Eventually, safer options were discovered, and the use of radium was discontinued in the 1960s. [9] Prior to that date, "the federal government had a limited role, if any, in ensuring the safe use of radium," according to the NRC. Dave, Your question about a Big Ben containing radium, and in fact about which clocks actually do contain radium, is a good one. They were, incredibly enough, instructed to ingest a radioactive poison all day, every day, and never properly warned of any potential hazards. 1919 - 1920 on a small proportion of clocks, "Westclox" in Roman text, Wide lettering at bottom: 1923, "Westclox" in Roman text, Narrow lettering at bottom:1924 to 1927, "Westclox" in Roman text, Projection on the "x": 1928 - 1935, Luminous, "Westclox" in italics: ca. A few years later my grandma gave me one that worked, and my aunt gave me another one. At the top was a clock covered with a glass door. They typically have a round brass base with a glass dome over them; they were made in Germany from the 1890s up through the 1970s, and a lot of people collect them. [6] Decaying radium also produces the gas radon, recognized as the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States[6] and the United Kingdom. Copyright The massive success of the Big Ben design wasnt just about function and style. In the production of ordinary clocks adapted to the needs and means of the millions, America produces results of remarkable excellence. At one time they employed about 3500 people, making about 35, 000 clocks and watches per day. England. Located at 41.3275 N, 89.1290 W on the map, the companys former plant is admittedly on the absolute fringes of what would typically be designated Chicagoland turf. CAN SOMEONE TELL ME HOW TO RELEASE THE CLICK ON A WESTCLOX MANS WRISTWATCH MODEL A-201? Stoddard: My grandma gave me an old Baby Ben alarm clock that didnt work when I was seven. Through it all, Peru remained the companys home base, as over 3,000 employees now enjoyed the rapidly expanding space of the factory and its attached campus, with gardens, tennis courts, a bowling alley, and other things worthy of a Matthiessen estate. This eye is horizontally elliptical in general shape, about 4 3/4 long and 1 3/4 tall with a circle in the middle making it look like a single eye. George Kern died on July 27, 1918 from a ruptured appendix, but his basic clock design lived on for years. American manufacturers were quick to see that the millionaires are a negligible quantity as consumers, and that, not chronometersnot marvels of intricacy and originalitywere needed, but timepieces within the reach and want of all. You must log in or register to reply here. A 'radium cow' or sample of radium would continually yield a supply of the nuclide. In 1913, with help from the US government, Dr. Douglas formed the National Radium Institute, to mine radium from uranium ores recently discovered in Colorado. According to Chemistry Explained, radium is extracted today from uranium ores in much the same way that Marie and Pierre Curie did in the late 1890s and early 1900s. Its hard to fathom in retrospect, but in the early 20th century, it was generally believed that small amounts of radium were perfectly harmless to humans, and thus, the substances natural, long-lasting glow actually made it something of an attractive novelty of the time periodnot just on clock dials, but in the worlds of quack medicine, fashion, cosmetics, and even a proto version of energy water, called Radithor.. About the only. I know very little about clocks in general. When did they stop using radium for watches? when did westclox stop using radiumcapricorn and virgo flirting. Question: Are both 1) and 2) marriages of Style 2 mechanisms put in a Style 1A Big Ben and Style 1 Baby Ben. It is made by The Sessions Clock movement, appears to be brass, a bucking horse with cowboy riderjudgeing from the clothes design of the cowboy it is quite old. Instead, it would be better to take the box outside and remove the lid there, which would allow any built-up gas to rapidly dissipate." The watches tested were produced from the 1920s through the '60s, and are a mix of British, Swiss, and American origin. Is radium still used on watches? I'll start with a 19j Bunn, Looking for Somebody with Some Bandwidth to do a Repair. Once I was winding it and one of the main springs broke, so I decided to take it all apart and fix the main spring. Advertisement: Illustrates crackle green Tiny Tim, crackle blue Big Ben and crackle pink Baby Ben clocks. The standard operating procedure of their daily work involved literally placing radium flecked paint brushes between their lips to create a finer point before application. Can you confirm? The movement was mounted to the inner case back. its about 2 inches long maybe 1/2 in thick with holes on either end to be worn on a key chain perhaps? [Left: The first national Big Ben advertisement appears in the Saturday Evening Post in 1910: Big Ben is a thin, beautiful and punctual sleepmeter with a silent motor that will not annoy you on your lie-awake nights and a deep musical voice that will call you on your sleepiest mornings. Right and Below: A style 1A Big Ben from our museum collection, circa 1920s.]. 5 17 15 is May 17, 1915 . In its place, he ironically dubbed the little bedside clock Big Ben (apparently not copyrighted by the British Parliament), and introduced it to the public in early ads as a gendered he instead of an it., Big Ben is a handsome, well built, refined and bright looking fellow with a clean-cut open face and a deep cheerful voice, one ad read. The alpha particles emitted by the radium, which is taken up in bone, will kill off surrounding bone tissue, resulting in a condition loosely referred to as radium jaw. Entertainment & Pop Culture; Geography & Travel; Health & Medicine; Lifestyles & Social Issues; Literature; Philosophy & Religion; Politics, Law & Government Similarly, Handle on top: down alarm off; up alarm on. Through a friend I purchased an apparently antique key wind up long wooden and glass cased clock. Your cooperation would be greatly appreciated. As the dark cloud of fear and suspicion grew over the small town of Ottawa into the 30s, the Radium Dial Company itself refused to take any responsibility, claiming innocence and ignorance. I have a collection of clocks, and amongst my collection are Westminster chime wall clocks, I have two Keinzle and two Junghans. Thank you. Never underestimate the value of an alarm clock when yours broke two years ago and nobody has manufactured a new one since. So yes. This 1964 Westclox Christmas ad describes their features. All Rights Reserved. One employee, R.D. . These folks here that are responsible for this are doing a marvelous job, Ristau said. In some respects, the early rise of the Western Clock MFG Co. is even more impressive considering the company didnt have all the resources of an established, major metropolis to draw from. Dont know if someone ingraved date on when took down or if the original. People did some bad things over the years just to get them running. Jessie, good observation. Westclox - An Identification and Price Guide, and I added even more in 2012. Collectors Weekly: When did you discover that there were other clock collectors? Same as the nickel version but in a gold-plated case. It sits on a small brass stand with Westclox on it. The only problem is a standard size D battery does not fit. when did westclox stop using radium old restaurants in lawrence, ma . Westclox Model 66 Movement Series Welcome to the Westclox Clock and Watch History Database. Theres a seller on eBay now whos doing some really outstanding restorations of Big Bens. They arent hurting it permanently, its just kind of weird. Yet Mrs. Keane was a survivor who later conquered colon and breast cancer. Its basically all forward momentum from here. Westclox began as the United Clock Company of Peru, Illinois in 1885. Quite a few who try to get every basic model, but fewer who get into the rarer models and do research. Credit: pinimg. Big Ben Style Series. I am pleased that I came across your article. They asked me to give some programs myself at some of the chapter meetings so I became a little bit better at being a public speaker, and its been great meeting people. Initially hired as a low level clerk, Le Roy worked his way up the company ladder in the early 1900s as an on-the-road sales rep, soliciting business from Chicago to New York to parts unknown. I bought a 1970s Westclox pocket watch with a Hotwheels face that says authorized seller on it. Thanks for any info you may be able to supply A lot of the American Shelf clocks from the 1820s up to 1900 have reverse paintings in the door, on the backside of the glass. For the town of Peruwhich had tied much of its identity to Westclox for the better part of a centurythe damage went beyond financial. Westclox set up a factory in England in the 1940s and also in Scotland. Sometimes Ive seen them for 300 to 600 dollars. I would like to know the value of a #4 black, #321(in original cardboard Christmas box), mint condition, Baby Ben alarm clock is. Westclox Big Bens and Baby Bens are full of the stuff. Debbie Blake, I have a small Westclox wind up clock dating around 1937. At this moment I study horology at West Dean College in the UK. My clothes, hanging in a dark closet, gave off a phosphorescent glare. This practice resulted in the ingestion of radium, which caused serious jaw-bone degeneration and malignancy and other dental diseases. Westcloxs Manual for Employees read, We expect you to work hard, and the pay is accordingly large . On 3rd January 2099, Terry Shields asked if anyone had information regarding his clock signed G .Falconer, Hong Kong. They managed to extract 1 mg of radium from ten tonnes of the uranium ore pitchblende (uranium oxide, U 3 O 8), a considerable feat, given the chemically methods of separation available to them.They identified that it was a new element because its atomic spectrum revealed new lines. Thank you for your input. Within two decades she had lost all her teeth. For my 14th birthday I got a book called The Treasury of American Clocks and there was a picture showing the seven types of Baby Bens. . Stahlbergs company goes bankrupt not once, but twice, within its first several years. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that watches with radium dials should not be taken apart[5] without proper training, technique, and facilities. About 1931 they made the first electric Big Ben, and they were plug ins. Most are in nickel finish cases, but some were made in gold plated cases. I just had it repaired & it works & looks great. $26.95. In 1931 it merged with Seth Thomas Clock Co. and both became divisions of General Time Corp. They call it Shabby Chic and sell it on eBay for 60 to 80 dollars. Also, its not just Americans who collect, its worldwide. Gordon Goodrum As stated it is working and keeps time. After the discovery of radioactivity in 1896 by French physicist and Nobel Prize winner, Antoine Henri Becquerel, many other scientists began to search for uses of radioactivity. The phosphor deterioration means you can't see a glow anymore, but . It is something that we should know before everyone starts throwing away every luminous dial clock they own. Both the Big and Baby Bens were housed in a newly refined bell-back clock case. But for years the majority were wind ups, they were so popular. I had developed some sort of fascination for Big Ben and Baby Ben clocks. Ironically, the war that had cost them Gaston Le Roy had also stifled much of the companys European competition, opening up an even bigger share of the world marketplace in the 1920s. When did Westclox stop using radium? I think the clock was electric but could have been a wind up or maybe even a pendulum. I was told it was an antique at that time. The Canadian Clock Museum (http://www.canclockmuseum.ca/) may have some information. The front is in Roman Numerals with a dome shaped raised glass. Without a crystal poses a serious Health risk because the Radium paint flakes off and can become airborne. 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. Thanks so much I have a similar clock. Just remember, old luminous clocks are full of radium! I was given an Elias Ingraham Clock many years ago and would like to know a bit more about it and its value. [citation needed] After about 20minutes this delivers the equivalent of one whole day's worth of normal background radiation. Accueil; Services; Ralisations; Annie Moussin; Mdias; 514-569-8476 It emits alpha, beta, and gamma radiation. In 1914, Dr. Sabin Arnold von Sochocky and Dr. George S. Willis founded the Radium Luminous Material Corporation. "Westclox" in italics, double hexagon legs: 1918, "Westclox" in italics, regular legs: 1918 -1922, "Westclox" in italics, very narrow lettering at bottom: "MADE BY WESTERN CLOCK CO., LA SALLE, ILL., U.S.A.", ca. In 1898, the Curies discovered the existence of. They had one in Brazil for a while and I think also in Hong Kong. I first saw the clock in 1957. The Westclox building remained there in all its glory well into the 21st century, as plans were tossed around for some sort of repurposing of the huge, historic facility. She was 18. Did Westclox use radium? It is encased in hard polymer Plastic and the ends have rivets . 226RA has a half life of about 1600 years and the glow of the paint used on dials and hands decreases because of the damage the alpha particles emitted by the Radium do to the ZnS . Soon, he was running the Western Clock Co. advertising department, and proving his worth with some clever marketing strategies. When did the use of radium stop? Radium paint can be ingested by inhaling flaking paint particles. He also recalled playing in the factory. When radium was discovered in the early 1900s, people were fascinated by its mysterious glow and it was added to many everyday products, including paints. A clock without hands might seem indifferent to the passage of time, but these old Big Ben and Baby Ben dials have some serious stories to tell. But hes taken some that are really rusty and had the backs replaced beautifully and reproduced some dials, and hes actually had some selling for several hundred dollars, so thats a totally different thing. 400-day clocks are also known as anniversary clocks, they would run 400 days on one winding. But it had always just been a matter of time (pun less intended) before industrial mass production made a wide-scale phenomenon like the Big Ben possible. Any information would be very helpful. Which is interesting because many of the electrics are scarcer but people just arent into collecting electric clocks. 514 Poplar Street theres the problem, there were two gears that were in backwards. Can someone get back to me as to what it is and possibe age of it. "[4], According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, "radioactive antiques [including watches] are usually not a health risk as long as they are intact and in good condition. Could you suggest how I could go about finding out this information. Stoddard: The main thing is the originality of the dial and if its a wooden shelf clock, having the original painting in the door would be really important. With George Kerns new alarm clock, specifically, Le Roy decided it would be wise to craft a new brand name, and to leave the Western name off of the clock face entirely, since the company was overly associated with cheap goods at the time. 1980 By the early 1950s, Westclox employed thousands of LaSalle-Peru residents. i use a 1980s I believe westclox pocket ben sweep 2nd hand, I actually had a westclox bullseye from the early 1990s when I was in elementary school. From 1917 to 1926, the United States Radium Corporation used radium to produce wristwatches and clocks. It was discovered by Marie and Pierre Curie in 1898. [citation needed] The use of radium to provide luminescence for hands and indices on watches soon followed. Another thing people do is make fake advertising clocks. Importantly, the health risks tied to these old clocks is generally believed to be quite minimal, so long as one avoids long-term exposure or directly ingesting the paint as the Ghost Girls had. In the production of ordinary clocks adapted to the needs and means of the millions, America produces results of remarkable excellence. Dozens of radium dial painters around the country developed similar symptoms, although the effects could take years to manifest, making it more difficult to pinpoint the phenomenon from its first cases in the early 1920s. The policy of the company is one of highly specialized production. In 1918 the Big Ben case was improved to make it dustproof, as described in patent #1,300,278 issued to Kern on April 15, 1919. The clock is shielded From the glass crystal. My husband has a Big Ben clock that he inherited, it was took down from a mill and given to his grandma. I have a Westclox Magnet Key Part number 031723 I think was used to open a door as it has an arrow on 1 end. In this interview Bill Stoddard talks about collecting antique Westclox Big Ben and Baby Ben alarm clocks, and discusses clock collecting in general. I know Bill Stoddards name from other publications on Westclox. The sound is very good when I compare it with the Howard Miller and the Jauke I just purchases, its loud and resonates very well. Richard Ristau Jr., former plant manager, said hes happy to see the space being used for the museum. I hung it on my wall and we tried to get it fixed but the repairman couldnt fix it. A lot of American clocks have veneer over the base wood so if thats starting to peel it can be really expensive to get fixed. People will still look for a good wind up but the quality declined in the later years just because the companies tried so hard to keep the prices low. Thank you, i have a pocket watch that says (inscribed inside) g. falconer ,,,rona & london or kona & london i dont know its in old english and says kona or hona it has 1243 all inscribed on the inside where when u open it u can see the gears, looks like an a8 and a crown with a 18 on the middle inside cover (that covers the gears) and also a 1243 and what looks like an 8 or an infinite symbol (sideways 8)then again on the part that clasps over everything on the inside an A3 or A8? Most importantly, they were forbidden to point the tip with their lips, and they avoided to ingest or inhale the luminous paint. A Westclox Museum has been opened within the original facility, showing off rare collections from the millions of timepieces once manufactured there. Style 10 is the last numbered First, if your clock is for display only, I think it is harmless if the paint on the hands is not disturbed. Did westclox stop using radioactive paint by the 1960s? and again 1243 is this an antique its gold but looks brand new but also an antique at the same time does anyone know what kind of pocket watch this is or if its gold or a replica of something or what it might be worth?? Omega stopped using radium around 1963. Was just trying to find out any information on this clock or if you may have ever come across one like it A well-dressed, steady and punctual chap, up to the minute and always on the job., Big Ben always comes to you straight from home, LaSalle, Illinois, read another. Would you please direct me to someone that can do this for me? When Westclox changed over to the style 8 Big Ben and Baby Ben in 1964, they used 4 divisions per 5 minutes, I believe to make the alarm easier to set. Baby Ben and other Westclox clocks and watches have been assigned styles. They can be identified by having the modern type of flat head screws Westclox - An Identification and Price Guide, The Westclox Big Ben and Baby Ben Identification Guide, Clock Repair and Hermle Chime, Mantel and Wall Clocks for Sale at Bill's Clockworks. I am reading, studying, and learning more about the Westclox. Some people just want one or two that they remember from childhood in good condition, so thats just the thing for them. In all my research I can not confirm that The Style 1 models every had 1) and 2) above. . From that point on I really liked those. I would also like photo and more details of his clock, since I intend to write a follow-up article. its a Gold coloring and the bottom is well worn like it was slid into something regularily. That was the first antique clock I owned myself. I tend to be a nitty gritty detail kind of guy. Some years ago I intended to do a write-up on my collection and started researching on the internet and found the Westclox history site with a wealth of info. In 2006 I started collecting vintage advertisements. Matthiessen, 1904 Western Clock MFG Co. catalog cover, and the original Peru factory in 1905]. They made them with wooden works until about 1840, then with brass gears and I like some of the early brass-geared American clocks. the knobs have foreign words ie wecker & UHR.would like to know about his clock I have a small westclox alarm clock. It started early in the 20th century, around 1910, when some companies began to use radium on watch dials and hands to create a "glow in the dark" effect. lds missionary clothing stores; June 24, 2022 . I think it is a clock made by Sessions. Posted on 1 second ago; June 24, 2022 . It was put away for years and last year it was given to me as I have small collection of United novelty clocks. Only reason I can think of and it looks pretty odd not to have minutes on a clock face. Finally, with Catherine Donohue serving as a key witness from her death bed in 1938, a groundbreaking Supreme Court case finally delivered some long awaited justice to the victims. Can anyone tell me the meaning or significance of this eye? When I was eight we moved to a new house and my mom and I were looking in the attic and found an old octagon wall clock made by Waterbury, probably dated about 1880. credit: Northern Illinois University], According to a 1909 article in Commercial America, In clocks, as in all other lines of goods, there are two classes of consumersthe millions and the millionaires. The use of Radium changed over several years but it was not until late 1960ies when the last were made. The pioneering spirit is there, but the business skills soon appear lacking. It might be the only one in the country, Spayer said. Next year, well have been married for 49 years, Mary Ann said. Any help would be appreciated. It was passed on to my sister and for years it was on their mantle along time until it stopped. When Did They Stop Using Radium On Clock Hands? I was looking at it and said, aha! Im always interested in the history and the variations of clocks and how they fit in the scheme of things, what came before and what came after. Eventually, scientists and medical professionals realized that these workers' illnesses were being caused by internal contamination from the radium they ingested. I have a Westclox Big Ben 1910 style 1a and have not been able to find out the present value/worth. When did Westclox close? Frank Baker. . Ive recently acquired a New Haven decorative wall clock. We are very proud to be living in this building and would love to know more about this specific site. All the aforementioned to ask you if you know how many of the 1970 style 1As were made. Westclox did make a couple of documented advertising clocks, but very few. Theres a clock called a Crystal Regulator which is about a foot tall with a brass case and glass on all four sides. The Radium Girls were female factory workers who contracted radiation poisoning from painting watch dials with self-luminous paint. However, there`s no easy way for you to tell; there were no labeling requirements then as we have now. into groups of similar models. They made the most of the perk, wearing their good dresses to the plant so theyd shine in the dance halls at night, and even painting radium onto their teeth for a smile that would knock their suitors dead., When I went home and washed my hands in a dark bathroom, they would appear luminous and ghostly,, My clothes, hanging in a dark closet, gave off a phosphorescent glare. It still works. For example, Big Ben Style 1 and Style 1a are the leg model, and Style 2 is the first base model. Dreyfuss revised his changes at the end of the decade, designing the Style 5 and 5a Big Bens in 1938including the featured Loud Alarm dials from our museum collection. Thats another story. Required fields are marked *. I always wondered why the dial of my Baby Ben clock, which I have had from late 60s, was marked off in 48ths of an hour instead of minutes. I was told it was long ago before even my aged family was servicing watches. they played a deep rich tone. The new company tripled in size by the turn of the century, employing 232 people at its growing Peru plant (145 men, 73 women, 14 children) and producing 500,000 clocks annually. Their use in prostate brachytherapy dates from 1926. But he only comes upon receipt of signed price agreement. Penetrating gamma radiation produced by some dials also represents a significant health risk. I have purchased 1) Style 1 Baby and Big Ben with the Gold Leaf dial (seller stated raised letters); and, 2) a Style 1 Baby Ben with Baby Ben De Luxe on the dial. The precise, delicate skill of painting clock dials with radium powder promised a much higher salary than most factory jobs available to women at the time (upwards of $18 a week), and the company soon employed as many as 200 female workers in its Ottawa plant. When did Bulova stop using radium? Because it was one degree removed from the radium business itself, Westclox seems to have largely dodged the controversy and lawsuits altogether. I will be watching for more articles from Bill Stoddard This was a wonderful article to read. Charles Stahlberg had an idea for making a better, but less expensive alarm clock. Phone: 717-684-8261. I am sure I can give Mr. Shields further information about his clock. In the United States there does not seem to have ever been prohibitory legislation passed banning the use of radium in clocks and watches. AD x Stoddard: I was pretty much on my own until college. Kind regards, Ben van Vliet. 1978. We have photos of all the employees between 1927-1945 at the Peterborough Ontario Location but not much else. Thanks very mutch, I just acquired a sir w.h. At the end of one hand is a star and the other hand is the moon. Over time, she contracted terrible cancerous tumors, lost most of her teeth, and suffered countless other health problems. Westclox Big Ben Alarm Clock Vintage. Don Spayer, volunteer and former Westclox employee, said the bulk of the museums collection was built through donations. Selling for $2.50 in the years before World War I (or about $60 in modern money), the 5-inch diameter Big Ben and its half-pint cousin the Baby Ben combined to move over 900,000 units in just 1913 alone, and the Western Clock MFG Companynot yet officially known as Westcloxwas producing more than twice that many clocks annually in total. It is 3 diameter with Westclox on the back and PAT.APLOFOR. How did I get interested in clocks? can anybody tell me about this piece? That way I got myself another Baby Ben, bringing my collection to three by age 12. It has a cracked front lens that I would like to replace. When did Junghans stop manufacturing Westminster Chimes, and when did Keinzle stop manufacturing Westminster chimes. Even today, with the considerable help of a thing called Interstate 80, its still about a two-hour journey from LaSalle Street to LaSalle County. Buy Now. I recently added the Big Ben Style 1 and Baby Ben Style 1 Dial and Back types. They worked in unvented rooms, they wore smocks that they laundered at home. Theyre just scattered in different places all over the country, little collections of hands, springs, screws, and things like that. They were officially Americas preferred wake-up call provider. There are also some other makers clocks Ive gotten into, like the Seth Thomas 30 hour ogee, which is a weight-driven shelf clock. Despite Westcloxs deep German roots, the Illinois factory was a huge contributor to the U.S. military again during World War II, supplying upwards of a billion small parts for use in various defense products. 0 Comments; Uncategorized newark advertiser obituaries 2021 . . My father (Richard Ristau Sr.) worked here for 48.. Purchased from a man who claimed to have salvaged them from the backroom of an unnamed Chicago watch repair shop, each round and weathered face represents the lasting work of an international manufacturing giant at the peak of its powers. Eventually, scientists and medical professionals realized that these workers' illnesses .