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Here is an early Big Ben alarm clock, made during the second year of preliminary production. The movement has the date code 7 3 9 (July 3, 1909). This is a Style 1 (leg model) Big Ben.

The dial has the early form of hands and numerals (note especially the 7). The words “BIG BEN” are red, and located above the dial center. “MADE IN U.S.A.” is below the center (instead of the usual place below the “6″).

The nickel plating on the bell-back must have been thin, as it is gone, exposing the copper. There is a shallow groove around the front lip of the bezel.

The following patent dates are on the back, arranged in two concentric circles:

• October 28, 1902
• May 15, 1906
• June 9, 1908
• November 17, 1908
• December 15, 1908

Here are some of the other early features of this clock (see my Picasa web album of photos):

• Early form of repeat lever, riveted to a steel stud inside the front plate, with a brass tension spring,
• Time barrel not removable from back plate,
• No retainer for the alarm mainspring,
• Deep teeth on repeat cam on third wheel,
• Patent dates arranged in circular form near regulator slot,
• Rounded key handles,
• Keys have brass shanks, not nickel-plated,
• Brass knobs, not nickel-plated.

Repair job 5991. Installed 2 bushings (third wheel), turned and polished the second wheel pivots (were very rough from the factory), sharpened balance pivots.

Oiling chart:

• First wheel pivots: Keystone mainspring oil
• Second through 4th wheel pivots: Castrol 5W-30 synthetic motor oil,
• Escape wheel pivots: Moebius Synt-A-Lube
• Pallet pivots: no oil
• Escape wheel teeth: Moebius 9415
• Balance pivots: Moebius Synt-A-Lube

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Here is an early example of a Westclox clock, made while the company name was “The Western Clock Mfg. Co.” This clock was made around 1890.

The movement and its canister were made by ”The Western Clock Mfg. Co.”, and the Golden Novelty Mfg. Co. made the cast case front and marketed the clock.

The movement is one-day with lever escapement. The Western Clock Mfg. Co. had a patented process where parts of the movement are cast from a lead alloy that holds the steel and brass acting parts together. In this early movement, the following parts are made of the lead alloy:

• Pillars,
• gear arbor bodies,
• hour wheel pipe,
• balance rim and hub,
• body of pallet fork,

The pallets are hardened steel of 4-sided cross section, and the escape wheel has club teeth.

See more photos.

The case is cast iron, well polished and copper plated. The dial is paper, with a flat glass over it. The brass back of the movement canister has the September 22, 1885 patent date. Charles Stahlberg’s patent of Sept. 22, 1885 describes the basic process used to make United Clock Co., Western Clock Mfg. Co., Western Clock Co. and Westclox clocks. To make a wheel and pinion assembly, steel pinion and pivot wires and the brass wheel were held together in a jig while a molten lead alloy was poured in. Then the lead alloy solidified, holding the steel and brass parts firmly in place.

Repair job 6065. 6 bushings, polished 2 pivots.

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For years, we thought that the style 7 Big Ben and Baby Ben alarm clocks were made from 1956 – 1964. We now know that the style 7 Baby Ben windup was revived ca. 1976. Here are photos of an example dated 10 76 (October 1976) on the movement, in its original box with instructions.

Here is how to identify this late style 7 Baby Ben:

• The base is plastic, with number 58056 on the bottom. It is the same as the plastic base used on late style 8 Baby Ben alarm clocks.
• The bezel has a matte or sand blasted finish.
• The key and knobs are plastic.
• The minute hand does not have a metal cap in the center.

This clock has been seen in boxes labeled “Special Baby Ben Buy!” It uses the aluminum movement that late style 8 clocks use.

See more pictures.

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Yesterday, the old Westclox factory in Peru, Illinois was partly destroyed by fire (see Massive Fire at Former Westclox Plant in Peru, Illinois). Google Earth has a nice view of the old factory, and I saved this image before it gets updated.

North is at the top of this image. The factory covers 4 city blocks from east to west.. Just across the street (north)  from the factory is the old Westclox administration building (just above the yellow marker).

I don’t know how much of the factory survived the fire. For a view of the outside from 4 years ago, see my post A Walk Around the Old Westclox Factory, Peru, Illinois.

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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 when firefighters arrived. “The fire was just out of control when we found it,” Duncan said. As Duncan explained, the Westclox complex includes three buildings, with some separation between each. Those small distances — and a firewall — helped firefighters contain the blaze to the building in which it originated. Duncan said businesses including Bakery Machinery and Fabrication, in the southernmost building, as well as those visible from U.S. 6 — including a bridal shop, a photographer, a salon, Curves and Total Environmental Service Technologies — were spared damage from the flames, though they may have smoke damage.

The News Tribune

My wife and I photographed the outside in 2007, does anyone have more photos, especially of the inside, that I may display on my ClockHistory.com web site?

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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

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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 for scanning someday. For now, we have put only the general information and repair text on the ClockHistory.com web site. Some useful repair tips are included.

If you can loan or sell me an original copy, please let me know, as I would like to scan the entire manual and make it available as a PDF file. The manual includes parts lists for America, America – 1918 Model, Alternating, Baby Ben, Big Ben, Big Ben – 1918 Model, Bingo, Ironclad, LaSallita, Lookout, Sleep-Meter, Bunkie, Pocket Ben, Luminous Dials, Two-Inch Movement, and addendum listing interchangeable parts. Thanks!

Note: there was also a 1950 version of “First Aid for injured Westclox” which is more common, and I hope to post excerpts from it on ClockHistory.com.

See First Aid for injured Westclox on ClockHistory.com

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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 today, and can easily be found on Internet auction sites.

See the article

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