Style 6 Big Ben and Baby Ben Alarm Clock History

Big Ben Style 6 Loud Alarm "48-H" on base
201	Gun metal, nickel trim, white dial: 1949 - 1956
211	Gun metal, nickel trim, black luminous dial: 1949 - 1956
205	Ivory, brass trim, white dial: 1954 - 1956
215	Ivory, brass trim, brown luminous dial: 1954 - 1956
Big Ben Style 6 Chime Alarm "48-H" on base
225	Ivory, brass trim, white dial: 1949 - 1956
235	Ivory, brass trim, brown luminous: 1949 - 1956
Baby Ben Style 6 "61-V" on base
321	Gun metal, nickel trim, white dial: 1949 - 1956
331	Gun metal, nickel trim, black luminous dial:1949 - 1956
324	Ivory, brass trim, white dial: 1949 - 1956
334	Ivory, brass trim, brown luminous dial: 1949 - 1956
Big Ben Style 6 Reproductions Quartz Movement, made in China
47616	Black case and dial: introduced ca. 2003
47617	Ivory case, white dial: introduced ca. 2003
4761N	Brushed nickel case, "aged" white dial: introduced ca. 2003
47619	Green case, "aged" white dial: introduced ca. 2003
4761R	Red case, "aged" white dial: introduced ca. 2003
47615	Orange case, "aged" white dial: introduced ca. 2003

Note: The six reproduction models above may be purchased from Alarm Clocks Online

Style 6 History

Henry Dreyfuss designed the style 6 case for the Big and Baby Bens, and they were introduced to the market in 1949. This design was not patented. Notice the new style of hands and that the entire number 12 is printed on the dial (previous styles had only a partial 12 due to the alarm dial).

Style 6 Baby Bens were made in gunmetal cases with nickel trim, and ivory cases with brass trim. Gunmetal cases have a white dial with black numerals or a black dial with luminous numerals. Ivory cases have either a white dial with brown numerals or a brown dial with luminous numerals.

The style 6 Big Ben Chime Alarm was made only in ivory cases with brass trim. These have a white dial with brown numerals or a brown dial with luminous numerals.

The style 6 Big Ben Loud Alarm was made in gunmetal cases only at first, and in 1954 the ivory case was added to the line. Gunmetal cases have a white dial with black numerals or a black dial with luminous numerals. Ivory cases have either a white dial with brown numerals or a brown dial with luminous numerals.

Almost all Baby Ben and Chime Alarm movements were nickel plated up to 1951.

Style 6 was discontinued in 1956.

Style 6 Reproductions

A style 6 Big Ben with a quartz movement was introduced ca. 2003 (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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