Westclox complex was fully engulfed...
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A 1911 Big Ben Dial with “45” at the Bottom
Here is a Big Ben style 1 I bought in 1981. It is in rough condition, but has a rare dial and an uncommon back. The movement has a date stamp 5 17 11 (May 17, 1911). The dial is like a regular Big Ben...
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Western Clock Co. used the Big Ben alarm clock to introduce the trademark...
Introduction This post discusses how Western Clock Co. used the Big Ben alarm clock to introduce the Westclox trademark. Summary Western Clock Co. Mfg. Co. (later Western Clock Co.) was known for good,...
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Western Clock Co. Advertising and the Introduction of the Trademark “Westclox”
Introduction The word Westclox (an abbreviation for Western Clocks) first appeared on the backs of Big Ben alarm clocks ca. October 1910. In late 1911, Westclox appeared in the small print at the...
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The Westclox Fiber Case Waralarm
Westclox suspended the production of consumer clocks and watches on July 31, 1942 to make material for World War Two. An alarm clock shortage developed, so early in 1943, the War Production Board (WPB)...
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The Westclox Metal Case Waralarm
The Westclox Metal Case Waralarm replaced the Fiber Case Waralarm around April 1944. Most have a black case, some have ivory color cases, and I have knowledge of one in a metallic brown case. The Metal...
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Early Die Cast Bases on Westclox Alarm Clocks: Ben Hur, and Big Ben and Baby...
The first alarm clocks that Westclox made have round cases with legs. In 1926, their first alarm clock with a base, the Ben Hur, was introduced. In 1927, Westclox introduced Big Ben Style 2 and Baby...
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1903 Western Clock Mfg. Co. (Westclox) Catalog
Westclox researcher Gary Biolchini found a 1903 Western Clock Mfg. Co. catalog at an auction. The front cover is blank, and page 1 shows how their factory grew in size. The catalog has 23 pages. It...
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Westclox Clock and Watch Catalogs
I began collecting Westclox Baby Ben alarm clocks when I was 13 years old (1969). After college, I got into Westclox collecting and research in a big way. Read about my Westclox collecting Story. My...
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Westclox Style 5 and 5a Big Ben Alarm Clocks
I’ve liked Westclox Style 5 Big Ben and Baby Ben alarm clocks ever since my Grammy gave me a black Style 5 Baby Ben when I was 14 years old. The Style 5’s case shape was designed by Henry Dreyfuss,...
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Using the Westclox Database – Tick Talk Magazines and Parts Catalogs
My clockhistory.com website has a database of Westclox clock and watch models, documents, case styles, clock detail variations, and patents. The main Westclox database page is...
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Patents in the Westclox Database
Many vintage Westclox alarm clocks have patent numbers or dates stamped on the back. I put the most common patents in the clockhistory.com database. You can see them on the following web page:...
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Patent Dates vs. Patent Numbers on Old Clocks
For years I wondered why the backs of Westclox alarm clocks listed patent dates at first, then were changed in 1927 to show patent numbers. Recently I was reading a book about vacuum tube history...
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Westclox Logan Electric Alarm Clock Made in November 1945
The “Logan” electric alarm clock was one of the first new products that Westclox introduced after world war II. Produced from October 1945 through 1953, Logan was made with both plain and luminous...
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