Bill Stoddard

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 Case Waralarm is very hard to open (the bezel is a press fit, and the un-plated steel tends to rust, making the bezel and case body adhere tightly) and so I have opened up only some poorer examples to find the movement date.

I recently opened 5 black Metal Case Waralarms and examined them. The movement dates range from May 1944 to August 1944. All these examples have the bell alarm (whereas most of the Fiber Case Waralarm have the buzzer alarm). All but one example have steel movement plates, and steel gears except for brass shuck pinion, trip cam, escape wheel, and balance.

Metal Case Waralarm Dated May 1944

  • Steel movement plates, and steel gears except for brass shuck pinion, trip cam, escape wheel, and balance.
  • Shiny dial plate.

Metal Case Waralarm Dated July 1944

  • Steel movement plates, and steel gears except for brass shuck pinion, trip cam, escape wheel and balance.
  • Dull dial plate.

Two Metal Case Waralarm Examples Dated August 1944

  • Steel movement plates, and steel gears except for brass shuck pinion, trip cam, escape wheel and balance. (4 brass wheels);
  • Dull dial plate.

Metal Case Waralarm Dated August 1944 with Brass Movement Plates

  • Brass movement plates, and steel gears except for brass shuck pinion, trip cam, T3, escape wheel, and balance. (5 brass wheels);
  • Dull dial plate.

It is interesting that one of the August 1944 examples has brass movement plates, and two have steel plates. Perhaps the material restriction on brass had ended?

The Raven Alarm

The Raven alarm clock replaced the Metal Case Waralarm, and was introduced on September 21, 1944, according to the Westclox Price Change Book (from the collection of Ellworth Danz, former chief stylist at Westclox). Raven has a black painted round metal case, and is similar to Waralarm, with the following differences:

  • Dial says “Westclox” instead of “Waralarm”;
  • Bottom of dial says “MADE BY WESTCLOX, LA SALLE, ILL., U.S.A” instead of “MADE IN LA SALLE, ILL., U.S.A.”;
  • Back of clock has the model name “RAVEN” stamped into it;
  • The back says “PATD. U.S.A. 2360589 MADE IN U.S.A.”

The Metal Case Waralarm Was Made for a Short Time

The Metal Case Waralarm was made for a short time (five to six months), approximately from April 1944 to September 1944. This is only half the period that the Fiber Case Waralarm was made. I don’t have any production figures.

Date Summary

  • Fiber Case Waralarm was made from ca. April 1943 to ca. April 1944.
  • Metal Case Waralarm was made from ca. April 1944 to ca. September 1944.
  • Raven was made from September 1944 to January 1947.
  • Bingo style 2 went back into production Sept. 25, 1947 (source: the Price Change Book). Bingo has the alarm shutoff knob on top, while Waralarm and Raven have the shutoff knob on the back. Bingo style 2 made before WWII have a two-tone dial with thick numerals, those made after the war have a white dial with thinner numerals.

References

Waralarm History at ClockHistory.com

Black Metal Case Waralarm Examples at ClockHistory.com

Ivory Metal Case Waralarm Examples at ClockHistory.com

Westclox Price Change Book from the collection of Ellworth Danz, former chief stylist at Westclox


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2 comments

  1. I HAVE A METAL CASED ONE THAT HAS A HORRIBLE DIAL ON IT..BUT THE PLATES ARE BRASS, LIKE THE AUGUST ONE YOU HAVE HERE..MINE IS DATED SEPTEMBER 1944..PROBABLY THE END OF PRODUCTION , OR CLOSE..I HAVE ROUNDED UP EVERYTHING TO REPAIR IT, EXCEPT THE DIAL..ANY IDEAS ON WHERE I MIGHT ACQUIRE THAT? THANKS, BOBBY

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