Mystery Chrome Alarm Clock/Night Light/Piggy Bank | ||
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Posted 14 years ago
potrero
(156 items)
I've seen this squat chrome clock several times over the years (probably the same one) at the Alameda antique fair and always wondered about it. Says patented 1910. Is it a toy? A reproduction? Common or rare? And what is the little light for?
any insight appreciated.
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Made By Darche Mfg. Co. Chicago.
Articles about the Darche Company, and their clocks:
http://www.acc178.org/a/darche/index.html
http://www.acc178.org/newsletters/2003_v4_4website.pdf
http://www.antiqueclockspriceguide.com/pages/clock3466.php
Antique Trader has an article all about this clock, with tons of photos -- http://www.antiquetrader.com/article/restore_darche_1908_flashlight_alarm_clock
Restoration of a Darche 1908 Flashlight alarm clockSeptember 14, 2010
by Ken Reindel, Ken's Clock Clinic
Excerpt (much much more in the long article) --
The Darche Manufacturing Company was a Chicago company that seems to have started its existence out of the Chicago Fire of the 1870s. It survived until the Great Depression in 1929. While short-lived, the company produced multiple patents and became a real innovator in battery-powered alarm clocks. Several interesting models, some with walnut cases but most in heavy nickel-plated steel cases, have been identified by others.
The basic idea behind the Darche Flashlight clock is fairly simple. The alarm key is replaced by a winding lever which, when the clock alarm activates, turns and causes contact with an electrically “hot” C-shaped bar, closing the alarm circuit which activates the electric bell (see photo at left).
The light on this particular clock was on a separate circuit and did not activate with the bell. A separate remote switch, tethered at the end of a cord, could be kept near the bed, under the pillow, etc. In the dark of night, the button could be pressed to illuminate the dial. The No. 6 battery was stored in the right-side “silo” can out of sight. Some of the Darches used two batteries, and these batteries mounted outboard behind the two cans. But this particular clock stored the battery internally.
Continue reading this article -- http://www.antiquetrader.com/article/restore_darche_1908_flashlight_alarm_clock
I would appreciate if you could help with the wiering diagram. I have a darche like you have. and it don't it have the wiering diagram on it.