Bill Stoddard

Westclox Museum, Peru Illinois

There is a new Westclox Museum in Peru, Illinois. It is housed in the former Westclox factory at 350 5th Street. My friends Cheryl and Gary Biolchini and I visited on October 31st. Even though the museum has been open only since last February, the founders and dedicated volunteers have gathered a wonderful selection of clocks, watches, tools, photos, historical documents, etc., with more being added all the time.

The museum has a website and a Facebook Group.

Below are some of the many items on display. Besides artifacts, they are gathering stories and information on those that worked at Westclox. It will be well worth your while to visit, and they are open several days per week (they might have reduced hours during the winter). Their website gives the hours they are open to the public.

Factory layout
Factory layout
Wall clocks
Wall clocks
How a watch case was made is shown in the left of the display. Don Sprayer explained how the brand rod at the top is hot forged into the rough case, cut out and finished. Diamond turning gives a polished surface, then the case is nickel plated if desired.
The display on the shows the making of a watch case. Don Spayer explained how the brass rod at the top is hot forged into the rough case, cut out and finished. Diamond turning gives a polished surface, then the case is nickel plated if desired.

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Watches
Watches

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Lolly (children's clocks) and misc Westclox clocks.
Lolly (children’s clocks) and misc Westclox clocks.
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Big Ben, Ironclad, Ironsides, etc.

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