|
|
|
|
|
Westclox History from 1920 to 19291920Employees1,527 (Twenty times as many as in 1895.) Production15,000 per day (approximately) (39 times as in 1895) CorporateOfficers in chargeGeorge P. Blow - President Directors already in officeF. W. Matthiessen, Sr., G. P. Blow, E. Roth added in 1920 W. S. Hawthorne, R. I. Hughes, E. C. Roth, Ralph Matthiessen SOME OF THE FOREMAN IN 1920Leo. Stevens - Miscellaneous Dept. Some Assistant Foremen Appointed In 1920(showing date started w/ Company) Art Smith - Automatic Screw (st. 1904) MiscellaneousCentral Park Propertyacquired (Five new homes to be can't see the rest of the sentence Parking AreaIn the parking area at this time< there were 70 bicycles< 8 motorcycles, and 30 automobiles. EmployeesQuarter Century Club Pres. - Frank Holsinger, (foreman of the Automobile Screw Dept. New BuildingPlant floor space now covers - 310,000 sq. ft. Twenty-five times as large as in 1895. Machinists Training Schoolhas been initiated under the supervision of Mr. Sewry. 1921Western Clock CompanyFactory area covers approximately 10 acres of floor space. AcquiredLasalle Tool Company (10/21) (Later sold -1926) (Controlling interest - Western Clock Company ; Board of Directors - Geo P. Blow ; E. Roth; A.S. Johnson, ( also continues as Superintendent) ; E.C. Roth, O. J. Senftleben. MiscellaneousWith the aid of Western Clock Company - a new road was built connecting LaSalle and Peru - through Central Park. Water Tankbuilt north of 11th (by Western Clock Co.) Capacity - 7,000 gallons plant use. Night School Classes Startedin Math, Drawing Slide Rule - This was for employees and held Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, and Friday nights after work. Factory Safety Committee Formed(elected) Western Clock Company LTD., Peterborough Canada - built new building. EmployeesFire DepartmentChief - Peter Kettwig Asst. Chief- Charles Fritz Factory WatchmenT. Weiller, J. Forrester, L. Mankowski, F. Ratajczak, C. Pelka, L. Foley, S. Geiger, E. Bennett. DeceasedJ. Klein - One of original force died April 9 - with 35 years of service. Introductions"Bluebird" Pocket Ben -1st Advertised-Mar. 12 issue Saturday Evening Post -$2.00 Bag Pocket Watch - First started advertising pocket watches, although manufactured since late 1800. A sale of clocks, not up to standard, Big Ben $0.25; Baby Ben $0.20; Jack O'Lantern $0.20; Glo Ben $0.15. 1922CorporateCaptain George BlowPresident of Western Clock Company Died - November 22, 1922 - at age 62 Director 1/1900 President 6/1900 Buried - Arlington Memorial Cemetery MiscellaneousPolice DepartmentPeru, Illinois - Chief and three patrolmen. PopulationPeru, Illinois - 9,000 - covered two square miles. BuildingNew five story building (Western Clock Company) nearing completion. 1923Name of Westclox Adopted in 1923CorporateE. Roth - President (served 34 yrs as General Manager) F.W. Matthiessen, Jr. - 1st Vice President (Director since 1918 - son of F.W. Matthiessen) Ralph Matthiessen - 2nd Vice President (Grandson of F.W. Matthiessen G.Blow, Jr. - Director (replacing his father, Capt. G. Blow) Board of Directors ElectedE. Roth (Director since 1980), F. W. Matthiessen, Jr., Ralph Matthiessen, W. S. Hawthorne, R. L. Hughes, E. C. Roth, G.W.Blow Jr. H. Hackman - Assistant General Manager and Secretary R. L. Hughes - Treasurer W. S. Hawthorne - Superintendent Employees2,400 MiscellaneousOffice BuildingNew L-Shaped office building to be built across the street from main Factory entrance (Old "Waiting Station" located there now). (Plans are being drawn up.) Bowling AlleysCompany started to install Bowling Alleys below the Mainspring Department. Cost approximately $6,000 for four lanes, five balls each alley, automatic pin setters. Player PianoA player piano was installed in the Cafeteria- Noon dances to be held several noon-hours a week. Quarter Century Club31 members. Model Of Clock - WallThis model was called BERKSHIRE (featuring a 2" Ivorine dial, beveled crystal, one-day movement, rustic finish - made so it could sit on a table or be hung on a wall). This model was a premium clock made for Castendyck Brothers Farm Implement dealer in LaSalle, and given to purchase of a Peru Pacemaker Plow made by the Peru Plow and Wheel Works. 1924CorporateH. E. Hackman (Asst. GEn. Mgr.) elected to BOARD OF DIRECTORS (will continue as Secretary of Company also). J. D. Lent (General Sales Manager) elected to BOARD OF DIRECTORS. Clarence Griggs - Company Attorney DeceasedE. Roth, President and General Manager died - 67 yrs old - 10/2/24 - 35 years of service. MiscellaneousQuarter Century Club44 members Office BuildingNew office building opened - tunnel connecting Factory and Office. Activities - Noonday Dances (w/orchestra) held in lunchroom.Income & Pension Planproposed and accepted - Employee and Company participation. Employees2500 - January 1924 1925Employees2748 CorporateF.W. Matthiessen, Jr. - Chairman of Board (son of F.W. Matthiessen, Sr.) (Director since 1918) R. H. Matthiessen - President (Grandson of F.W. Matthiessen , Sr.) (Director since 1920) H. E. Hackman - 1st Vice President & General Manager (Director since 1924. Started Western Clock Company in 1898) E. C. Roth - Secretary (Director since 1920) R. L. Hughes - Treasurer J. D. Lent - General Sales Manager J. L. Steward - Comptroller (Started with Western Clock Company 1901) John Schmidt - Assistant Treasurer (Started with Western Clock Company 1909) Homer Z. Cook - Assistant Comptroller (Started with Western Clock Company 1906) M. F. Gallagher - Director (replacing E. Roth) (Chicago firm) PlantPaul Beeby - Superintendent Miscellaneousinsurance -Employee insured for amount of one--year salary ( amount not to exceed $2,000, or below $300.00.) Western Clock Company Skating Rink Opened (Ice-Rink)Western Clock Company Baseball League Organized(Teams from different Department competed.) Factory Closed On Memorial DayVacation-June 27- July 13 ManufacturedZero Hour Torpedo for shooting Oil Wells (used Pocket Ben) 1926CorporateLaSalle Tool Company sold to F. S. Knowles, Ottawa, Illinois. MiscellaneousSickness Benefit Plan initiated. Some of the Home Owners of Central Park at this time - Wascher, Faerbe, Johnson,Swegar, Bob Walker. Mrs. Blow and Mrs. Matthiessen - donated $400,00 toward the building of a High School and Junior College. Balance was voted on, and met with taxes...$200,000 1927Miscellaneous869 Western Clock Company employees will receive part or whole Vacation pay. Working Hours per week now 44 1/2 hours - 7:30 - 4 :30, Saturday 7:30 to 12:00 noon. (Working hours were 47 hours per week.) 1928CorporateSterling Clock Co. (Meridan, Connecticut)purchased by Western Clock Company - being moved to LaSalle. Construction on additional building(30,000 sq. ft.) was started - Buffing, Plating building. New connecting street between Peru and LaSalleopened -- through Central Park - ninth street. (New addition to High School completed - Mrs. Eda Matthiessen and Mrs. Adele M. Blow - large stockholders of Western Clock Company had contributed $400,00 - taxpayers voted on additional $200,000.) MiscellaneousQuarter Century Club69 active members 3 associate members Foreman's Club75 members Girl's Dormitoriesto close June 1 - Started during the War years - Boarding home for girls employed at Western Clock Co. ParkFor recreation and relaxing - east of Dormitory, was opened. (Was Twin City Park - old saloon torn down.) Tennis Courtsbuilt and opened Bridge Lessonsfor card players are available Horseshoe Courtsopened north of Plating Department and also East of new Park. IntroductionsBig Ben Deluxe - $3.75 (Old rose, green, blue, lum. dial) George Smith Started With Western Clock Company - June - 19281929Employees3,058 Payroll$3,700,000 CorporateStarted new addition to Plantadding 24,750 square feet. (Mrs. C. Blow, daughter of F.W. Matthiessen, wife of Captain George Blow, died. She was a great benefactor to the community.) Planned - Grove Residence ParkWas called Halligan's Grove and used for a picnic area. Planning of Grove Residence took several years effort on the part of Western Clock Company - drawing up plans, with the aid of several men knowledgeable in this particular field. Foremen Appointed At This TimeCharles Keenan - General Foreman Baby Ben and Electric Clock Departments(started in Company - 1897) George Willmeroth - Foreman Electric Clock DepartmentCarter Weisheit - Foreman Baby Ben DepartmentIntroductionNew Pocket Ben Watch - lum, oval top ring, small sweep.1930
|
|
| Westclox and Big Ben are registered trademarks of Salton, Inc. ClockHistory.com is concerned with the history of clocks and watches, and is not affiliated with the manufacturers of new products. | |||
|
|
|
