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. Radium - The First Rolex Luminous Material. I have a Westclox Bachelor alarm clock from probably the 50s as it was always there when I was growing up. WHAT IS A Moonbeam clock? - Thecrucibleonscreen.com The Forgotten Story Of The Radium Girls, Whose Deaths Saved Thousands Of Workers Lives, by Kate Moore, A Rude Awakening: The History of Alarm Clocks , Western Clock MFG Co. (Westclox), est. The movement is a windup almost identical to the original. bailey oceans tide clock dated 1880, with a Fusee movement. The policy of the company is one of highly specialized production. [citation needed] After about 20minutes this delivers the equivalent of one whole day's worth of normal background radiation. In 1931 it merged with Seth Thomas Clock Co. and both became divisions of General Time Corp. US radium dial painting factory. However, there`s no easy way for you to tell; there were no labeling requirements then as we have now. These efforts, combined with an ahead-of-its-time factory welfare department and employee benefits packages, led to a lot of workers spending their whole lives with Westclox. when did westclox stop using radium old restaurants in lawrence, ma . I was about 3ft high and recessed into the wall. After several changes of ownership, it became . (All images in this article courtesy Bill Stoddard, www.clockhistory.com), I found this article very complimentary to the Westclox company and an intriguing piece to read. When did Westclox stop using radium? I always wondered why the dial of my Baby Ben clock, which I have had from late 60s, was marked off in 48ths of an hour instead of minutes. Copyright 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. Sometimes getting parts is tough, too, although it turns out Westclox made lots and lots of spare parts. Dont know if someone ingraved date on when took down or if the original. who can refurbush big ben still runs good perfect time purchased in 1950 cataloge #885(885). Radium is an almost pure white alkaline radioactive earth metal, and is found in nature in uranium ores. The Crystal blocks a significant amount of The radiation. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The new features, according to a synopsis from the Cooper Hewitt Design Museum, included: 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.. thank you, My Husband and I just purchased an antique mantle/shelf clock at an estate sale. This was a wonderful article to read. when did westclox stop using radium - Flycloud.vn Buy Now. Radium - Element information, properties and uses | Periodic Table I live in Scotland but my clock was made in USA. It was passed on to my sister and for years it was on their mantle along time until it stopped. "[5] However, radium is highly radioactive, emitting alpha, beta, and gamma radiation the effects of which are particularly deleterious if inhaled or ingested since there is no shielding within the body. I was told it was an antique at that time. 514 Poplar Street Museum Artifacts: Luminous Big Ben & Baby Ben Clock Dials (1940s) and Style 1A Big Ben Alarm Clock (1920s), Made By: Western Clock MFG Company, aka Westclox, 350 5th St., Peru, Illinois [LaSalle]. Despite Westcloxs deep German roots, the Illinois factory was a huge contributor to the U.S. military again during World War II, supplying upwards of a billion small parts for use in various defense products. Their use in prostate brachytherapy dates from 1926. All I really want to know is about the raised horizontal single eye type decoration on this top removable piece. Theres a seller on eBay now whos doing some really outstanding restorations of Big Bens. Mae Keane, Whose Job Brought Radium to Her Lips, Dies at 107 The Ingersoll Watch division of the Waterbury Clock Company, a nationally-known maker of low-cost pocket and wristwatches, was a leading popularizer of the use of radium for watch hands and indices through the introduction of their "Radiolite" watches in 1916. When he made his first clock and plugged it into the wall it worked fine except it wasnt accurate, it was off by plus or minus a half hour a day, because the 60 cycles were not regulated at that time, so it could vary quite a bit. From 1917 to 1926, the United States Radium Corporation used radium to produce wristwatches and clocks. Westclox closed its Peru factory 35 years ago. Im trying to determine if it is a legit or reproduction that someone made. Leg model with ring on top, dustproof case. Similarly, How did I get interested in clocks? Were finally at a point, where were ready to do more than just sit here, said Ruth Spayer, curator for the museum. 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. Quite a few who try to get every basic model, but fewer who get into the rarer models and do research. Is Westclox a good brand? I hope to document Style 5 Baby Bens this winter. As radium luminosity came under attack in the 1930s, Westcloxs other updates to the Big Ben design were far more practical and uncontroversial. Richard Tjarks introduced 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. 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. I cannot date it. What You Want To Know About Watch Luminant - aBlogtoWatch Entertainment & Pop Culture; Geography & Travel; Health & Medicine; Lifestyles & Social Issues; Literature; Philosophy & Religion; Politics, Law & Government 1968 Who made westclox? Created with WordPress. He also recalled playing in the factory. Good old fashioned branding played a major role, as well. 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. 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. I like to find the ones before that and study their history. His bigger job was to design a system so the power companies could regulate their generator so the clock could keep time. [9] The element was phased out of use by industry acting under its own volition as superior and safer luminous materials entered the marketplace. Thank you for your input. Is radium still used on watches? Importantly, the health risks tied to these old clocks is generally believed to be quite minimal, so long as one avoids long-term exposure or directly ingesting the paint as the Ghost Girls had. . Their factory in LaSalle, Illinois closed down in about 1980 when they moved all their production down south, but the building is still there. After the discovery of radioactivity in 1896 by French physicist and Nobel Prize winner, Antoine Henri Becquerel, many other scientists began to search for uses of radioactivity. When did Westclox go out of business? - Ufoscience.org That batch was in production non-continuously from 1939 to 1946, housed in gunmetal cases with nickel trim. Because it was one degree removed from the radium business itself, Westclox seems to have largely dodged the controversy and lawsuits altogether. We are very proud to be living in this building and would love to know more about this specific site. Your email address will not be published. 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. On 3rd January 2099, Terry Shields asked if anyone had information regarding his clock signed G .Falconer, Hong Kong. Big Ben style 1a continued in production until its discontinuation in 1935. [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. Am I missing something here? From that point on I really liked those. Back then, radium wasn't considered to be dangerous in small doses. July 17th, 2008. when did westclox stop using radium. So, does Westclox really belong in the Made In Chicago Museum? Dozens of radium dial painters around the country developed similar symptoms, although the effects could take years to manifest, making it more difficult to pinpoint the phenomenon from its first cases in the early 1920s. Thanks very mutch, I just acquired a sir w.h. I have a sessions mantle clock duet#1. When Did Glow In The Dark Watches Stop Using Radium? 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. [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.]. We thought it was 1890 or older. As my first name is Ben, I started to collect these alarmclocks since about 1970. On March 31, 1980, the Peru-LaSalle plant was officially closed, narrowly missing its 100-year anniversary. I have been purchasing these clocks as and when I got an opportunity. credit: Northern Illinois University], According to a 1909 article in Commercial America, In clocks, as in all other lines of goods, there are two classes of consumersthe millions and the millionaires. [Former Westclox workers Art and Mary Ann Windy (standing), 2015], This is amazing, Art said. 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. Contact the Webmaster for perceived copyright infringement (DMCA Registration Number 1010287). Nowadays, Super-LumiNova, which is entirely non-radioactive and non-toxic, is the most used lume in watchmaking. They asked me to give some programs myself at some of the chapter meetings so I became a little bit better at being a public speaker, and its been great meeting people. [citation needed] The use of radium to provide luminescence for hands and indices on watches soon followed. The story begins with a Connecticut clockmaker named Charles Stahlberg getting a patent for a new alarm clock design in 1885. I am sure I can give Mr. Shields further information about his clock. I have a Westclox Magnet Key Part number 031723 I think was used to open a door as it has an arrow on 1 end. Without a crystal poses a serious Health risk because the Radium paint flakes off and can become airborne. I was told it was long ago before even my aged family was servicing watches. LandmarkHunter.com | Westclox clock factory, La Salle, IL Before we get to that, though, we have to start with the issue of geography as it concerns the business in question. 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. A pair of teenage boys broke into the abandoned factory and set a fire that quickly spread and enveloped much of the central complex. She was 107 when she died on March 1 in Middlebury, Conn . 1888. . The other thing is reproductions. Westclox began as the United Clock Company in Peru, Illinois in 1885. I would like to find out about this clock. hamilton radiation | NAWCC Forums 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. Omega stopped using radium around 1963. They typically have a round brass base with a glass dome over them; they were made in Germany from the 1890s up through the 1970s, and a lot of people collect them. "[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. Big Ben Style Series. The massive success of the Big Ben design wasnt just about function and style. As Kate Moore explains it, The radium girls case was one of the first in which an employer was made responsible for the health of the companys employees. Sometimes Ive seen them for 300 to 600 dollars. Theyll take an old Big Ben from 1930 and make a new dial that says Indian Motorcycle or Victola, and put it on eBay. I first saw the clock in 1957. I took it back and the repairman told me it was like a large Timex watch and just not worth being fixed. At one time they employed about 3500 people, making about 35, 000 clocks and watches per day. Clocks produced in the early 1900's are particularly concerning in this regard. According to Chemistry Explained, radium is extracted today from uranium ores in much the same way that Marie and Pierre Curie did in the late 1890s and early 1900s. Inhaled or ingested particles may deposit a high local dose with a risk of radiation-caused lung or gastrointestinal cancer. It still works. That was the first antique clock I owned myself. I met somebody then who told me about the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors and then I joined that and in their bi-monthly magazine I found a man looking for early Westclox information, he is now one of the foremost Westclox researchers. Ironically, the war that had cost them Gaston Le Roy had also stifled much of the companys European competition, opening up an even bigger share of the world marketplace in the 1920s. 2023 by Andrew Clayman. Style Information: Plain dial: 1918 - 1935 Black luminous dial: 1921 - 1935 There are variations in the lettering on the dial and back. Technically speaking, though, Westclox did still produce clocks during the gap years that followed. 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. From that time on, Baby Bens first and then Big Bens were available with either the plain or luminous dial. 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. Is this a product that the company would have made or something someone created? By the 1960s production went offshore to achieve economies of scale . Helen. Is Radium Lume Really That Dangerous? - WahaWatches Eventually, safer options were discovered, and the use of radium was discontinued in the 1960s. Radium was discovered by Marie and Pierre Curie in 1898[1] and was soon combined with paint to make luminescent paint, which was applied to clocks, airplane instruments, and the like, to be able to read them in the dark.[2]. I took it all apart and asked my dad to help me put it back together, but he cut his finger on the spring. On April 20, 1902, Marie and Pierre Curie successfully isolate radioactive radium salts from the mineral pitchblende in their laboratory in Paris. At the top was a clock covered with a glass door. Westclox made an excellent, almost exact, reproduction of the style 1a Big Ben in 1970. Donohue, like many of her young peers in the radium industry, eventually realized that her amusing glow had been a warning of severe exposure to a radioactive substance. Art and Mary Ann Windy [pictured] have been married for 49 years, met as Westclox employees and were present for the open house. Dave, Your question about a Big Ben containing radium, and in fact about which clocks actually do contain radium, is a good one. . But for years the majority were wind ups, they were so popular. 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. Big Ben style, and there are other styles with names instead of numbers. I would also like photo and more details of his clock, since I intend to write a follow-up article. Radium was also used until the early 1970s in "glow-in-the-dark" paints, e.g., for dials on clocks, and in other industrial applications such as instrument calibration. Can someone get back to me as to what it is and possibe age of it. In all my research I can not confirm that The Style 1 models every had 1) and 2) above. The first style 1a cases had double-hexagon legs, but after about a year they were changed to standard single hex form. when did westclox stop using radium; when did westclox stop using radium. Hundreds of thousands of clocks were produced a year, until closing its doors in 1980. Any guidance or help is appreciated. Apr 14, 2011 501 1 18. One employee, R.D. A radium dial clock from the 1930s. Any suggestions of where to get a replacement preferably in Canada? Your response or advice would be much appreciated. Next year, well have been married for 49 years, Mary Ann said. Stoddard: Pay attention to quality. When did they stop using radium on clocks? Westclox Big Ben Alarm Clock Vintage. Both the Big and Baby Bens were housed in a newly refined bell-back clock case. By 1930, all dial painters stopped pointing their brushes by mouth. Theres a clock that came down the family, my great great granddad bought it used in about 1885, it was actually sold new in about 1839, one of the first of the weight-driven brass clocks. 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. But the chances that you have a radium clock are slim, unless it is very old. This particular clock is made in China while other similar Westclox alarm clocks at the time were made in Taiwan. It led to life-saving regulations and, ultimately, to the establishment of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which now operates nationally in the United States to protect workers. I have a Westclox Big Ben 1910 style 1a and have not been able to find out the present value/worth. A Westclox Museum has been opened within the original facility, showing off rare collections from the millions of timepieces once manufactured there. Thanks, I have come across a mantle clock that has been in my husbands family for as long as he can remember He estimates his bother purchased the clock around 1950. Can you confirm? It is stamped on the back of the casing DRP&GM. The women also left a legacy to science that has been termed invaluable.. Is a Glow-in-the-dark Clock Any Cause for Alarm? Buy Now. 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. Stoddard: Some of the old American pocket watches are just beautiful so I have several in my collection. You just cant imagine the size of this factory its just gigantic. Up until this point in time (pun intended), quality time pieces had been considered a rich mans game. Radium was discovered in 1898 by Marie Curie and Pierre Curie. A 2015 article by Ben Hohenstatt in the Illinois Valleys News Tribune included interviews with a few former Westclox workers who returned to see the museum and remember old times. I Have a small brass alarm clock,which is 1-3/4 Hieght Length & Width. The trademark "Westclox" which had appeared on their Big Ben alarm clocks as early as 1910 was officially registered in January 1916. 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. I recently added the Big Ben Style 1 and Baby Ben Style 1 Dial and Back types. There are many Westclox alarm clock models named Big Ben. Radioactivity in Antiques | US EPA They were, incredibly enough, instructed to ingest a radioactive poison all day, every day, and never properly warned of any potential hazards. Westclox Big Ben Luminous Hands | NAWCC Forums Westclox travel alarm clock made in China - Antique And Vintage Clocks In 2006 I started collecting vintage advertisements. I know very little about clocks in general. I hung it on my wall and we tried to get it fixed but the repairman couldnt fix it. England. They arent hurting it permanently, its just kind of weird. 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. 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 have a mantel clock,its floral in color,made by Ansonia Cock Co.USA.New York. I have never seen this mentioned anywhere. Eventually, scientists and medical professionals realized that these workers' illnesses . Seeking the Big 3 goals of convenience, cleanliness, and cheap production, Dreyfuss rolled out his new-look Big Ben in 1931. 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. Based in Flora, Indiana, Bill can be reached via his website, clockhistory.com, which is a member of our Hall of Fame. But he only comes upon receipt of signed price agreement. The factory contained a bowling alley, and Ristau said his father was an excellent bowler. We are looking for any Westclox photographs, memorabilia etc between 1927- 1980s of the factory.
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