In 1898, the Curies discovered the existence of. . In all my research I can not confirm that The Style 1 models every had 1) and 2) above. Westcloxs Manual for Employees read, We expect you to work hard, and the pay is accordingly large . Even today, with the considerable help of a thing called Interstate 80, its still about a two-hour journey from LaSalle Street to LaSalle County. On 3rd January 2099, Terry Shields asked if anyone had information regarding his clock signed G .Falconer, Hong Kong. Through it all, Peru remained the companys home base, as over 3,000 employees now enjoyed the rapidly expanding space of the factory and its attached campus, with gardens, tennis courts, a bowling alley, and other things worthy of a Matthiessen estate. It also says that the patent was re-issued March 31, 1868. Instead, it would be better to take the box outside and remove the lid there, which would allow any built-up gas to rapidly dissipate." The watches tested were produced from the 1920s through the '60s, and are a mix of British, Swiss, and American origin. Geiger counters could pick up readings from pants returned from a dry cleaner and from clothes stored away in a cedar chest. So yes. Their Scottish factory was a full manufacturing plant, at which all their clocks were assembled from start to finish with only the basic raw materials being brought in by outside suppliers. Advertisement: Illustrates crackle green Tiny Tim, crackle blue Big Ben and crackle pink Baby Ben clocks. 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. For example, Big Ben Style 1 and Style 1a are the leg model, and Style 2 is the first base model. They made them with wooden works until about 1840, then with brass gears and I like some of the early brass-geared American clocks. Thanks so much In a few short years, thanks to Dr. Douglas's efforts, the amount of radium available in the US more than quintupled. 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 . We pay his railroad fare on all orders for a dozen or more, we brand him with your name in lots of 24.. when did westclox stop using radium old restaurants in lawrence, ma . When did the use of radium stop? The movement was then used with minor changes in Loud Alarm models until 1956. German: WECKER (alarm); UHR (clock). In clocks, as in all other lines of goods, there are two classes of consumersthe millions and the millionaires. Origin of the eye, forklore or legends surrounding????? How did I get interested in clocks? They call it Shabby Chic and sell it on eBay for 60 to 80 dollars. If you look at a Baby Ben in the 1959 Sears catalog, they sold for about nine dollars and if you go to a Wal Mart today you can still buy a Baby Ben for about nine dollars, but the quality isnt the same. I have been purchasing these clocks as and when I got an opportunity. For the town of Peruwhich had tied much of its identity to Westclox for the better part of a centurythe damage went beyond financial. The policy of the company is one of highly specialized production. This particular clock is made in China while other similar Westclox alarm clocks at the time were made in Taiwan. 2023 by Andrew Clayman. Westcloxs Manual for Employees read, We expect you to work hard, and the pay is accordingly large . The Canadian Clock Museum (http://www.canclockmuseum.ca/) may have some information. At this moment I study horology at West Dean College in the UK. The center is in the shape of the world map. 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. He also recalled playing in the factory. Thank you. When did westclox start making clocks? The first Big Bens and Baby Bens in 1910 were wind ups.. They had one in Brazil for a while and I think also in Hong Kong. Stahlberg knows that no other noteworthy clock company has ever succeeded west of the Hudson, let alone smalltown Illinois, but he dives into the challenge, establishing his first factory. The movement is a windup almost identical to the original. Thanks, Paula. They can be identified by having the modern type of flat head screws with shoulders instead of round head screws, and by having a 1910 patent date on the back even though the case is style 1a. We would like to redo the entrances and lobby areas and show the history of the building right on site but have not found much anywhere. Patton, had joined Charles Stahlbergs original start-up back in 1886 at the age of just 13, and he was still on board in 1936, 50 years later. In 1919 the company was incorporated as Western Clock Company, Ltd. thanks for your time, was doing research.. Appears from search engine a conversation about D batteries but cant find it in the text.. Can anyone inform me of the different size of D? Their factory in LaSalle, Illinois closed down in about 1980 when they moved all their production down south, but the building is still there. when did westclox stop using radium. There are some blemishes on the wood on the right side. [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. I bought a 1970s Westclox pocket watch with a Hotwheels face that says authorized seller on it. 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.. Lynda Hinshaw, At this moment I am research a clock by Falconer& co HongKong. Omega stopped using radium around 1963. I cant find out anything about him or any other clocks by him. I recently added the Big Ben Style 1 and Baby Ben Style 1 Dial and Back types. Junghans, Kienzle,Mauthe,Kaiser, Peter, (all from Germany) Veglia (Italy), CNIS ( France), Ingersoll (UK) as well as some Hong Kong made items. Quite a few who try to get every basic model, but fewer who get into the rarer models and do research. $26.95. Henry Warren invented a little synchronous motor that could go inside a clock. 400-day clocks are also known as anniversary clocks, they would run 400 days on one winding. Theyll take an old Big Ben from 1930 and make a new dial that says Indian Motorcycle or Victola, and put it on eBay. Radium dials are watch, clock and other instrument dials painted with luminous paint containing radium-226 to produce radioluminescence. Theres a clock called a Crystal Regulator which is about a foot tall with a brass case and glass on all four sides. In the United States there does not seem to have ever been prohibitory legislation passed banning the use of radium in clocks and watches. I'll start with a 19j Bunn, Looking for Somebody with Some Bandwidth to do a Repair. The movement was mounted to the inner case back. When radium was discovered in the early 1900s, people were fascinated by its mysterious glow and it was added to many everyday products, including paints. The factory contained a bowling alley, and Ristau said his father was an excellent bowler. It was passed on to my sister and for years it was on their mantle along time until it stopped. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Westclox also made about 5000 gold-plated reproductions. In fact, one of their designs for the military, the terrifying sounding "WarAlarm," spurred a small shopping riot in Chicago in 1944 when a small batch of the clocks was made available for commercial purchase at a downtown store. One employee, R.D. The new company tripled in size by the turn of the century, employing 232 people at its growing Peru plant (145 men, 73 women, 14 children) and producing 500,000 clocks annually. Richard Ristau Jr., former plant manager, said hes happy to see the space being used for the museum. 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. It is and Elias Ingraham Brass Clock with a patent stamp of September 30, 1862. Has the mechanics of the clock been changed/upgraded or could there be another issue at play? Even if the Western Clock Co. wasnt born in Chicago or headquartered here, the immediate aftershocks of the companys cultural and industrial impact certainly reached our shores in a hurry, no interstate required. For my 14th birthday I got a book called The Treasury of American Clocks and there was a picture showing the seven types of Baby Bens. While promoting Westclox products in Europe, the breakout of World War I and the laws of mandatory military service in his native France forced Le Roy to get his affairs in order and head for the front in 1914. From that point on I really liked those. [Left: The first national Big Ben advertisement appears in the Saturday Evening Post in 1910: Big Ben is a thin, beautiful and punctual sleepmeter with a silent motor that will not annoy you on your lie-awake nights and a deep musical voice that will call you on your sleepiest mornings. Right and Below: A style 1A Big Ben from our museum collection, circa 1920s.]. The company made luminescent paint. Technically speaking, though, Westclox did still produce clocks during the gap years that followed. Westclox Radium Dial Clock. Kind regards, Ben van Vliet. 1919 -1922, Luminous, Westclox in Roman text: 1923 - 1927, Luminous, projection on the "x": 1928 - 1935. Style 1 has three screws through the bezel visible from the front, style 1a doesnt (compare figures 3 and 7); Style 1 has two screws holding the bell back, style 1a has three. It would be very interesting if you could provide me with some pictures of the clock. Stahlbergs company goes bankrupt not once, but twice, within its first several years. 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. I recently added the Big Ben Style 1 and Baby Ben Style 1 Dial and Back types. But the chances that you have a radium clock are slim, unless it is very old. Collectors Weekly: When did you discover that there were other clock collectors? I am looking to get an approxmiate value of this clock. They were officially Americas preferred wake-up call provider. AD x Stoddard: I was pretty much on my own until college. By the 1960s production went offshore to achieve economies of scale . [Former Westclox workers Art and Mary Ann Windy (standing), 2015], This is amazing, Art said. Your email (will not be published) (required), The Timeless Appeal of the Westclock Big and BabyBens, The National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, Not Your Grandmas Cuckoo: Decapitating, Rat-Eating Clocks of the Black Forest, The Care and Repair of 19th-Century American Clocks. When did they stop using radium on clocks? These clocks were produced in the thousands and many can be bought on eBay for under $10. CAN SOMEONE TELL ME HOW TO RELEASE THE CLICK ON A WESTCLOX MANS WRISTWATCH MODEL A-201? Stoddard: Some of the old American pocket watches are just beautiful so I have several in my collection. Many thanks. I never realized, even working here, they made so many different models.. can anybody tell me about this piece? I am reading, studying, and learning more about the Westclox. By 1930, all dial painters stopped pointing their brushes by mouth. My clothes, hanging in a dark closet, gave off a phosphorescent glare. Was westclox ever manufactured in germany and if so when? it has a picture of a huck finn type boy,carying 2 bottles of coke& a fishing pole,with his dog. Eventually, scientists and medical professionals realized that these workers' illnesses were being caused by internal contamination from the radium they ingested. I have a collection of clocks, and amongst my collection are Westminster chime wall clocks, I have two Keinzle and two Junghans. Soon, he was running the Western Clock Co. advertising department, and proving his worth with some clever marketing strategies. Located at 41.3275 N, 89.1290 W on the map, the companys former plant is admittedly on the absolute fringes of what would typically be designated Chicagoland turf. I try to get all the pictures I can and keep them all chronologically and study the history. In 2006 I started collecting vintage advertisements. By the 1970s, radium was no . Inhaled or ingested particles may deposit a high local dose with a risk of radiation-caused lung or gastrointestinal cancer. It has a patent June 18-1882 and says Dakota on the back,can you tell me more? 0 Comments; Uncategorized newark advertiser obituaries 2021 . Leg model with ring on top, dustproof case. Any help would be appreciated. Contact the Webmaster for perceived copyright infringement (DMCA Registration Number 1010287). See the top of this page for a current list of When did Westclox stop using radium? [7], Ingestion of radium has been linked to anemia, cataracts, broken teeth, and reduced bone growth.[8]. the clock face is 16, ca 1900. the clock belonged to pheobe appersons family at their ranch in sunol california. When did westclox stop using radium? Stoddard: The first Big Bens and Baby Bens went on the market in 1910 and they were wind ups. Ive been trying to compare lots of different clocks to find out what original parts go together. Radium was even used in medical applications during the 20th century. Some people just want one or two that they remember from childhood in good condition, so thats just the thing for them. Am I missing something here? 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. My husband has a Big Ben clock that he inherited, it was took down from a mill and given to his grandma. Did westclox stop using radioactive paint by the 1960s? Is this a product that the company would have made or something someone created? Charles Stahlberg headed a group from Waterbury, Connecticut, who came to Peru in 1884 to build clocks based on a new idea by Stahlberg. Many folks might not realize that early vintage clock dials were painted with radioluminescent paint, which is a mixture of fluorescent salts (these produce the glow) and radium-226, which is a dangerous and highly radioactive element. 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.. Underneath the #12 on the face it says: G. Falconer & Co. LTD. Hong Kong. Thank you 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. Behind the light, theyd been left in the dark. Any suggestions of where to get a replacement preferably in Canada? 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. From that time on, Baby Bens first and then Big Bens were available with either the plain or luminous dial. But for years the majority were wind ups, they were so popular. theres the problem, there were two gears that were in backwards. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Dont know if someone ingraved date on when took down or if the original. National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors Inc (A 501c3 non-profit corporation). Another thing people do is make fake advertising clocks. 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. Its got a round brass dial and a painting in the door, really neat. who can refurbush big ben still runs good perfect time purchased in 1950 cataloge #885(885). Stoddard: The prices for larger wall clocks, three feet tall and up, have increased dramatically, while prices on some of the more common clocks have remained the same for the past 20 years. Thank to several professionals who Ive met on Ebay, I have become quite skilled with my restorations plus making dials and alarm function indicators. I was given an Elias Ingraham Clock many years ago and would like to know a bit more about it and its value. Thanks very mutch, I just acquired a sir w.h. The sound is very good when I compare it with the Howard Miller and the Jauke I just purchases, its loud and resonates very well. [citation needed] The use of radium to provide luminescence for hands and indices on watches soon followed. This 1964 Westclox Christmas ad describes their features. Various lettering on the dial and various patent dates (later, numbers) on the Like style 1a non-luminous with dealer name on dial. Radiums luminosity was part of its allure, Moore writes. Matthiessen, 1904 Western Clock MFG Co. catalog cover, and the original Peru factory in 1905]. I tend to be a nitty gritty detail kind of guy. I wonder if the younger generations are as interested in the older things as we are, although there are some younger collectors out there learning how to do clock repair. First, if your clock is for display only, I think it is harmless if the paint on the hands is not disturbed. If you do not expect to work hard and carefully, you are in the wrong place. credit: Northern Illinois University]. Radium paint can be ingested by inhaling flaking paint particles. We thought it was 1890 or older. I spent many an evening here, watching him bowl.. Company in 1888 and installing another talented German, Ernst Roth, as the general manager. In her 2017 book, The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of Americas Shining Women, author Kate Moore notes that many of the new girls at the Radium Dial factory started out painting the famous Westclox Big Ben clocks before moving on to the smaller and more challenging Baby Ben, and finally the Pocket Ben and Scotty pocket watches, all produced at the Westclox Works. Well, the company certainly maintained some major salesrooms here, and many of their employees came from the city and its suburbs. Dave, Your question about a Big Ben containing radium, and in fact about which clocks actually do contain radium, is a good one. I also need it repaired so that it will be functional and need to find someone that will do that for me. His bigger job was to design a system so the power companies could regulate their generator so the clock could keep time. 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. I have been collecting, repairing, and restoring mostly Westclox Big Bens for several years. 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. There are variations in the lettering on the dial and back. Then, on New Years Eve, as 2011 became 2012, the unthinkable happened. This end has been achieved by what is known as the Western Processa process in which the component parts of a clock are cast, or, so to speak, cemented together with an alloy, instead of staked, and in which all hand labor is replaced by automatic machinery., [Automatic machinery certainly sped up the manufacturing process, by plenty of human skill and attention was still required to make the Big Ben. It was put away for years and last year it was given to me as I have small collection of United novelty clocks. A lot of the American Shelf clocks from the 1820s up to 1900 have reverse paintings in the door, on the backside of the glass. I tried selling some of my surplus electric Big Bens on eBay and they just didnt go, you could get only about $0.99 for them. We are very proud to be living in this building and would love to know more about this specific site. i have a large ansonia wall clock 32 1/2 x 32. You just cant imagine the size of this factory its just gigantic. I have been searching for one like as the clock went with the house after my Grandmother passed away. I first saw the clock in 1957. The Westclox building remained there in all its glory well into the 21st century, as plans were tossed around for some sort of repurposing of the huge, historic facility. They did some limited production (less than 200) in 1908, when they were still perfecting the design, then quite a few in 1909, but it really wasnt nationally advertised until September of 1910. Your email address will not be published. WECKER (CCW arrow) knob sets alarm time. Westclox Clock Construction and Quality. The NAWCC has an online forum with a lot of different categories. Similarly, Big Ben: butler nickel case, gold leaf numeral dial 1930 1932. I would also like photo and more details of his clock, since I intend to write a follow-up article. All Rights Reserved. It has a cracked front lens that I would like to replace. About 1931 they made the first electric Big Ben, and they were plug ins. Thank you for your input. Radium paint itself was eventually phased out and has not been used in watches since 1968. His ideas were patented on as US patent #326,602. Early in the 20th century there was a medical practice that revolved around a new treatment involving the radioactive material called radium. I was about 3ft high and recessed into the wall. Charles Crow Penn Valley, Ca, I have run across and old clock that I would like to know something about. I was looking at it and said, aha! Because it was one degree removed from the radium business itself, Westclox seems to have largely dodged the controversy and lawsuits altogether. Before we get to that, though, we have to start with the issue of geography as it concerns the business in question. [left to right: F.W. Stoddard: Pay attention to quality. As various larger corporate interests got involved in the years ahead, however, and as increasing competition from electronic clockmakers slowed the Big Bens dominance, the inevitable slow down began. It is stamped on the back of the casing DRP&GM. 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. A pair of teenage boys broke into the abandoned factory and set a fire that quickly spread and enveloped much of the central complex. It is 3 diameter with Westclox on the back and PAT.APLOFOR. The alarm mechanism was also improved as part of Kerns new patents, with an intermittent ringing that kind of acted as an archaic form of snooze alarm. Which is interesting because many of the electrics are scarcer but people just arent into collecting electric clocks. Stoddard: I was pretty much on my own until college. My love is for the style 1 peg leg Big and Baby Bens; mostly Baby Bens. 1968 Who made westclox? Created with WordPress. $38.00. Unfortunately, they also hint at a tragic chapter in American industrial history, when the appeal of a luminous new kind of paint wound up putting hundreds of workersmostly young womenat great personal risk. Also, its not just Americans who collect, its worldwide. It is in working order and chimes on the hour and half hour. Is radium still used on watches? She was 18. I am a retired mechanical engineer, the quality has floored me, hats off to this company. The other thing is reproductions. [citation needed] After about 20minutes this delivers the equivalent of one whole day's worth of normal background radiation. Penetrating gamma radiation produced by some dials also represents a significant health risk. Going back further in time, here is a pretty hypnotizing silent film released by Westclox in the early 1920s to promote the Big Ben and other products. Without a crystal poses a serious Health risk because the Radium paint flakes off and can become airborne. Clock Repair and Hermle Chime, Mantel and Wall Clocks for Sale at Bill's Clockworks. The only thing I found is the word Germny engraved on the back. "[4], According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, "radioactive antiques [including watches] are usually not a health risk as long as they are intact and in good condition. When I got out of college I started going to the watch and clock conventions and met a man who was giving a program about the history of Big Bens and Baby Bens. . Sep 23, 2011 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. But this is not how the story of Westclox began. This past weekend, thanks to the Westclox Museum, its doors were opened and former workers were welcomed back for Homecoming Day. When did Bulova stop using radium? One of the objects on display in the Benton County Historical Society's Corvallis Museum is this Westclox Radium Dial Clock. Before OSHA was set up, 14,000 people died on the job every year; today, it is just over 4,500. hi, I have a cocacola square clock. Safety Once I was winding it and one of the main springs broke, so I decided to take it all apart and fix the main spring.
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