Westclox Baby Ben Alarm Clock Style Series

The Baby Ben alarm clock was first sold in 1910 and has evolved through many case style and movement changes. The Baby Ben started with the "Baby Ben with 2 Inch Movement", followed by 10 "mainstream" case styles. Plug-in electric Baby Bens were made in styles 5 and 7.

When identifying a Baby Ben style, observe the case shape and ignore the case and dial color, as some styles were made in various case and dial colors, as shown in the detail page for each style.

There are 12 styles in the Westclox Baby Ben Alarm Clock Style Series

Westclox Baby Ben 2 Inch

Characteristics:

Ring on top, no name on dial, alarm dial is at the 6:00 position, round winding key handles that fold down, short rear leg, patent dates are stamped in circular form.

Dates made:

1910 - 1912
Westclox Baby Ben Style 1

Characteristics:

Ring on top, two feet in front, alarm dial at 12:00 position.

Dates made:

1912 - 1930
Westclox Baby Ben Style 2

Characteristics:

Thin edge around base, has steady-repeat and alarm-silent levers on top of case.

Dates made:

1927 - 1932
Westclox Baby Ben Style 3

Characteristics:

Concave curves on base (curves on front, rear and the sides).

Dates made:

1932 - 1934
Westclox Baby Ben Style 4

Characteristics:

The base has two convex curves (one on each side).

Dates made:

1934 - 1939
Westclox Baby Ben Style 5

Characteristics:

Streamlined round case, rectangular base with polished brass or nickel plated steel plate. Looks like a Honeywell "round" thermostat mounted on a base.

Dates made:

1939 - 1949
Westclox Baby Ben Style 6

Characteristics:

Smaller base than style 5, without the polished metal plate. Small alarm hand at "12" with full numeral 12 showing.

Dates made:

1949 - 1956
Westclox Baby Ben Style 7

Characteristics:

Concentric alarm hand, plastic lens.

Dates made:

1956 to 1964 (and 1976)
Westclox Baby Ben Style 8

Characteristics:

Oval metal bezel.

Dates made:

1964 - 1981
Westclox Baby Ben Style 9

Characteristics:

"Squared" oval plastic bezel

Dates made:

1980 - 2000
Westclox Baby Ben Style 10

Characteristics:

Made in China, sweep second hand, top alarm shutoff, rotating alarm dial visible below the numeral "12".

Dates made:

Starting in 2001
Westclox Baby Ben Futura Day Date

Characteristics:

Spherical plastic case with flat bottom

Dates made:

1976 - 1981

History of the Baby Ben Alarm Clock

Sales figures for the first years of the Big Ben and Baby Ben

Year Big Ben Baby Ben
1909
28,261
------
1910
146,099
4,783
1911
391,620
18,173
1912
582,801
43,497
1913
784,739
90,398
1914
610,431
91,733
1915
517,549
123,231
1916
615,167
137,464
1917
650,455
180,232
1918
613,943
158,102
1919
813,807
231,020
1920
837,807
256,212

Trademark registrations pertaining to Baby Ben

Trademark # Date Filed Date Registered Name In Use Since
79,875 7-5-10 10-11-10 Baby 6-2-10
83,877 6-29-11 10-17-11 baby Ben 6-2-10
87,388 3-13-12 7-9-12 LITTLE BEN 3-4-12

We have never seen a clock marked "Little Ben" (except for a much later clock made in the 1970's). A pocket watch labeled "Little Ben" dated 1914 has been reported, and perhaps the "LITTLE BEN" trademark in the above table refers to that watch.

References