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Style 4 Big Ben and Baby Ben Alarm Clock HistoryIdentified by Convex curves on base In 1936 the dials were changed from "Made by Western Clock Co". to "Made by Westclox" Style 4 Big Ben and Baby Ben Models and Variations
Style 4 HistoryThe style 4 Ben case is a modification of the style 3. There is no matting ring between the dial and the glass, and the base has two convex curves (one on each side) instead of four concave curves. Both Big Ben and Baby Ben style 4 have a convex glass. Baby Ben style 4 was introduced in 1934 and came in two case colors. The ivory case with brass trim has a white non-luminous dial with black figures, or a brown-banded luminous dial. The black (actually called gunmetal, a grayish metallic paint) case with nickel trim has a white non-luminous dial with black figures, or a solid black luminous dial. The alarm winding key is lower on the back than on style 3, and there is a sliding cover on the regulator slot (also used on styles 5 – 8). Big Ben style 4 has more variations than Baby Ben style 4. In 1934 the style 4 Big Ben Chime Alarm was introduced. At first it was made in a black finish with nickel trim, and a green metallic finish with nickel trim. About April 1936 the ivory finish with brass trim replaced the green finish clock, and gunmetal finish replaced the black finish. Black, gunmetal and green clocks have a white dial with black numerals or a black dial with luminous numerals. Ivory clocks have a white dial with black numerals or a brown-banded dial with luminous numerals. The Chime Alarms produced through early 1935 differ from the later, standard ones in several respects. They don’t have the name “Chime Alarm” on the dial, and they have the words “Westclox” and “Big Ben” printed with the same style of lettering as style 3 Chime Alarms. The hands on luminous dial clocks are made from the same blanks as non-luminous hands (“simplified skeleton style”) but are nickeled, with the luminous paint applied from behind. There is close spacing between the time winding key and time set knob, just like the style 3 Chime Alarm. Starting in early 1935, the Chime Alarm was produced with “standard” features. There is wide spacing between the time winding key and time set knob, achieved with intermediate gearing on the time main wheel bridge. The dials have the label “Chime Alarm.” Luminous hands on both gunmetal and ivory clocks are solid (not skeleton) nickeled blanks with luminous paint applied to the front (did some ivory clocks use unplated brass hand blanks?). In March 1935, the Big Ben Style 1a was discontinued, and Big Ben Style 4a Loud Alarm was introduced. Big Ben style 4a appears similar to style 4 but the case is approximately 1/4” thicker to accommodate the Loud Alarm movement, which is thicker than the Chime Alarm movement. The “Loud Alarm” movement is basically the same as the movement used in Big Ben style 1a. The style 4a Big Ben Loud Alarm was made in a gunmetal case with nickel trim and had a white dial with black numerals or a black dial with luminous figures. The cases have a hanger on the back. In late 1936, the company name was changed from “Western Clock Company” to “Westclox Division of General Time Instruments Corporation.” This change appeared on dials ca. late 1936 to early 1937. Style 4 and 4a were discontinued in 1939. Differentiating Style 4 from Style 5 DialsThe style 4 dial has curved tails on the numerals 6 and 9, the style 5 has straight tails. There are differences in the lettering too. ReferencesWestclox, 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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| 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. | |||
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