Westclox

Early history as United Clock Company
Charles Stahlberg and others from Waterbury, Connecticut originally shaped as "United Clock Company" on December five, 1885 in Peru, Illinois, aspiring to manufacture clocks based mostly on a technological innovation by Stahlberg. This innovation was patented by Stahlberg on September twenty two, 1885 (US patent #326,602) and concerned the employment of molded lead alloy movement plates with inset brass bushings furthermore as lead alloy gear assemblies. Shortly when being granted the 1885 patent, United Clock Company went bankrupt, and there are not any known surviving samples of the patented clock.

Bankruptcies, reorganizations, and mergers

In 1887, the company reorganized beneath the new name "Western Clock Company." the company once more went bankrupt, and was reorganized by F. W. Matthiessen in 1888 because the "Western Clock manufacturing Company." In 1908, the company was granted a patent for the "Big Ben" grandfather clock movement. This movement has a "bell-back" design, which suggests that the bell mechanism is integral to the clock's case. the company first brought the massive Ben to market in 1909. The company's name was shortened to "Western Clock Company" in 1912. In 1910, the massive Ben became the primary alarm clock advertised nationally, with ads placed within the Saturday Evening Post.


The modern trademark of the corporate, "Westclox," 1st appeared on the backs of big Ben alarm clocks from 1910 to 1917. The name appeared on big Ben dials as early as 1911. The trademark was officially registered by the corporate on January eighteen, 1916.

In 1919, Western Clock Co., Ltd., was incorporated. Twelve years later, in 1931, the corporate merged with Seth Thomas Clock Company, with each corporations changing into divisions of General Time Corporation. The Westclox unit became called "Westclox Division of General Time Corporation" in 1936.

World War II wartime efforts
In 1938, Westclox introduced their initial transportable travel timer to the market. throughout World War II, Westclox and alternative General Time Corporation subsidiaries made aviation instrumentation and management elements, compasses for the u. s. Army, and clocks for the u. s. Navy. From 1942 to 1945, Westclox ceased all production supposed for domestic civilian sale and dedicated its production resources to the war effort, turning into a significant manufacturer of fuses for military ordnance.

Watches
The Westclox company was a significant manufacturer of dollar watches. They started production of a reasonable, back-winding pocket watch in 1899, that was supposed to be cheap to any operating person and continued manufacturing low cost pocket watches into the Nineties.

Late 20th Century developments

In 1959, Westclox introduced and patented their "drowse" alarm, that was one amongst the primary of its kind powered by electricity, that integrated what's currently additional commonly referred to as a "snooze" perform. Talley Industries acquired General Time in 1968. 1972 saw Westclox's introduction of the quartz movement.
In 1988 General Time was purchased by its management from Talley Industries. Another bankruptcy shortly followed, with the "Westclox" and "Big Ben" logos being acquired by Salton, Inc. in 2001. In October 2007, Salton sold its entire time merchandise business, together with the Westclox and Ingraham logos, to NYL Holdings LLC