Westclox (Western Clock Company)

Charles Stahlberg and associates from Waterbury, Connecticut, founded the United Clock Company at Peru, Illinois, in 1885 to make clocks with cast lead-alloy plates and wheels under Stahlberg's patent. It was reorganised as the Western Clock Company in 1887 and, after a further failure, by F. W. Matthiessen as the Western Clock Manufacturing Company in 1888.

The company patented the movement of the Big Ben alarm clock in 1908 and brought it to market in 1909; in 1910 Big Ben became the first alarm clock advertised nationally in the United States. The name Westclox appeared on Big Ben clocks from about 1910 and was registered as a trademark in 1916. The firm also made inexpensive pocket watches such as the Pocket Ben, and novelties such as the handbag watch.

In 1931 Western Clock merged with the Seth Thomas Clock Company to form the General Time Corporation, and from 1936 traded as its Westclox Division. During the Second World War it made fuzes, instruments and clocks for the armed forces, and the scarce-brass civilian clocks of 1943–1945 were sold as the 'Waralarm'. Westclox also manufactured in Canada and, after the war, in Scotland.

How to recognise the work: Westclox clocks and watches are marked on the dial or back with the Westclox name and usually a model name (Big Ben, Baby Ben, Pocket Ben); the place of manufacture (Peru, Illinois; Canada; Scotland) is normally printed on the dial or case. Wartime clocks of 1943–1945 sold as the 'Waralarm' carry no maker's name.