Nine O’Clock Washing Tea Advertising Clock

The clock shown below is a Western Clock Mfg. Company 4” alarm clock made ca. 1895 - 96.

Above: the back, showing the wording “PATENTED SEPT. 22. 1885” in two straight lines.

Clock illustrated courtesy of Gary Biolchini.

This clock is earlier than the one below because the patent text on the back is arranged in a straight line. Since the Nine O’Clock Washing Tea clock was made ca. 1895 - 1896, this possibly dates the transition from straight to curved lettering of the patent text to these years.

Nine O’Clock Washing Tea Advertising Clock

The clock shown below is a Western Clock Mfg. Company 4” alarm clock made ca. 1895 - 96. The dial has a metallic gold background, similar to those on the Big Ben and Baby Ben DeLuxe introduced in 1928. The dial opening is 3 15/16”, with a 2 1/4” time track (the same size as on the Ironclad).

Above: The dial is smoothly cut out, and the hands have delicate tips (same as those on my 1905 Ironclad alarm clock). The dial has been solder tacked to the case in three spots at the bottom. The soldering is not original, and was probably done to facilitate installing the bezel and glass.

The legs may not be original.

Information about Nine O'Clock Washing - Tea

In a history written by Westclox, the entry for 1895 - 1896 includes:

"WESTERN CLOCK COMPANY RECEIVED LARGEST CLOCK ORDER TO DATE. . . 50,000 units.

Clock order was received from Mr. Williams, manufacturer of "Nine O'Clock" washing powder....

The letters - NINE O'CLOCK TEA - used on the dial instead of numbers, signifying advertising of washing powder designed to have clothes washed and on the line in time for house-wives to have their tea at 9 A.M.

To meet schedule, the entire force worked until 9 P.M. daily."