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The History of Westclox Pocket Watches
Western Clock Manufacturing company made their first
pocket watches in 1899. Early models include The American and the Boyproof.
Pocket Ben was first made about 1919 and first advertised in 1921. Glo-Ben,
the luminous version of Pocket Ben, was introduced in 1919 and renamed
Pocket Ben Luminous in 1927. Other pocket watches and their dates of
introduction included: Country Club, 1930; Dax, 1932; new Pocket Ben
(thinner, silver plated dial), 1932; new Pocket Ben (silver etched two-tone
dial), 1933; Bull's eye luminous, 1938; new Dax, 1938; Black Chief,
1938.
An early watch ca. 1897 with a hinged winding key
and wound by opening up the back is mentioned in the August 20, 1929
Westclox Tick Talk magazine. It may have been based on the Two
Inch movement, which was introduced in 1896.
More models will be shown after I get the Westclox
model database up and running.
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| Model 1 pocket watch movement.
(Drawing from "The Watch that Made The Dollar Famous" by George
Townsend, 1974.) |
Second model
of Western Clock Mfg. Co. pocket watch movement. "Pat'd Sept. 22,
1885" "Patents Pdg." on barrel bridge. |
| Pocket Ben as shown in a 1921 advertisement |
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| Glo-Ben pocket watch as shown in a 1922
advertisement. Glo-Ben is like a Pocket Ben but with luminous dial
and hands. |
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| Pocket Ben as shown in a 1935 Westclox
catalog. This model was introduced in 1933. |
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| Dax pocket watch as shown in a 1935 Westclox
catalog. Dax was first made in 1932. |
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Handbag Watch from a 1935 Westclox catalog. It was available in black, white, blue and red. First made in 1933.
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| Handbag Watch is shown on its easel in
this photo from a 1935 catalog. |
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| Handbag Watch was introduced in 1933,
and in 1935 it won the Kaufmann award at the Industrial arts Exposition
at Rockefeller Center in New York. The case was designed by DeVaulchier
& Blow, NY. It retailed for $2.95. |
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