Style 3 Big Ben and Baby Ben Alarm Clock History
Identified by concave curves on base
Big Ben style 3: 1931 to 1934
Baby Ben style 3: 1932 to 1934
Note: Reproductions having battery quartz movements have been made
in recent years
Style 3 Big Ben and Baby Ben Models and Variations
Big Ben Style 3 (Chime Alarm)
"69" on base
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| Black, nickel trim, non-luminous dial: 1932 - 1935 |
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| Black, nickel trim, luminous dial: 1932 - 1935 |
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Butler nickel (brushed ), non-luminous dial: 1933 - 1934
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Baby Ben Style 3
"61-L" on base
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| Black, nickel trim, non-luminous dial: 1932 - 1935. |
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| Black, nickel trim, luminous dial: 1932 - 1935 |
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| Maroon, copper trim, non-luminous dial: December 1932
- 1935 |
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| Maroon, copper trim, luminous dial: December 1932 - 1935 |
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| Gray, brass trim, non-luminous dial: ? - 1934 |
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| Gray, brass trim, luminous dial: ? - 1934 |
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| Ivory, brass trim, non-luminous dial: 1934 |
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| Ivory, brass trim, luminous dial: 1934 |
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Big Ben Style 3 Reproductions
Battery operated quartz movement
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| 47603 |
Black case, white dial |
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| 47604 |
Black case, black dial |
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Brushed nickel case, white dial |
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Style 3 History
“A New Big Ben Chime Alarm, which has been termed ‘The
First Polite Alarm Clock In History’ because of the pleasant manner
in which it awakens people from their slumber” was introduced in mid-1931.
“This Big Ben Chime alarm has a two voiced alarm. First, there’s
a series of gentle chime calls designed to awaken the light sleeper without
disturbing the sleep of the entire household. If this gentle alarm does
not awaken the sleeper there is a loud, steady call in reserve that will
awaken the most sound slumberer.”
Design patent 85,916 was issued to Henry Dreyfuss on January
5, 1932. This style 3 case was first used to house the new Big Ben Chime
Alarm.
The first style 3 Chime Alarms had the alarm shutoff lever
in a curved slot, later the standard type of pull on-off switch was used.
In 1932 the Baby Ben style 3 was introduced. At first, Big
Ben and Baby Ben style 3 clocks came only in black finish with nickel trim.
In December 1932, a special Christmas model Baby Ben was made. It had a
dark red (sometimes called brown) finish with copper trim, and was the first
Baby Ben with the loud-soft switch to control the alarm volume. This clock
was so popular that it became a regular model. The “butler finish”
Big Ben Chime alarm was also introduced about this time. “Butler finish
is a special treatment applied to nickel plating which gives it a soft,
satin-like appearance. This finish is produced in our buffing department.”
Baby Ben style 3 was also made in gray finish with brass trim,
and a few were made in ivory finish with brass trim.
Big Ben style 3 has a flat glass, and Baby Ben style 3 was
the first Ben to have a convex glass. The style 3 Bens were discontinued
in 1934. They were made for a shorter time than any other style of Ben (except
for the baby Ben 2 inch, which is not considered a “real” Baby
Ben).
Style 3 Reproductions
A style 3 Big Ben with a quartz movement was introduced in
the late 1990’s (please tell me if you know the year of introduction).
The reproduction can be identified by having a sweep alarm indicator (instead
of having the alarm indicator in a sub-dial below the numeral “12”).
Also it has a battery compartment instead of two winding keys.
References
Westclox, An Identification
and Price Guide, Gary Biolchini, Schiffer Publishing, 2003.
Big Ben and Baby Ben Identification
Guide, by Richard Tjarks and Bill Stoddard.
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