Westclox began as the United Clock Company of Peru, Illinois in 1885. Charles Stahlberg headed a group from
Waterbury, Connecticut, who came to Peru in 1884 to build clocks based on a new idea by Stahlberg.
They incorporated the United Clock Company on December 23, 1885. We have not yet located a clock by United Clock Co. (which
is different from the United Clock Corp. of Brooklyn, NY, a maker of electric clocks in the 1930's - 1960's).
Stahlberg's ideas were patented on Sept. 22, 1885
as US patent #326,602. His patent describes the process of making gear assemblies of lead alloy with hard metal acting
parts. This patent also describes the casting of the movement plates from this lead alloy, with inset brass bushings for the
pivots!
After United Clock Company went bankrupt, it was reorganized as the Western Clock Company in 1887. After
another bankruptcy, it was reorganized by F. W. Matthiessen as The Western Clock Mfg. Co. in 1888. In 1912 the name was shortened
to Western Clock Company. In 1916 the trademark “Westclox” was registered, but the name had appeared on the backs
of clocks as early as 1909. In 1930, Western Clock Company was merged with Seth Thomas Clock Company as “General Time
Corporation”, and in 1936 it was renamed the Westclox Division of General Time Corp. In 1968, General Time was acquired
by Talley industries, and in 1988, General Time was bought from Talley Industries by the current management. In 2001, General
Time declared bankruptcy, and the trademarks Westclox and Big Ben were acquired by Salton,
Inc.
Westclox Hours of Work
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1889
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At least 60 hours/week
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1903
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57 hours/week
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1908
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Hours shortened to 9 hours/day or 54 hours/week. But no Saturday afternoon work in summer - an innovation at that time.
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1918
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Saturday afternoons off all year round. Westclox one of the leaders in this change.
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1920
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8 1/2 hours/day M - F, 4 1/2 hours on Saturday (47 hours/week)
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1927
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8 hours/day M - F, 4 1/2 hours Saturday (44 1/2 hours/week)
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1933
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Stopped working Saturday mornings. (40 hours week)
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References:
Tick Talk April 23, 1937, p. 8.
Tick Talk September 1952, p. 4 - 5.
The February 20, 1923 Tick Talk reports on the Westclox workers' opposition
to a proposed 8 hour/day law. If passed, workers would would work 8 hours/day M - F and 7 hours on Saturday, instead
of the 8 1/2 hours/day M - F and 4 1/2 hours on Saturday. A vote was taken by the Women's Problem Committee, and 2176
voted in favor of the current schedule (against the 8 hour law) and 49 voted for the 8 hour law.
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December 23, 1885
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United Clock Company
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May 14, 1887
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The Western Clock Company
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July 7, 1888
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The Western Clock Mfg. Company
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October 13, 1908
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Board of directors resolved to change company name to Western Clock Co.
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June 11, 1912
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Stockholders approve name change to Western Clock Co.
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November 12, 1930
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Stockholders of Western Clock Co. approve of plan uniting the company with Seth Thomas Clock Company by the formation
of a holding company named General Time Instruments Corporation
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Late 1936
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Westclox Division of General Time Instruments Corporation
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1968
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General Time Corp. bought by Talley Industries.
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1988
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General Time Corp. was acquired from Talley Industries by management
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2001
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General Time closes all operations and the trademarks Westclox and Big Ben were sold to Salton. Inc.
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