Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that watches with radium dials should not be taken apart[5] without proper training, technique, and facilities. I also like some of the older American weight-driven clocks. Is a Glow-in-the-dark Clock Any Cause for Alarm? Radium - a key element in early cancer treatment - RSC Education In-Depth Luminous Dials, What Makes Them Glow, And How To - HODINKEE We have photos of all the employees between 1927-1945 at the Peterborough Ontario Location but not much else. He corresponded with Westclox General Manager Ernst Roth over the weeks that followed, but after a final letter that September, he went silent. In the production of ordinary clocks adapted to the needs and means of the millions, America produces results of remarkable excellence. Credit: pinimg. I have an antique mantle clock given to my Aunt & Uncle for a wedding gift (approximately 1949) FROM my great grandparents. The style 7 Big Ben and Baby Ben (1956 to 1964, the first Bens with concentric alarm hand) has minute markings. Westclox Big Ben Luminous Hands | NAWCC Forums Westclox Big Ben and Baby Ben Identification Guide , Remembering the Great War and The Clock That Caused a Near Riot . Even so, our case-less dials are certainly best left behind glass and out of reach, a sad reminder of a terrible and preventable episode in industrial history, the effects of which continued to plague the town of Ottawa for many years afterward. What replaced radium in watches? - TimesMojo After several changes of ownership, it became . Underneath the #12 on the face it says: G. Falconer & Co. LTD. Hong Kong. In a way theyre preventing clocks from being thrown away so I cant totally condemn it, but it still seems like a funny thing to do. When did Bulova stop using radium? In 1914, Dr. Sabin Arnold von Sochocky and Dr. George S. Willis founded the Radium Luminous Material Corporation. They make alarm and one-day lever clocks only, and with practically two different articles, known as the 4-inch and 2-inch movements, they have an output of in their factory at LaSalle, Ill., of nearly two million clocks a year. Radium Baby Ben by Westclox ( Still Glows) : r/clocks - reddit Am I missing something here? Dave, Your question about a Big Ben containing radium, and in fact about which clocks actually do contain radium, is a good one. Its basically all forward momentum from here. A Big Ben typical of those made from late 1910 to mid-1915. When did Junghans stop manufacturing Westminster Chimes, and when did Keinzle stop manufacturing Westminster chimes. into groups of similar models. hamilton radiation | NAWCC Forums We are looking for any Westclox photographs, memorabilia etc between 1927- 1980s of the factory. I have a Westclox Big Ben 1910 style 1a and have not been able to find out the present value/worth. Is Westclox a good brand? From 1942 to 1945, Westclox ceased all production intended for domestic civilian sale and dedicated its production resources to the war effort. The massive success of the Big Ben design wasnt just about function and style. 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. Your email address will not be published. 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. (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. My clothes, hanging in a dark closet, gave off a phosphorescent glare. The NAWCC has an online forum with a lot of different categories. I would like to find out about this clock. [Westclox advertisements from WWII period, ft. One employee, R.D. when did westclox stop using radium - Fashionexclusiveuae.com Style Information: Plain dial: 1918 - 1935 Black luminous dial: 1921 - 1935 There are variations in the lettering on the dial and back. I have looked high and low in my attempts to find out how any of these resproduction style 1A were produced. The whole clock seems to be origional and was maintained by my grandfather who was a watch/clock repairman. The Timeless Appeal of the Westclock Big and Baby Bens They can be identified by having the modern type of flat head screws Westclox - An Identification and Price Guide, The Westclox Big Ben and Baby Ben Identification Guide, Clock Repair and Hermle Chime, Mantel and Wall Clocks for Sale at Bill's Clockworks. Westclox Classic Alarm Clock Full Size 47602. If you do not expect to work hard and carefully, you are in the wrong place., Big Ben is a handsome, well built, refined and bright looking fellow with a clean-cut open face and a deep cheerful voice,, 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,, But he only comes upon receipt of signed price agreement. [citation needed] This rate probably only represents the dose rate from gamma emission, as the alpha emission will be stopped by the lacquer, or crystal, or case; hence, the dose rate following ingestion or inhalation of the dust could be much higher. I had developed some sort of fascination for Big Ben and Baby Ben clocks. They were, incredibly enough, instructed to ingest a radioactive poison all day, every day, and never properly warned of any potential hazards. Was just trying to find out any information on this clock or if you may have ever come across one like it When did they stop using radium for watches? Question: Are both 1) and 2) marriages of Style 2 mechanisms put in a Style 1A Big Ben and Style 1 Baby Ben. This dustproofing is accomplished by fittings around the set knobs and winding keys and on the regulator. 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. Radium is an almost pure white alkaline radioactive earth metal, and is found in nature in uranium ores. This will broaden my view in the clock. When the Radium Dial Company moved to Ottawa in the 20s to better serve its number one client, Westclox, they were welcomed with enthusiasm, particularly by the young, working class women in the town. They arent hurting it permanently, its just kind of weird. Annie Moussin designer intrieur. 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. Hi I need the face plate for a black face big ben with the alarm dial on its face do you have any you could sell me alonf with the radio dials, it was probably outsourced meaning westclox sold some watches to hot wheels, I had a westclox electric dialite like that. The Radium Girls were female factory workers who contracted radiation poisoning from painting watch dials with self-luminous paint. This fall, the museum will be open more frequently and for more events. $25.99. Above all else, though, the rise and fall of Westcloxand the deeper history of these Big Ben clocks, in particularis simply far too intriguing to dismiss just because of a long-distance commute. [Workers assembling Big Ben alarm clocks at the Westclox plant, 1910s. Most importantly, they were forbidden to point the tip with their lips, and they avoided to ingest or inhale the luminous paint. Henry Warren invented a little synchronous motor that could go inside a clock. Some people just want one or two that they remember from childhood in good condition, so thats just the thing for them. First, if your clock is for display only, I think it is harmless if the paint on the hands is not disturbed. dated:1990 ,decorated :hong cong.made in japan.cocacola tradmark. Entertainment & Pop Culture; Geography & Travel; Health & Medicine; Lifestyles & Social Issues; Literature; Philosophy & Religion; Politics, Law & Government Fortunately, in the years since, theres been a noble effort to retain surviving parts of the building and some of the important local history that the empty factory once represented. I first saw the clock in 1957. [5] Indeed, the body treats radium as it does calcium, storing it in bone where it may cause bone degeneration and cancer.[5]. You just cant imagine the size of this factory its just gigantic. 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. A clock without hands might seem indifferent to the passage of time, but these old Big Ben and Baby Ben dials have some serious stories to tell. I think it is a clock made by Sessions. Old Rose (pink) crackle finish Baby Ben with luminous dial: 1929 1930. 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. 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. In clocks, as in all other lines of goods, there are two classes of consumersthe millions and the millionaires. Back then, radium wasn't considered to be dangerous in small doses. From that point on I really liked those. I have purchased 1) Style 1 Baby and Big Ben with the Gold Leaf dial (seller stated raised letters); and, 2) a Style 1 Baby Ben with Baby Ben De Luxe on the dial. I am reading, studying, and learning more about the Westclox. The work involved using luminous radium paint to make the numbers on clocks, watches and aeronautic dials glow in the dark. 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. She was 18. It has a cracked front lens that I would like to replace. 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. bailey oceans tide clock dated 1880, with a Fusee movement. 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. 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. I have a sessions mantle clock duet#1. Before we get to that, though, we have to start with the issue of geography as it concerns the business in question. 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. 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]. Westclox Model 66 Movement Series Welcome to the Westclox Clock and Watch History Database. WHAT IS A Moonbeam clock? - Thecrucibleonscreen.com I know it was purchased in 1937 because it belonged to my elderly friends who were married in 1938. The Westclox Big Ben Alarm Clock Vintage is an iconic timepiece that has been around since the early 1900s. I like to find the ones before that and study their history. Required fields are marked *. then 4 symbols a crown an 18 and to unkown symbols in a square patern but on its side square pattern. Accueil; Services; Ralisations; Annie Moussin; Mdias; 514-569-8476 . document.write(year) It is stamped on the back of the casing DRP&GM. Sometimes getting parts is tough, too, although it turns out Westclox made lots and lots of spare parts. Is Westclox still in business? - Quick-Advice.com It is made by The Sessions Clock movement, appears to be brass, a bucking horse with cowboy riderjudgeing from the clothes design of the cowboy it is quite old. its about 2 inches long maybe 1/2 in thick with holes on either end to be worn on a key chain perhaps? Before OSHA was set up, 14,000 people died on the job every year; today, it is just over 4,500. These clocks were produced in the thousands and many can be bought on eBay for under $10. But for years the majority were wind ups, they were so popular. when did westclox stop using radium - Simssuccessgroup.com Buy Now. it has a picture of a huck finn type boy,carying 2 bottles of coke& a fishing pole,with his dog. Was westclox ever manufactured in germany and if so when? There are also some other makers clocks Ive gotten into, like the Seth Thomas 30 hour ogee, which is a weight-driven shelf clock. Your cooperation would be greatly appreciated. 0 Comments; Uncategorized newark advertiser obituaries 2021 . When Did Glow In The Dark Watches Stop Using Radium? 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. Thank you. Westclox Big Bens and Baby Bens are full of the stuff. Yet Mrs. Keane was a survivor who later conquered colon and breast cancer. I know Bill Stoddards name from other publications on Westclox. Sometimes extensive casework can be more time consuming than getting the movement running. If you do not expect to work hard and carefully, you are in the wrong place. credit: Northern Illinois University]. Baby Ben and other Westclox clocks and watches have been assigned styles. Now I know that theres probably 14 basic shapes, but a lot more variations than that depending on how far you want to take things. Luckily for Charles, however, he is living in the same small town as Frederick William Matthiessena fellow German, but one with a hell of a lot more money and business experience. I have been collecting, repairing, and restoring mostly Westclox Big Bens for several years. Advertisement: Illustrates crackle green Tiny Tim, crackle blue Big Ben and crackle pink Baby Ben clocks. The policy of the company is one of highly specialized production. Purchased from a man who claimed to have salvaged them from the backroom of an unnamed Chicago watch repair shop, each round and weathered face represents the lasting work of an international manufacturing giant at the peak of its powers. when did westclox stop using radium. The thing I remember most is working with the people, Ristau said. 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. Matthiessen [pictured below], who owns the powerful Illinois Zinc Company and most other things in Peru / LaSalle, decides to swoop in and save Stahlbergs little clock business, incorporating it as the Western Clock Mfg. 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 have a large ansonia wall clock 32 1/2 x 32. My dad was one of the top bowlers here, Ristau said. Stoddard: The National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC) is headquartered in Pennsylvania but has chapters throughout the country. How do you date a Westclox Baby Ben? 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. Thanks for any info you may be able to supply Beginning in the 1910s, the girls instructed to put radium in their mouths didn't bat an eyelash. I thought, oh boy, I just need four more and Ill have them all! 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. Can you help In its place, he ironically dubbed the little bedside clock Big Ben (apparently not copyrighted by the British Parliament), and introduced it to the public in early ads as a gendered he instead of an it., Big Ben is a handsome, well built, refined and bright looking fellow with a clean-cut open face and a deep cheerful voice, one ad read. In the United States there does not seem to have ever been prohibitory legislation passed banning the use of radium in clocks and watches. It started early in the 20th century, around 1910, when some companies began to use radium on watch dials and hands to create a "glow in the dark" effect. Stoddard: The main thing is the originality of the dial and if its a wooden shelf clock, having the original painting in the door would be really important. This Christmas (1930) ad illustrates 61-F Dura Case, style 2 crackle finish Big Ben and Baby Ben, Auto Clock, Pocket Ben and Country Club pocket watches. Nowadays, Super-LumiNova, which is entirely non-radioactive and non-toxic, is the most used lume in watchmaking. 226RA has a half life of about 1600 years and the glow of the paint used on dials and hands decreases because of the damage the alpha particles emitted by the Radium do to the ZnS . But hes taken some that are really rusty and had the backs replaced beautifully and reproduced some dials, and hes actually had some selling for several hundred dollars, so thats a totally different thing. Can anyone tell me the meaning or significance of this eye? 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. Radium is highly radioactive. About 1920 the luminous dial using radium paint was introduced. Gary Biolchini added more style series in his book Don Spayer, volunteer and former Westclox employee, said the bulk of the museums collection was built through donations. Also, its not just Americans who collect, its worldwide. I spent many an evening here, watching him bowl.. Lynda Hinshaw, At this moment I am research a clock by Falconer& co HongKong. Can someone get back to me as to what it is and possibe age of it. I will be watching for more articles from Bill Stoddard Thank you for your input. Stoddard: I was pretty much on my own until college. I have never seen this mentioned anywhere. The only marking I can find are the letters ST in old english style inside of a diamond thats inside of a circle, on the clock works. 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. Phone: 717-684-8261. Jessie, good observation. They had one in Brazil for a while and I think also in Hong Kong. [9] The element was phased out of use by industry acting under its own volition as superior and safer luminous materials entered the marketplace. Any information would be very helpful. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Who makes Westclox? - Wise-Answers When many of these early Big Ben advertisements were still running, Gaston Le Roys life took a sudden and dramatic turn. The Canadian Clock Museum (http://www.canclockmuseum.ca/) may have some information. Radium dials usually lose their ability to glow in the dark in a period ranging anywhere from a few years to several decades, but all will cease to glow at some point. It is in the manufacture of alarm and one-day clocks that these results are the most noticeable, because in this field the quality of the product had always been subordinated to the market value, and the general feeling was one of let good enough alone., [Automatic machinery certainly sped up the manufacturing process, by plenty of human skill and attention was still required to make the Big Ben. 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. Stoddard: The first Big Bens and Baby Bens went on the market in 1910 and they were wind ups. . Here you can see production dates, original retail prices and other It is 3 diameter with Westclox on the back and PAT.APLOFOR.
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