Westclox
Westclox is an American clock brand known especially for affordable alarm clocks, including the historic Big Ben and Baby Ben lines.
Last updated August 22, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Westclox is an American clock brand whose history is rooted in mass-market timekeeping, inexpensive mechanical movements, and highly recognizable alarm clocks. Its origins date to 1885, when Charles Stahlberg and associates established the United Clock Company in Peru, Illinois. Stahlberg's patented movement technology used molded lead-alloy movement plates, inset brass bushings, and lead-alloy gears, an approach intended to support economical production. The business was reorganized several times during its early years, first as the Western Clock Company in 1887 and then as the Western Clock Manufacturing Company in 1888. The company's most important early product was the Big Ben alarm clock. Its bell-back construction integrated the alarm bell into the rear of the case, creating a practical and distinctive design. The movement was patented in 1908 and entered the market in 1909. Big Ben also became an important advertising milestone: in 1910 it was promoted nationally in the Saturday Evening Post, making it one of the earliest alarm clocks to receive broad national advertising in the United States. The Westclox trademark appeared on Big Ben clocks during the 1910s and was formally registered in 1916. The company's corporate name was shortened to Western Clock Company in 1912, and Western Clock Co., Ltd. was incorporated in 1919. Westclox expanded beyond alarm clocks. It began producing inexpensive pocket watches in 1899 and became a significant maker of low-priced, popularly accessible watches, continuing pocket-watch production into the 1990s. In 1931, Western Clock merged with Seth Thomas Clock Company, and both became divisions of General Time Corporation. The Westclox operation was formally identified as the Westclox Division of General Time Corporation from 1936. In 1938, it introduced a portable travel alarm clock, broadening the brand's role in personal and portable timekeeping. During the Second World War, civilian clock production was suspended in 1942 while Westclox and other General Time businesses supported military production. Its wartime output included aviation instrumentation and control components, compasses for the United States Army, clocks for the United States Navy, and fuzes for military ordnance. Beginning in 1943, limited civilian alarm clocks made with reduced brass content were sold under the Waralarm name and were subject to government price controls. Civilian production resumed in 1946. The brand continued to introduce mechanical and electronic innovations. In 1959, Westclox patented an electrically powered drowse alarm, an early form of the function now commonly called snooze. In 1968, Talley Industries acquired General Time. Westclox introduced its first quartz movement in 1972, reflecting the broader industry transition from traditional mechanical mechanisms to electronic timekeeping. Management later purchased General Time from Talley Industries in 1988, but another bankruptcy followed. In 2001, Salton, Inc. acquired the Westclox, Big Ben, and Spartus trademarks for $9.8 million. Salton sold its entire time-products business, including Westclox and Ingraham trademarks, to NYL Holdings LLC in October 2007. NYL Holdings continues to operate Westclox alongside other historic American clock brands, including Big Ben, Baby Ben, Ingraham, and Timelink. The brand remains associated with alarm clocks and accessible household timekeeping, while its historic Peru, Illinois, factory represents an important site in American clock-manufacturing history. The Westclox Manufacturing Plant Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. A fire at the Peru factory on January 1, 2012, damaged approximately one-quarter of the structure, further marking the site's modern history.
History
Westclox began in 1885 as the United Clock Company in Peru, Illinois, founded by Charles Stahlberg and associates. The company was established around Stahlberg's patented movement design, which used molded lead-alloy components and inset brass bushings to enable economical clock manufacturing. After a reorganization as the Western Clock Company in 1887 and another as the Western Clock Manufacturing Company in 1888, the enterprise developed into one of America's notable producers of affordable clocks. Its defining early product was Big Ben. The alarm clock's bell-back design placed the bell mechanism within the rear of the case, producing a compact and recognizable form. The movement was patented in 1908 and commercially introduced in 1909. Big Ben received national advertising in 1910, including promotion in the Saturday Evening Post, and the Westclox name appeared on its cases and dials during the same period. The trademark was formally registered in 1916. The company adopted the shorter Western Clock Company name in 1912 and incorporated as Western Clock Co., Ltd. in 1919. Westclox also pursued low-cost watches. It began making an inexpensive back-winding pocket watch in 1899, targeting working consumers and helping establish the company as a mass-market timekeeper rather than only a clock maker. In 1931, Western Clock merged with Seth Thomas Clock Company under General Time Corporation. The Westclox operation became a General Time division in 1936. Its product range expanded with a portable travel alarm clock in 1938. World War II redirected the business toward military production. Civilian clock production stopped in 1942 while the company contributed aviation instruments and control components, Army compasses, Navy clocks, and ordnance fuzes. From 1943, reduced-brass civilian alarm clocks were sold as Waralarm models, reflecting wartime material constraints and government price regulation. Normal civilian production resumed in 1946. The postwar company combined established mechanical products with new electronic features. In 1959, it introduced and patented an electrically powered drowse alarm, an early predecessor of the modern snooze alarm. Talley Industries acquired General Time in 1968, and Westclox introduced its first quartz movement in 1972. Management acquired General Time from Talley in 1988, but the business subsequently entered bankruptcy. Salton, Inc. acquired the Westclox, Big Ben, and Spartus trademarks in 2001 for $9.8 million. In October 2007, Salton transferred its time-products business, including Westclox and Ingraham, to NYL Holdings LLC. NYL Holdings continues to own and operate the Westclox brand together with other heritage clock names. The Peru factory remains central to Westclox's historical identity. The associated historic district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. On January 1, 2012, a fire damaged about one-quarter of the factory, and an aggravated-arson prosecution followed. Westclox's current identity rests on its long manufacturing history, recognizable Big Ben and Baby Ben alarm clocks, and continued participation in the affordable household-clock market.
- 2012
Peru factory fire
[1]A New Year's Day fire damaged approximately one-quarter of the historic Peru factory.
- 2007
Peru historic district listed
[1]The Westclox Manufacturing Plant Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
- 2007
NYL Holdings acquires the time-products business
[1]NYL Holdings LLC acquired Salton's time-products business, including the Westclox and Ingraham trademarks.
- 2001
Salton acquires key trademarks
[1]Salton acquired the Westclox, Big Ben, and Spartus trademarks for $9.8 million.
- 1988
Management purchases General Time
[1]Management acquired General Time from Talley Industries before another bankruptcy affected the business.
- 1972
First quartz movement introduced
[1]Westclox introduced its first quartz movement as electronic timekeeping gained importance.
- 1968
General Time acquired by Talley Industries
[1]Talley Industries acquired General Time Corporation, including the Westclox division.
- 1959
Drowse alarm introduced
[1]Westclox introduced and patented an electrically powered drowse alarm, an early snooze-type mechanism.
- 1946
Civilian production resumes
[1]Westclox resumed production of civilian clock models after the war.
- 1942
Civilian clock production suspended
[1]Civilian models ceased production as Westclox redirected capacity to wartime military products.
Products and positioning
Affordable, practical household and personal timekeeping with strong heritage value, especially in alarm clocks and compact mechanical or quartz clocks.
Alarm clock · 1909
Big Ben
Big Ben is Westclox's signature alarm-clock line. Its bell-back construction placed the alarm bell within the rear of the case, creating a distinctive form and practical acoustic design. The movement was patented in 1908 and marketed from 1909. Big Ben became a major early example of a nationally advertised alarm clock and remains central to the brand's heritage identity.
Alarm clock
Baby Ben
Baby Ben is a compact alarm-clock brand associated with Westclox's portfolio of portable and bedside timepieces. It represents the smaller-format counterpart to the larger Big Ben identity and is part of the heritage alarm-clock group operated by NYL Holdings.
Portable clock · 1938
Westclox travel alarm clocks
Westclox entered the portable travel-alarm category in 1938. These products extended the brand beyond fixed bedside clocks by offering compact timekeeping for travel and personal use.
Pocket watch · 1899
Westclox pocket watches
Westclox began making inexpensive back-winding pocket watches in 1899. The line emphasized accessibility and helped establish the company as a producer of low-cost personal timekeeping. Pocket-watch production continued into the 1990s.
Electric alarm clock · 1959
Westclox drowse alarm
Introduced in 1959, the drowse alarm used an electrically powered mechanism that allowed users to delay the alarm. It was an early form of the snooze function now common in alarm clocks.
Quartz clock · 1972
Westclox quartz clocks
Westclox introduced its first quartz movement in 1972, adding electronic timekeeping to a portfolio previously associated strongly with mechanical clocks and alarms.
Controversies
2012
Arson and fire at the Peru factory
A fire on January 1, 2012, damaged approximately 25 percent of the Westclox factory in Peru, Illinois. Two teenagers were charged with aggravated arson. One responding firefighter suffered a career-ending injury when a hose coupling struck his leg, and one defendant was later convicted and sentenced to six to thirty years without parole.
Marketing campaigns
- 1910Big Ben national advertising
United States
Westclox promoted Big Ben through national advertising, including placements in the Saturday Evening Post. The campaign helped make the alarm clock one of the earliest nationally marketed products in its category.
Outcome. Big Ben became the defining product associated with Westclox.
Brand decisions
2007
Time-products business sold to NYL HoldingsM&ABackground
Salton sold its time-products business after owning the Westclox trademarks.
Action taken
NYL Holdings LLC acquired the business, including Westclox and Ingraham trademarks.
Aftermath
NYL Holdings became the owner and operator of Westclox and continued the brand alongside other historic American clock names.
2001
Trademark acquisition by SaltonM&ABackground
Following financial difficulties affecting General Time and its successors, the Westclox brand was separated from the former operating structure.
Action taken
Salton acquired the Westclox, Big Ben, and Spartus trademarks for $9.8 million.
Aftermath
The trademarks remained part of Salton's time-products business until its sale to NYL Holdings in 2007.
Trademark acquisition price. $9.8 million (2001)
1972
Adoption of quartz movement technologyGeneration changeBackground
Electronic quartz timekeeping was emerging as a major technological shift in the clock industry.
Action taken
Westclox introduced its first quartz movement.
Aftermath
The move expanded Westclox's technology base beyond traditional mechanical clock movements.
1942
Shift to wartime productionStrategyBackground
During World War II, military demand and material constraints affected civilian clock manufacturing.
Action taken
Westclox stopped civilian clock production and produced aviation components, Army compasses, Navy clocks, and ordnance fuzes.
Aftermath
Limited reduced-brass civilian clocks appeared from 1943, and regular civilian production resumed in 1946.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/westclox · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled