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Westclox Big Ben and Baby Ben Advertising History

Big Ben was first advertised in the September 24, 1910 Saturday Evening Post. From that time on, Westclox clocks were advertised in many major magazines. This sequence of ads shows the history of the Big Ben and Baby Ben alarm clock from the beginning through the style 8 Bens of the 1970's.

Click on any ad to bring up an enlarged view.

Style 1 Big Ben

Big Ben was first sold in 1909, and first advertised in the Sept. 24, 1910 Saturday Evening Post.

The first Big Ben alarm clock ad

Style 1 Baby Ben

Baby Ben was first made in 1910, and first advertised in the Sept. 25, 1915 Saturday Evening Post.

The first Baby Ben alarm clock ad

Style 1a Big Ben

In 1918, the Big Ben case was modified to make it dustproof. The changes visible from the front are: the legs screw on and have a hexagonal portion for turning them, and there are no assembly screws through the bezel. This ad comes from the January 26, 1924 Saturday Evening Post.

January 26, 1924 Saturday Evening Post a

Style 2

The first Big Ben and Baby Ben to have a base instead of legs was introduced in 1927. This introductory ad is from the October 1, 1927 Saturday Evening Post.

Style 2 Ben introductory ad

Style 2 Crackle

This ad in the Oct. 1928 Pictorial Review is one of the first showing the style 2 Big Ben and Baby Ben alarm clocks in crackle finish cases. The crackle finish consists of a base coat of gold paint, topped with pink, green or blue finish that developed cracks as it dried, exposing the gold. The little clock on the left is Tiny Tim, a time only clock.

Crackle finish introductory ad

Style 3 Big Ben

Big Ben Chime Alarm was introduced in 1931 in a case designed by Henry Dreyfuss. This introductory ad is from Collier's for October 10, 1931. Baby Ben style 3 was introduced in 1932.

Big Ben Chime alarm intorductory ad

Style 4

Style 4, a redesign of the style 3 case, was first used in 1934 for Big Ben Chime Alarm and Baby Ben. In 1935, style 4 Big Ben Loud Alarm replaced style 1a Big Ben. This ad is from the October 10, 1936 Saturday Evening Post.

 October 10, 1936 Saturday Evening Post ad

Style 5 Electric

In this Sept. 9, 1939 Saturday Evening Post ad, Big Ben style 4 introduces Big Ben Electric Chime Alarm, the first Ben in the style 5 case. Henry Dreyfuss designed this case.

Style 5 Big Ben electric introductory ad

Style 5

This Saturday Evening Post ad from November 4, 1939 announces the style 5 Bens: Baby Ben, Big Ben Chime Alarm, Big Ben Loud Alarm, and Big Ben Electric Chime Alarm (which was also announced in the previous ad). Note how similar this case design is to the Honeywell "round" thermostat, also designed by Henry Dreyfuss.

Style 5 Big Ben wind up introductory ad

S6-D Big Ben Electric

The S6-D Big Ben electric in a brown Bakelite case was introduced in 1948, as shown in this Saturday Evening Post ad.

First ad for S6-D Big Ben Electric

Style 6

The style 6 Big Ben and Baby Ben alarm clocks made their debut in the Aug. 27, 1949 Saturday Evening Post.

Style 6 Big Ben and Baby Ben introductory ad

Style 7

The style 7 Big Ben and Baby Ben alarm clocks were introduced to the public in this Saturday Evening Post ad from Sept. 22, 1956.

Saturday Evening Post ad from Sept. 22, 1956

Baby Ben Sequin

Baby Ben Sequin (style 7 case) was announced in the Sept. 20, 1958 Saturday Evening Post, honoring the 69,000,000 "Bens" of the previous 50 years. It was made in two colors - pink and turquoise.

Baby Ben sequin ad in the Sept. 20, 1958 Saturday Evening Post

Style 8

The style 8 Big and Baby Bens were introduced in 1964. This 1964 Westclox Christmas ad describes their features.

Style 8 Big Bens and Baby Ben

Big Ben Style 1a Reproduction

A reproduction of the Big Ben style 1a leg model was made in 1969 - 1970. The majority are in nickel plated cases, but a small number have gold plated cases.

Its retail price was $40 and it came in a hexagon box decorated with black and white cuts of items reminiscent of the early 1900s.

Image courtesy of Jeffrey R. Wood.

Big Ben style 1a reproduction ca. 1970

Fashion Brite Style 8

The "Fashion Brite" style 8 Big Ben and Baby Ben alarm clocks were introduced in 1970. All four colors are shown in this Nov. 11, 1970 advertisement.

Fashion Brite style 8 Bens

Big Ben Solid State

Big Ben Solid State is introduced in this 1974 ad. Also shown in the back row (left to right) are Big Ben, Big Ben Sweep, and Big Ben Futura.

Big Ben Solid State ad
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