They were told that eliminating lip-pointing had ended earlier problems. 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. 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. In 1919 the company was incorporated as Western Clock Company, Ltd. The other thing is reproductions. Facts About Radium | Live Science Benton County Museums: Westclox Radium Dial Clock - Blogger I took it all apart and asked my dad to help me put it back together, but he cut his finger on the spring. WECKER (CW arrow)/UHR (CCW arrow) knob with ring: CW winds alarm; CCW winds clock. Can you help They are just gorgeous watches and very well made. Any information would be very helpful. I believed it was manufacturing tag. I am looking to get an approxmiate value of this clock. 5 17 15 is May 17, 1915 . The style 8 Big and Baby Bens were introduced in 1964. But the chances that you have a radium clock are slim, unless it is very old. The drinking fountain worked.. Thank you into groups of similar models. I hope to document Style 5 Baby Bens this winter. I Have a small brass alarm clock,which is 1-3/4 Hieght Length & Width. National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors Inc (A 501c3 non-profit corporation). We have photos of all the employees between 1927-1945 at the Peterborough Ontario Location but not much else. But this is not how the story of Westclox began. When did they stop using radium for watches? I have a Seth Thomas Mantle clock that my older sisters husbands Aunt had on her mantle for years. Soon, he was running the Western Clock Co. advertising department, and proving his worth with some clever marketing strategies. How can people be exposed to Radium? Radium - The First Rolex Luminous Material. So, rather than having the classic oversized bell or double-bell on top of the unit (to smash with your palm at 6am), the ringing mechanism was housed inside the back of the case, and a big winding key occupied the summit. 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. The Ghost Girls might have been the envy of the other girls in town, but no one yet realized just how much danger they were being subjected to. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I love the Hamiltons in particular, probably some of the best watches made in America. JavaScript is disabled. 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. I think we threw it away. 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. Omega stopped using radium around 1963. it has a picture of a huck finn type boy,carying 2 bottles of coke& a fishing pole,with his dog. 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. Is this a product that the company would have made or something someone created? Health effects of Radium radiation exposure | Mass.gov Westclox Wrought Iron Look Wall Clock 12" 32021A. Radiums luminosity was part of its allure, Moore writes. hi, I have a cocacola square clock. [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. Is Westclox still in business? - Quick-Advice.com Contact the Webmaster for perceived copyright infringement (DMCA Registration Number 1010287). 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. its about 2 inches long maybe 1/2 in thick with holes on either end to be worn on a key chain perhaps? His ideas were patented on as US patent #326,602. Welcome to the Westclox Clock and Watch History Database. What replaced radium in watches? - TimesMojo The first Big Bens and Baby Bens in 1910 were wind ups.. On the Style 9, they went back to actual minute markings. I recently added the Big Ben Style 1 and Baby Ben Style 1 Dial and Back types. 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. Any suggestions of where to get a replacement preferably in Canada? 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. Thanks, Teri. This particular clock is made in China while other similar Westclox alarm clocks at the time were made in Taiwan. 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. Nowadays, Super-LumiNova, which is entirely non-radioactive and non-toxic, is the most used lume in watchmaking. 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. 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.. His bigger job was to design a system so the power companies could regulate their generator so the clock could keep time. i have a large ansonia wall clock 32 1/2 x 32. 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. I try to get all the pictures I can and keep them all chronologically and study the history. . Next year, well have been married for 49 years, Mary Ann said. Are Watches With Radium Dials Safe? New Study Offers Warning Underneath the #12 on the face it says: G. Falconer & Co. LTD. Hong Kong. Clock Repair and Hermle Chime, Mantel and Wall Clocks for Sale at Bill's Clockworks. I would also like photo and more details of his clock, since I intend to write a follow-up article. Never underestimate the value of an alarm clock when yours broke two years ago and nobody has manufactured a new one since. 1919 - 1920 on a small proportion of clocks, "Westclox" in Roman text, Wide lettering at bottom: 1923, "Westclox" in Roman text, Narrow lettering at bottom:1924 to 1927, "Westclox" in Roman text, Projection on the "x": 1928 - 1935, Luminous, "Westclox" in italics: ca. Art and Mary Ann Windy [pictured] have been married for 49 years, met as Westclox employees and were present for the open house. 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. In the 1970s, radium was phased out of wristwatches and clockdials. 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. The aim of the Western Clock MFG Co. in entering the manufacture of alarms was to apply to nickel clocks, features which were previously found only in high-priced timepieces, and prohibited in low-priced lever clocks by the high cost of production involved. 1888. 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. its a Gold coloring and the bottom is well worn like it was slid into something regularily. I am a retired mechanical engineer, the quality has floored me, hats off to this company. Radium dials held near the face have been shown to produce radiation doses in excess of 10Sv / hour. 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. 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. I would like to know the value of a #4 black, #321(in original cardboard Christmas box), mint condition, Baby Ben alarm clock is. "Westclox" in italics, double hexagon legs: 1918, "Westclox" in italics, regular legs: 1918 -1922, "Westclox" in italics, very narrow lettering at bottom: "MADE BY WESTERN CLOCK CO., LA SALLE, ILL., U.S.A.", ca. 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. I have a collection of clocks, and amongst my collection are Westminster chime wall clocks, I have two Keinzle and two Junghans. They arent hurting it permanently, its just kind of weird. Frank Baker. Company in 1888 and installing another talented German, Ernst Roth, as the general manager. Big Ben style 1a continued in production until its discontinuation in 1935. There are also some other makers clocks Ive gotten into, like the Seth Thomas 30 hour ogee, which is a weight-driven shelf clock. So I swapped them, and its worked perfectly ever since. 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. They had one in Brazil for a while and I think also in Hong Kong. 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. any info would be appreciated. Something about them has always been ingrained in me. 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. 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. It is in working order and chimes on the hour and half hour. I read (but cant remember where) that about 40,000 were made. On 3rd January 2099, Terry Shields asked if anyone had information regarding his clock signed G .Falconer, Hong Kong. For me its kind of an inexpensive hobby because as a boy I could find them for about a dollar a piece, sometimes in good condition. . Quite a few who try to get every basic model, but fewer who get into the rarer models and do research. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Not to mention theres the Big Bens so that doubles it right there. 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. Thanks very mutch, I just acquired a sir w.h. Without a crystal poses a serious Health risk because the Radium paint flakes off and can become airborne. Junghans, Kienzle,Mauthe,Kaiser, Peter, (all from Germany) Veglia (Italy), CNIS ( France), Ingersoll (UK) as well as some Hong Kong made items. It sits on a small brass stand with Westclox on it. Stahlbergs company goes bankrupt not once, but twice, within its first several years. 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. Behind the light, theyd been left in the dark. Back then, radium wasn't considered to be dangerous in small doses. England. Westclox Big Ben Luminous Hands | NAWCC Forums Were finally at a point, where were ready to do more than just sit here, said Ruth Spayer, curator for the museum. 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. 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. The thing I remember most is working with the people, Ristau said. When did Westclox close? Radium Girls - Wikipedia Store - The WestClox Source During World War II they had some fantastic ads that you can see on my website like, Victory Wont Wait for the Nation Thats Late, and Guard Your Big Ben where they show a bulldog and a soldier with a gun guarding a Big Ben because during the war they stopped making clocks for the consumer market and totally switched over to military work. The Crystal blocks a significant amount of The radiation. The front is in Roman Numerals with a dome shaped raised glass. What is Radium Used For? - WorldAtlas Mae Keane, Whose Job Brought Radium to Her Lips, Dies at 107 It is stamped on the back of the casing DRP&GM. But for years the majority were wind ups, they were so popular. Before we get to that, though, we have to start with the issue of geography as it concerns the business in question. Is a Glow-in-the-dark Clock Any Cause for Alarm? I have a sessions mantle clock duet#1. 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. They call it Shabby Chic and sell it on eBay for 60 to 80 dollars. Their factory in LaSalle, Illinois closed down in about 1980 when they moved all their production down south, but the building is still there. So yes. It is a wind up. All the aforementioned to ask you if you know how many of the 1970 style 1As were made. I took it back and the repairman told me it was like a large Timex watch and just not worth being fixed. Eventually we became best friends and started researching together. It also says that the patent was re-issued March 31, 1868. 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. 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. 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. People did some bad things over the years just to get them running. This fall, the museum will be open more frequently and for more events. With a half-life of only 3.8 days, radon "seeds" (Rn gas contained in thin walled gold tubing, crimped and cut into units up to 1cm in length) could be left permanently implanted in the body. 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. I was about 3ft high and recessed into the wall. It had beneath that four long tubes and they were the chimes for the door bell. As the 1960s began, over 50 million Big Ben clocks had been produced in total, and additional Westclox plants were now in operation everywhere from Athens, Georgia, and Ontario, Canada, to Scotland and Australia. The factory contained a bowling alley, and Ristau said his father was an excellent bowler. They were officially Americas preferred wake-up call provider. Can someone get back to me as to what it is and possibe age of it. Same as the nickel version but in a gold-plated case. Their use in prostate brachytherapy dates from 1926. There are some blemishes on the wood on the right side. 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 . Theres a seller on eBay now whos doing some really outstanding restorations of Big Bens. The first style 1a cases had double-hexagon legs, but after about a year they were changed to standard single hex form. 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. [3] The Radiolite series, made in various sizes and models, became a signature of the Connecticut-based company. This has probably been discussed before but my search turned up nothingdo the luminous hands on a Big Ben alarm clock contain painted radium? Westclox began as the United Clock Company of Peru, Illinois in 1885. [5] Indeed, the body treats radium as it does calcium, storing it in bone where it may cause bone degeneration and cancer.[5]. Next to the original Westcloxes I have an interesting collection of European copies by a.o. Chronic exposure to high levels of radium can result in an increased incidence of bone, liver, or breast cancer. Don Spayer, volunteer and former Westclox employee, said the bulk of the museums collection was built through donations. When I walked along the street, Iwas aglow from the radium powder., [Mrs. Charlotte Purcell, like Catherine Donohue, was one of 15 former workers at the Radium Dial Company who contracted cancer and sought justice in the late 1930s]. We thought it was 1890 or older. The movement was mounted to the inner case back. The trademark "Westclox" which had appeared on their Big Ben alarm clocks as early as 1910 was officially registered in January 1916. Based in Flora, Indiana, Bill can be reached via his website, clockhistory.com, which is a member of our Hall of Fame. Thank you, i have a pocket watch that says (inscribed inside) g. falconer ,,,rona & london or kona & london i dont know its in old english and says kona or hona it has 1243 all inscribed on the inside where when u open it u can see the gears, looks like an a8 and a crown with a 18 on the middle inside cover (that covers the gears) and also a 1243 and what looks like an 8 or an infinite symbol (sideways 8)then again on the part that clasps over everything on the inside an A3 or A8? It has a cracked front lens that I would like to replace. Am I missing something here? About 1931 they made the first electric Big Ben, and they were plug ins. Thats another story.
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