Style 8 Big Ben and Baby Ben Alarm Clock History

Made from 1964 to 1981, reproduced in China starting ca. 2003

Style 8 Models and Variations

Big Ben Style 8 Windup
10037	Black, nickel trim, white dial: 1964 - 1980
10038	Black, nickel trim, luminous dial: 1964 - 1980
10039	White, brass trim, non-luminous dial: 1964 - 1980
10040	White, brass trim, luminous dial: 1964 - 1980
10042	Chime, white, brass trim, white luminous dial: 1967 - 1971
10044	Chime, gold mist, brass trim, white luminous dial: 1967 - 1971
10054	Fashion Brite, shaded woodtone, luminous: 1970 - 1971
10056	Fashion Brite, shaded avocado, luminous: 1970 - 1974
10058	Fashion Brite, shaded wedgewood blue, luminous: 1970 - 1973
10060	Fashion Brite, shaded flame, luminous: 1970 - 1971
10062	Repeater, avocado, luminous, 1971 - 1973
10064	Repeater, bronze mist, luminous, 1971 - 1973
10066	Sweep, blue, luminous, 1971 - 1981
10068	Sweep, green, luminous, 1971 - 1981
10070	Sweep, brown, luminous, 1971 - 1981
10087	Big Ben for the Blind, white: 1964 - 1980
10088	Repeater, black, nickel trim, black luminous dial: 1976 - 1980
10090	Repeater, white, brass trim, black luminous dial: 1976 - 1980
Baby Ben Style 8 Windup
11037	Black, niclel trim, white dial: 1964 - 1980
11038	Black, nickel trim, black luminous dial: 1964 - 1980
11039	White, brass trim, white dial: 1964 - 1980
11040	White, brass trim, brown luminous dial: 1964 - 1980
11042	Crown Line (DeLuxe) brushed brass finish, silver metal luminous dial: 1964 - 1971
11044	Crown Line (DeLuxe) antiue silver finish, silver luminous dial: 1964 - 1971
11046	Crown Line (DeLuxe) fluorentine silver finish, brass trim, silver metal luminous dial: 1964 - 1970
11300	Crown Line (DeLuxe) 22 K gold finish, gold metal luminous dial: 1964 - 1970
11048	Magic Touch, white, battery operated lighted dial: 1967 - 1970
11050	Magic Touch, gold mist, battery operated lighted dial: 1967 - 1970
11052	Fashion Brite, shaded woodtone with matching luminous dial, brass trim: 1970 - 1971
11054	Fashion Brite, shaded avocado with matching luminous dial, brass trim: 1970 - 1976
11056	Fashion Brite, shaded wedgewood (blue) with matching luminous dial, nickel trim: 1970 - 1976
11058	Fashion Brite, shaded flame with red luminous dial, brass trim: 1970 - 1971
11060	Repeater, avocado: 1971 - 1975
11062	Repeater, blue: 1971 - 1975
11064	Repeater, bronze mist: 1971 - 1975
11066	Sweep, blue: 1971 - 1980
11068	Sweep, green: 1971 - 1980
11070	Sweep, brown: 1971 - 1980
32129	Baby Ben for the Blind, white: ca. 1964 - 1966. This example dated 11-65. The clock has no lens over the dial, and the bezel has embossed hour markers, so that the time can be determined by feel. (November 1965) on movement. Richard Tjarks collection
Big Ben Style 8 Electric
20157	White, brass trim, white non-luminous dial: 1964 - 1966
20156	White, brass trim, brown luminous dial: 1964 - 1966
20184	White, dialite lighted dial: 1966 - 1975
20304	Fashion Brite, shaded avocado: 1970 - 1975
20306	Fashion Brite, shaded wedgewood: 1970 - 1975
Little Ben Style 8 (Windup)
11080	Little Ben, bamboo gold: 1976 - 1980
11082	Little Ben, black: 1976 - 1978
11084	Little Ben, blue: 1976 - 1980+
11086	Little Ben, pink, 1976 - 1978
11088	Little Ben DeLuxe, black, silvertone trim:1977 - 1980+
11090	Little Ben LeLuxe, white, goldtone trim: 1977 - 1980+
Big Ben and Baby Ben Style 8 Reproductions (Made in China) Introduced ca. 2003. Identified by being made in China and having plastic back with internal bell. (Please let me know if you have production date information available)
10605	Big Ben, ivory, brass trim, lumninous hands.
10607	Big Ben, black, nickel trim, lumninous hands.
10608	Big Ben, ivory, dark nickel trim, lumninous hands.
11605	Baby Ben, ivory, brass trim, luminous hands
11607	Baby Ben, black, nickel trim, luminous hands
11609	Baby Ben, blue, nickel trim, luminous hands
11611	Baby Ben, white, nickel trim, luminous hands
47636	Baby Ben, silvertone case, brushed silvertone metal dial, luminous hands and hour markers
47637	Baby Ben, goldtone case, goldtone metal dial, luminous hands and hour markers

Style 8 History

The style 8 Bens were made from 1964 to 1981. Design patent Des. 201,892 issued to Ellworth Danz on Aug. 10, 1965 covers the style 8 case design. Standard case colors were white with brass trim, and black with nickel trim. White clocks have a white dial with brown numerals or a brown dial with luminous numerals. Black clocks have a white dial with black numerals or a black dial with luminous numerals.

The “Fashion Brite” series of Bens in Blue, Flame, Avocado and Woodtone were made from 1970 – 1975. They used the same movement as the standard Big and Baby Bens.

In 1971 the “Big Ben Sweep” and “Baby Ben Sweep” were introduced. They have sweep second hands, and the case and dial colors were blue, green and brown. Also introduced in 1971 were “Big Ben Repeater” in avocado and bronze; and “Baby Ben Repeater” in avocado, bronze and blue.

“Big Ben Sculptura” on a tall pedestal base was first made in England, then the LaSalle factory began to make it too. It is shown in US catalogs starting with the 1975 – 76 issue and was made in “stardust blue”, “field green” and “radiant red”.

A Big Ben Chime Alarm in white or gold mist case was made from 1967 – 1971. “Baby Ben DeLuxe” in gold or silver case and metal dial was made from 1964 – 1971.

From 1967 – 1970 the “Baby Ben Magic Touch” style 8 was made. It has a night light that is activated by pushing down on the top of the clock.

A folding travel clock shaped like a Style 8 was also made. Models with a seven-jewel movement are shown in the 1969-70 catalog, and a no jewel model made in USA dated 11-75 has been observed.

The style 8 design continued through 1980 selling along with the style 9. In 1981, its last year, it was made only as a Big Ben sweep seconds hand model.

Style 8 Reproductions

Since ca. 2006, key wind reproductions of the style 8 Big Ben and Baby Ben have been available. They can be identified because they are made in China. These clocks have a plastic back and an internal alarm bell.

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.

Ellworth Danz, personal communication.

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