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Style 7 Big Ben and Baby Ben Alarm Clock HistoryMade from 1956 to 1964 Style 7 Models and VariationsNote: the numerals were changed from radial to upright in 1958.
Style 7 HistoryEllworth Danz designed the style 7 case. No design patent was applied for because the patent attorney said it was “just another round clock”. This is the first Ben with concentric alarm indicator. The standard case colors are white with brass bezel and black with brass bezel (black Big Bens up through 1958 or 1959 have nickel bezels). Black cased clocks have either a non-luminous dial that is white with black numerals and a background pattern of small light blue dots, or a luminous dial which is black with luminous figures and a background pattern of blue dots. White cased clocks have either a non-luminous dial that is white with brown numerals and a background pattern of light blue dots, or a luminous dial that is brown with luminous numerals and a background pattern of dark brown dots. The first style 7 clocks have radial numerals on the dial, and in 1958 they were changed to upright. A new movement was designed for the Big Ben style 7. It uses a single mainspring for both time and alarm. The Baby Ben style 7 used the old two key wind movement until 1960 when a single key wind movement was introduced. In 1958 the “Baby Ben Sequin” was introduced to honor the 69 million Big and Baby Bens of the previous 50 years. These had a pink or turquoise case with rhinestones on the front of the bezel. In 1960 a Baby Ben sequin with embossed metal numerals was introduced. Some brass, gold and silver finished style 7 Baby Bens were made in the 1960’s. These have a silver color metal dial. A Big Ben style 7 in a gold painted case and gold color dial was also made in the early 1960’s. Style 7 was discontinued in 1964. Style 7 ReproductionsThe style 7 was revived for a time during the style 8 era (1964 – 1981). It was a windup alarm clock. Please let me know if you have any details. A miniature of the style 7 was made in 1997. It has a quartz movement, and the quantity was limited to 5000 pieces. ReferencesWestclox, An Identification and Price Guide, Gary Biolchini, Schiffer Publishing, 2003. Big Ben and Baby Ben Identification Guide, by Richard Tjarks and Bill Stoddard. Ellworth Danz, personal communication. |
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