Style 3 Big Ben and Baby Ben Alarm Clock History

Big Ben Style 3 (Chime Alarm) "69" on base
Black, nickel trim, non-luminous dial: 1932 - 1935
Black, nickel trim, luminous dial: 1932 - 1935
Butler nickel (brushed ), non-luminous dial: 1933 - 1934
Baby Ben Style 3 "61-L" on base
Black, nickel trim, non-luminous dial: 1932 - 1935.
Black, nickel trim, luminous dial: 1932 - 1935
Maroon, copper trim, non-luminous dial: December 1932 - 1935
Maroon, copper trim, luminous dial: December 1932 - 1935
Gray, brass trim, non-luminous dial: ? - 1934
Gray, brass trim, luminous dial: ? - 1934
Ivory, brass trim, non-luminous dial: 1934
Ivory, brass trim, luminous dial: 1934
Big Ben Style 3 Reproductions Battery operated quartz movement
47603	Black case, white dial
47604	Black case, black dial
	Brushed nickel case, white dial

Style 3 History

“A New Big Ben Chime Alarm, which has been termed ‘The First Polite Alarm Clock In History’ because of the pleasant manner in which it awakens people from their slumber” was introduced in mid-1931. “This Big Ben Chime alarm has a two voiced alarm. First, there’s a series of gentle chime calls designed to awaken the light sleeper without disturbing the sleep of the entire household. If this gentle alarm does not awaken the sleeper there is a loud, steady call in reserve that will awaken the most sound slumberer.”

Design patent 85,916 was issued to Henry Dreyfuss on January 5, 1932. This style 3 case was first used to house the new Big Ben Chime Alarm.

The first style 3 Chime Alarms had the alarm shutoff lever in a curved slot, later the standard type of pull on-off switch was used.

In 1932 the Baby Ben style 3 was introduced. At first, Big Ben and Baby Ben style 3 clocks came only in black finish with nickel trim. In December 1932, a special Christmas model Baby Ben was made. It had a dark red (sometimes called brown) finish with copper trim, and was the first Baby Ben with the loud-soft switch to control the alarm volume. This clock was so popular that it became a regular model. The “butler finish” Big Ben Chime alarm was also introduced about this time. “Butler finish is a special treatment applied to nickel plating which gives it a soft, satin-like appearance. This finish is produced in our buffing department.”

Baby Ben style 3 was also made in gray finish with brass trim, and a few were made in ivory finish with brass trim.

Big Ben style 3 has a flat glass, and Baby Ben style 3 was the first Ben to have a convex glass. The style 3 Bens were discontinued in 1934. They were made for a shorter time than any other style of Ben (except for the baby Ben 2 inch, which is not considered a “real” Baby Ben).

Style 3 Reproductions

A style 3 Big Ben with a quartz movement was introduced in the late 1990’s (please tell me if you know the year of introduction). The reproduction can be identified by having a sweep alarm indicator (instead of having the alarm indicator in a sub-dial below the numeral “12”). Also it has a battery compartment instead of two winding keys.

References

Westclox, An Identification and Price Guide, Gary Biolchini, Schiffer Publishing, 2003.

Big Ben and Baby Ben Identification Guide, by Richard Tjarks and Bill Stoddard.

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