i use a 1980s I believe westclox pocket ben sweep 2nd hand, I actually had a westclox bullseye from the early 1990s when I was in elementary school. When I went home and washed my hands in a dark bathroom, they would appear luminous and ghostly, an original Ghost Girl named Catherine Donohue (nee Wolfe) later testified. "Westclox" in italics, double hexagon legs: 1918, "Westclox" in italics, regular legs: 1918 -1922, "Westclox" in italics, very narrow lettering at bottom: "MADE BY WESTERN CLOCK CO., LA SALLE, ILL., U.S.A.", ca. When I was eight we moved to a new house and my mom and I were looking in the attic and found an old octagon wall clock made by Waterbury, probably dated about 1880. It still works. Westclox made an excellent, almost exact, reproduction of the style 1a Big Ben in 1970. The clock is shielded From the glass crystal. Ive been trying to compare lots of different clocks to find out what original parts go together. Before we get to that, though, we have to start with the issue of geography as it concerns the business in question. The only problem is a standard size D battery does not fit. Welcome to the Westclox Clock and Watch History Database. Also, its not just Americans who collect, its worldwide. We pay his railroad fare on all orders for a dozen or more, we brand him with your name in lots of 24.. Contact the Webmaster for perceived copyright infringement (DMCA Registration Number 1010287). 2023 by Andrew Clayman. American manufacturers were quick to see that the millionaires are a negligible quantity as consumers, and that, not chronometersnot marvels of intricacy and originalitywere needed, but timepieces within the reach and want of all. Both the Big and Baby Bens were housed in a newly refined bell-back clock case. Annie Moussin designer intrieur. They made the most of the perk, wearing their good dresses to the plant so theyd shine in the dance halls at night, and even painting radium onto their teeth for a smile that would knock their suitors dead., When I went home and washed my hands in a dark bathroom, they would appear luminous and ghostly,, My clothes, hanging in a dark closet, gave off a phosphorescent glare. About 1920 the luminous dial using radium paint was introduced. So I brought it home and left it hanging and would wind it up every once in a while. At one time they employed about 3500 people, making about 35, 000 clocks and watches per day. Selling for $2.50 in the years before World War I (or about $60 in modern money), the 5-inch diameter Big Ben and its half-pint cousin the Baby Ben combined to move over 900,000 units in just 1913 alone, and the Western Clock MFG Companynot yet officially known as Westcloxwas producing more than twice that many clocks annually in total. During World War II they had some fantastic ads that you can see on my website like, Victory Wont Wait for the Nation Thats Late, and Guard Your Big Ben where they show a bulldog and a soldier with a gun guarding a Big Ben because during the war they stopped making clocks for the consumer market and totally switched over to military work. . My moms father had a small collection of antique clocks and when I was a little boy he showed me how to wind them and regulate them. Next year, well have been married for 49 years, Mary Ann said. A well-dressed, steady and punctual chap, up to the minute and always on the job., Big Ben always comes to you straight from home, LaSalle, Illinois, read another. Copyright The first style 1a cases had double-hexagon legs, but after about a year they were changed to standard single hex form. These styles constitute the I cannot date it. Among the rarities on display is a Westclox-made National Emergency Alarm Repeater. The drinking fountain worked..
Vintage Clocks and Radium Risks - Ken's Clock Clinic Required fields are marked *. In some respects, the early rise of the Western Clock MFG Co. is even more impressive considering the company didnt have all the resources of an established, major metropolis to draw from. They made the most of the perk, wearing their good dresses to the plant so theyd shine in the dance halls at night, and even painting radium onto their teeth for a smile that would knock their suitors dead.. Soon, he was running the Western Clock Co. advertising department, and proving his worth with some clever marketing strategies. Radium dials held near the face have been shown to produce radiation doses in excess of 10Sv / hour. It has ingraved on it 2-20-31. From 1917 to 1926, the United States Radium Corporation used radium to produce wristwatches and clocks. Before OSHA was set up, 14,000 people died on the job every year; today, it is just over 4,500. In the production of ordinary clocks adapted to the needs and means of the millions, America produces results of remarkable excellence. Jessie, good observation. At this moment I study horology at West Dean College in the UK. I love the Hamiltons in particular, probably some of the best watches made in America. Initially hired as a low level clerk, Le Roy worked his way up the company ladder in the early 1900s as an on-the-road sales rep, soliciting business from Chicago to New York to parts unknown. This was a wonderful article to read. Although old radium dials generally no longer produce light, this is due to the breakdown of the crystal structure of the luminous zinc sulfide rather than the radioactive decay of the radium. A pair of teenage boys broke into the abandoned factory and set a fire that quickly spread and enveloped much of the central complex. In the production of ordinary clocks adapted to the needs and means of the millions, America produces results of remarkable excellence. [7] A 2018 study by researchers from the University of Northampton found that a collection of 30 vintage military watches with radium dials kept in an small, unventilated room produced a radon concentration 134 times greater than the UK's recommended "safe" level. Westclox Classic Alarm Clock Full Size 47602. who can refurbush big ben still runs good perfect time purchased in 1950 cataloge #885(885). Most are in nickel finish cases, but some were made in gold plated cases. In 1913, with help from the US government, Dr. Douglas formed the National Radium Institute, to mine radium from uranium ores recently discovered in Colorado. When many of these early Big Ben advertisements were still running, Gaston Le Roys life took a sudden and dramatic turn. Westclox began as the United Clock Company of Peru, Illinois in 1885. its about 2 inches long maybe 1/2 in thick with holes on either end to be worn on a key chain perhaps? I have a Westclox Big Ben 1910 style 1a and have not been able to find out the present value/worth. Some people just want one or two that they remember from childhood in good condition, so thats just the thing for them. All the aforementioned to ask you if you know how many of the 1970 style 1As were made. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Over time, she contracted terrible cancerous tumors, lost most of her teeth, and suffered countless other health problems. Westclox Clock Construction and Quality. I have a collection of alarm clocks, but slowly selling many. . Style 5 dial design]. The women also left a legacy to science that has been termed invaluable., shifting from serif to sans-serif typefaces and from slightly ornate to more streamlined minute and second hands, all of which eased legibility; setting the clock face closer to the glass, reducing shadows; and creating a slightly smaller form overall., three women fainted, several clerks were trampled, and four showcase windows were shattered before police untangled a jam of 2,500 women and a few stout-hearted men who converged on the store., For That Healthy Glow, Drink Radiation . The NAWCC is dedicated to providing association services, promoting interest in and encouraging the collecting of clocks and watches including disseminating knowledge of the same. His bigger job was to design a system so the power companies could regulate their generator so the clock could keep time. It has a cracked front lens that I would like to replace. Big Ben style 1a continued in production until its discontinuation in 1935. When did Westclox close? The standard operating procedure of their daily work involved literally placing radium flecked paint brushes between their lips to create a finer point before application.
Radium - Element information, properties and uses | Periodic Table The policy of the company is one of highly specialized production. For the town of Peruwhich had tied much of its identity to Westclox for the better part of a centurythe damage went beyond financial. He also recalled playing in the factory. I was given an Elias Ingraham Clock many years ago and would like to know a bit more about it and its value. I recently added the Big Ben Style 1 and Baby Ben Style 1 Dial and Back types. I know it was purchased in 1937 because it belonged to my elderly friends who were married in 1938. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Within in another ten years, the workforce had tripled again, powered by employee George Kerns 1908 invention of the first Big Benthe sleek, iconic model that basically set the template for the 20th century wind-up alarm clock. document.write(year) var today = new Date() They make alarm and one-day lever clocks only, and with practically two different articles, known as the 4-inch and 2-inch movements, they have an output of in their factory at LaSalle, Ill., of nearly two million clocks a year. Radium is an almost pure white alkaline radioactive earth metal, and is found in nature in uranium ores. I am sure I can give Mr. Shields further information about his clock. Thank you, i have a pocket watch that says (inscribed inside) g. falconer ,,,rona & london or kona & london i dont know its in old english and says kona or hona it has 1243 all inscribed on the inside where when u open it u can see the gears, looks like an a8 and a crown with a 18 on the middle inside cover (that covers the gears) and also a 1243 and what looks like an 8 or an infinite symbol (sideways 8)then again on the part that clasps over everything on the inside an A3 or A8?
How do you set a manual alarm clock? - AnswersAll Behind the light, theyd been left in the dark. Through a friend I purchased an apparently antique key wind up long wooden and glass cased clock. The precise, delicate skill of painting clock dials with radium powder promised a much higher salary than most factory jobs available to women at the time (upwards of $18 a week), and the company soon employed as many as 200 female workers in its Ottawa plant. Junghans, Kienzle,Mauthe,Kaiser, Peter, (all from Germany) Veglia (Italy), CNIS ( France), Ingersoll (UK) as well as some Hong Kong made items. If someone has restored it in the past, make sure the correct dial was put on it and the movements, which have probably been repaired a lot, have been done nicely. Another thing people do is make fake advertising clocks.
hamilton radiation | NAWCC Forums Recently Ive seen people taking an old Baby Ben thats worth a few bucks or so and gluing rhinestones around the bezel on the clock. I spent many an evening here, watching him bowl.. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that watches with radium dials should not be taken apart[5] without proper training, technique, and facilities. Radium paint itself was eventually phased out and has not been used in watches since 1968. The Westclox Big Ben Alarm Clock Vintage is an iconic timepiece that has been around since the early 1900s. [citation needed] The use of radium to provide luminescence for hands and indices on watches soon followed. Theres a seller on eBay now whos doing some really outstanding restorations of Big Bens. 1968 Who made westclox? The disease, radium-induced osteonecrosis, was recognized as an occupational disease in 1925 after a group of radium painters, known as the Radium Girls, from the United States Radium Corporation sued. I am looking to get an approxmiate value of this clock. Don Spayer, volunteer and former Westclox employee, said the bulk of the museums collection was built through donations. They have meetings every two months, and educational programs, so thats a really great way to meet collectors and get all kinds of advice. It is encased in hard polymer Plastic and the ends have rivets . when did westclox stop using radium. . Radium dials were typically painted by young women, who used to 'point' their brushes by licking and shaping the bristles prior to painting the fine lines and numbers on the dials. Created with WordPress. When did Bulova stop using radium? I am a retired mechanical engineer, the quality has floored me, hats off to this company.
Store - The WestClox Source When Westclox changed over to the style 8 Big Ben and Baby Ben in 1964, they used 4 divisions per 5 minutes, I believe to make the alarm easier to set.
Radium Baby Ben by Westclox ( Still Glows) : r/clocks - reddit This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. when did westclox stop using radium. Question: Are both 1) and 2) marriages of Style 2 mechanisms put in a Style 1A Big Ben and Style 1 Baby Ben. So yes. National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors Inc (A 501c3 non-profit corporation). into groups of similar models. Even so, our case-less dials are certainly best left behind glass and out of reach, a sad reminder of a terrible and preventable episode in industrial history, the effects of which continued to plague the town of Ottawa for many years afterward. Westclox Big Ben Style 1a Alarm Clock Date Summary: 1918 - 1935 (and a reproduction was made in 1970) Characteristics: Ring on top, two legs in front, no screws through the front of the bezel. Do you have an archival dept who could give us an idea of our Western Clock which we recently acquired? . A Westclox Museum has been opened within the original facility, showing off rare collections from the millions of timepieces once manufactured there. The magical glow, as was widely understood by everyone involved, was created by radiuma radioactive element discovered by Marie Curie in 1898. Apr 14, 2011 501 1 18. Sometimes getting parts is tough, too, although it turns out Westclox made lots and lots of spare parts. any info would be appreciated. That was the first antique clock I owned myself. Henry Warren invented a little synchronous motor that could go inside a clock.
LandmarkHunter.com | Westclox clock factory, La Salle, IL I would like to know the value of a #4 black, #321(in original cardboard Christmas box), mint condition, Baby Ben alarm clock is. A radium dial clock from the 1930s. Helen. Thanks very mutch, I just acquired a sir w.h. 514 Poplar Street
The Evolution Behind Rolex Luminous Material | Bob's Watches I know the site informs readers the amount of Big Bens produced in any one year, but does NOT for the reproduction model produced in 1970. I have never seen this mentioned anywhere. When I was 11 or 12, I started mowing lawns for money and paid another man to repair it for me, but when it came back it would run for a while and then stop, pretty erratic.
What is Radium Used For? - WorldAtlas UHR (CW arrow) knob sets clock time. Technically speaking, though, Westclox did still produce clocks during the gap years that followed. I am pleased that I came across your article. In the United States there does not seem to have ever been prohibitory legislation passed banning the use of radium in clocks and watches. About 1931 they made the first electric Big Ben, and they were plug ins. Penetrating gamma radiation produced by some dials also represents a significant health risk. But this is not how the story of Westclox began. [left to right: F.W. I have a similar clock. Dates Stamped on Big Ben and Baby Ben Clock Movements Dates were stamped on a movement plate of most Big Ben and Baby Ben alarm clocks made up until mid-1970's. Numbers are used for the month, day and year; or just the month and year (e.g. Finally, with Catherine Donohue serving as a key witness from her death bed in 1938, a groundbreaking Supreme Court case finally delivered some long awaited justice to the victims. With alarm clocks, they were so common that when people repaired them they did whatever they could to get them going. One time a friend and I were down there behind the factory and we got talking to a man who was leasing the back half of the factory to make machinery for bakeries. Matthiessen, 1904 Western Clock MFG Co. catalog cover, and the original Peru factory in 1905]. This eye is horizontally elliptical in general shape, about 4 3/4 long and 1 3/4 tall with a circle in the middle making it look like a single eye.
Western Clock MFG Co. (Westclox), est. 1888 - Made-in-Chicago Museum Collectors Weekly: When did you discover that there were other clock collectors? The clock can still give considerable amounts of radiation about 2-3 inches from the Crystal measured with a Geiger counter. .
What replaced radium in watches? - TimesMojo I Have a small brass alarm clock,which is 1-3/4 Hieght Length & Width. Stoddard: The first Big Bens and Baby Bens went on the market in 1910 and they were wind ups. Style 1a has four holes in the back to access the movement cap screws; Style 1 has the legs and pendant riveted to the case, on style 1a they screw on. thank you, My Husband and I just purchased an antique mantle/shelf clock at an estate sale. In its place, he ironically dubbed the little bedside clock Big Ben (apparently not copyrighted by the British Parliament), and introduced it to the public in early ads as a gendered he instead of an it., Big Ben is a handsome, well built, refined and bright looking fellow with a clean-cut open face and a deep cheerful voice, one ad read. For at least four generations, the Western Clock Manufacturing Company, aka Westclox, was the lifeblood and largest employer in the small town of Peru, Illinois (with a mailing address in its twin city of LaSalle). Radium was discovered in 1898 by Marie Curie and Pierre Curie. It is a Medbury-4W #4910. Condition is important, but clocks can be restored. Its got a round brass dial and a painting in the door, really neat. There are some blemishes on the wood on the right side. I was looking at it and said, aha! All the rods in my clocks are verticle that is from top to bottom of the case, four on each side at the back of the movement. Any help would be appreciated. But hes taken some that are really rusty and had the backs replaced beautifully and reproduced some dials, and hes actually had some selling for several hundred dollars, so thats a totally different thing. Sep 23, 2011 The factory contained a bowling alley, and Ristau said his father was an excellent bowler. In a few short years, thanks to Dr. Douglas's efforts, the amount of radium available in the US more than quintupled. The end of the Great War began what was, in many respects, a halcyon time for Westclox, now arguably the best-known timekeeping brand in the world. Your response or advice would be much appreciated. Baby Ben and other Westclox clocks and watches have been assigned styles. We pay his railroad fare on all orders for a dozen or more, we brand him with your name in lots of 24., unconsciously characterized the manunaffected, direct, devoted to his cause., Radiums luminosity was part of its allure,, The dial painters soon became known as the ghost girls because by the time they finished their shifts, they themselves would glow in the dark. During the early 1900's, the effects of radiation exposure were not well understood, and radium was frequently . These clocks were produced in the thousands and many can be bought on eBay for under $10. . It was a gift from him to her the year before they were married. It is in working order and chimes on the hour and half hour. This will broaden my view in the clock. At the top was a clock covered with a glass door. Ruth Spayer at the Westclox Museum tracked down a newspaper story from the Daily Post-Tribune on March 21, 1944, describing a scene in which three women fainted, several clerks were trampled, and four showcase windows were shattered before police untangled a jam of 2,500 women and a few stout-hearted men who converged on the store.. Clock Repair and Hermle Chime, Mantel and Wall Clocks for Sale at Bill's Clockworks.
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