Big Ben Style 1a Reproduction
Westclox made an excellent, almost exact, reproduction of the style 1a
Big Ben in 1970. Most are in nickel finish cases, but some were made in
gold plated cases.
They can be identified by having the modern type of flat head screws with
shoulders instead of round head screws, and by having a 1910 patent date
on the back even though the case is style 1a. They were sold in a very attractive
hexagonal box which has pictures of antique items on the sides (tricycle,
telephone, carriage, etc.) The movement is a windup almost identical to
the original.
This clock can be identified by having the modern type of flat head screws
with shoulders instead of round head screws, and by having a 1910 patent
date on the back even though the case is style 1a. They were sold in a very
attractive hexagonal box which has pictures of antique items on the sides
(tricycle, telephone, carriage, etc.) The movement is a windup almost identical
to the original.
Some differences in the movement include:
- Center, third and escape wheels are not spoked;
- The pallet pins are round instead of diamond shaped;
- The use of shouldered instead of round headed screws;
- The hairspring is cemented into the stud, instead of being pinned;
- The mainspring barrels and bridges are not blued.
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Above: Back of movement with and without the dust
covers
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The patent information on the back:
PATENTED
JUNE 9,1908
NOV. 17, 1908
DEC. 15, 1908
MAY 24, 1910
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Westclox, An Identification
and Price Guide, Gary Biolchini, Schiffer Publishing, 2003.
Big Ben and Baby Ben Identification
Guide, by Richard Tjarks and Bill Stoddard, 1984.
Article by J. E. Coleman in American Horologist and Jeweler
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