Westclox Big Ben and Baby Ben alarm clocks age determination by model

History of the Westclox Big Ben and Baby Ben alarm clocks and related clocks

The Big Ben alarm clock was first sold in 1909 and has evolved through many case and movement changes.

The Baby Ben was first sold in 1910 and has evolved in a similar way. The images below show the 10 "mainstream" case styles of Big and Baby Bens and when they were manufactured.

To identify a Big Ben or Baby Ben, determine which case style it corresponds to. Look at the shape of the case, not the color (your watch may have a different case or dial shape).

Most of styles 1-10 are mechanical clocks, but some electric clocks were produced in styles 5, 7, and 8.

Big Bens and Baby Bens up to Style 9 were manufactured in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, or Scotland. Style 10 is produced in China. Case styles that have names instead of numbers are shown after the numbered styles.

BIG BEN
 
MOVEMENT ID on CASE DIAL / YEARS
TYPE BASE FINISH NUMERALS MADE
 
1 White/Black 1908 -1912- Leg Nickel Plain or
2 Model Advertising 1918
 
White/Black
2 Leg Nickel Advertising 1918
Model --1920-
White/Black 1935
Black Lum.
 
Nickel White/Black
"RL 192" Old Rose Black Lum. 1927
2 Blue, Green Gold/Black --1930-- Gold Lum. 1932
48-A Butler, Pink - -1930-
Blue, Green, White/Gold
 
   
3 69 Nickel/White/Black 1931
(chime) (concave) Black White/Black
Lum. 1934
  
BIG BEN
 
MOVEMENT ID on CASE DIAL / YEARS
TYPE BASE FINISH NUMERALS MADE
 
3 69 Green/Nickel White/Black 1934
(convex) Ivory/Brass Brown Band Lam.
Gun M./Nickel Black Lum. 1939
 
2 48-D Gun M./Nickel White/Black 1935
Black Lum. 1939
 
2 S4-D Gun M./Nickel White/Black 1939
Black Lum. 1946
 
2 69-C Gun M./Nickel White/Black 1946
Black Lum. 1949
 
Ivory/Brown 1939
3 69-C Ivory/Brass Brown Band bum.
Gun M./Nickel Brown Lum.
White/Black 1949
Black Lum.
 
Ivory/Brown 1949
2 & 3 48-H Ivory/Brass Brown Lum.
Gun M./Nickel White/Black 1956
Black Lum.
 
 

BIG BEN
 
MOVEMENT ID on CASE DIAL / YEARS
TYPE BASE FINISH NUMERALS MADE
 
White/Brass White/Brown
4 75-102 Black/Nickel Brown Lum. 1956
Black/Brass White/Black
Metallic Black Lum. 1964
Metal Finish
 
White/Brown
4 53647 White/Brass Brown Lum. 1964 ---- -plastic- Black/Nickel White/Black
5 58055 Fashion Brite Black Lum. 1982
Fashion Brit
 
 
BABY BEN
 
MOVEMENT ID on CASE DIAL / YEARS
TYPE BASE FINISH NUMERALS MADE
 
1 Leg Model Nickel White/Black 1912
1914
 
2 White/Black 1914 -1926- Leg Model Nickel Advertising
3 -1920-- 1930
Black Lum.
 
Nickel White/Black
"RD 1927" Old Rose Black Lum, 1914
3 and/or Blue Green Gold/Black
61-A --1930-- Gold Lum. 1932
Butler, Pink --1930-
Blue, Green, White/Gold
 
Black/Nickel White/Black
3 61-L Maroon/Copper 1932
Gray/Brass White/Black 1934
Ivory/Brass Lum.
 

BABY BEN
 
MOVEMENT ID on CASE DIAL / YEARS
TYPE BASE FINISH NUMERALS MADE
 
61-N Ivory/Brass White/Black 1934
4 Black/Nickel Brown Band Lum.
Black Lum. 1939
 
Ivory/Brown
4 61-R Ivory/Brass Brown Band Lum. 1939
Gun M./Nickel Brown Lum.
White/Black 1949
Black Lum.
 
Ivory/Brown 1949
4 61-V Ivory/Brass Brown Lum.
Gun M./Nickel White/Black 1956
Black Lum.
 
White/Brown
4 White/Brass Brown Lum. 1956 -1960- 61-Y Black/Brass White/Black
5 Pink, Blue Black Lum. 1964
Metallic Metal Finish
 
White/Brown
5 53632 White/Brass Brown Lum. 1964 ---- -plastic- Black/Nickel White/Black
6 50056 Fashion Brite Black Lum. 1982

Source: dockhistory.com, Bill Stoddard and Richard Tjarks