Posted 9 years ago
pw-collector
(297 items)
During WWII there was a need for alarm clocks so the factory workers could get to work on time. Because brass & other metals was needed for war products, these early WARALARMS, had cases made of molded wood fiber, and instead of the normal 300 pounds of brass used per 1,000 clocks, only 7 pounds of brass could be used per 1,000 clocks.
This is a "molded wood fiber case, WARALARM manufactured by Westclox of La Salle, Ill. although the Westclox name was not put on the clock.
The back is embossed:
MAXIMUM PRICE
$1.65
EXCLUSIVE OF TAXES
Total weight of clock: 11.55 ounces
Height of case: 5.5 inches
Width of case: 5.2 inches
Depth of case: 1.75 inches; 1.80 inches including glass.
This was interesting:
Library of Congress 1943
War alarm clocks. 1,700,000 of them will be produced this year to meet demand that was normally 12,000,000. Will be distributed by all pre-war alarm clock manufacturers. War alarms are of the hand-wound type, not nearly as durable as pre-war models. The case, about 6 x 6 x 2 1/2 inches, is of molded pressed wood and paper pulp. Mechanism contains only about 1/10 ounce brass and 6 1/2 ounce of steel, compared to pre-war average use in the low-priced alarm clocks of 6 and 13 ounces respectively. For this reason, and since the programmed supply for the year will barely cover the needs of workers in directly war-essential occupations, War Production Board (WPB) has requested that no one buy a war alarm unless it satisfies real need, not merely want, wish, or whim.
Thanks for looking,
Dave
Thanks for the appreciation:
vetraio50
SEAN68
Thank you Dave for the history lesson!
T A
Thanks for the comments & appreciation:
TubeAmp
aghcollect
Good coverage, And, just when I thought I knew everything. LOL!!
BB2, I'm like a goldfish, that when it circles it's bowl every 4 seconds, everything is new again. I'm constantly learning, forgetting, re-learning, every trip around.
Thanks for the appreciation.
Neat piece and interesting history lesson.
Thanks for the comments & appreciation:
Kerry
fortapache
Cormoran1925
Bruce99
mikelv85
walksoftly
I changed photos & added dimensions & weight of the clock.
Thanks Manikin for the appreciation.
cool find ...I like the max price on it never seen one with that....
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Trey
shawnicus
Roycroftbooksfromme1
Thanks SEAN68 for the appreciation.
Thanks pops52 for the appreciation.