Westclox
La Salle, United States · Est. 1885
Founded by Charles Stahlberg
Westclox was America's dominant clock and watch manufacturer, famous for the Big Ben alarm clock that became a cultural icon. At peak production, its La Salle, Illinois factory employed thousands and produced millions of timepieces annually.
- Founded
- 1885
- Headquarters
- La Salle, United States
- Group
- Other
- Price Segment
- Entry
- Status
- Defunct
Ceased: 2001
Westclox, once America's largest clock manufacturer, was progressively offshored and asset-stripped through multiple ownership changes until the original company ceased to exist.
Big Ben's maker woke up America — Westclox put an alarm clock on every nightstand before the world stopped needing them.
Key Collections
- Big Ben — Introduced in 1909, the Big Ben alarm clock became an American cultural icon and one of the best-selling timepieces in history, renowned for its reliability and distinctive bell alarm.
- Baby Ben — A compact version of the Big Ben launched in 1910, this smaller alarm clock proved equally popular and remained in production for decades with periodic design updates.
- Scotty — A pocket watch series that offered affordable, reliable timekeeping to American workers, epitomising Westclox's mission of democratising watchmaking.
- Pocket Ben — An inexpensive pocket watch introduced in 1908 that brought accurate timekeeping within reach of ordinary Americans, selling millions of units over its production run.
Timeline
- 1885 — Founded as the United Clock Company in Peru, Illinois by Charles Stahlberg and local investors.
- 1888 — Reorganised and renamed Westclox, relocating operations to La Salle, Illinois.
- 1909 — Introduced the Big Ben alarm clock, which became one of the most successful consumer products in American history.
- 1931 — Became a division of General Time Corporation, consolidating with other American clock manufacturers.
- 1970 — Production began shifting overseas as American manufacturing costs made domestic production increasingly uncompetitive.
- 2001 — The La Salle factory closed permanently, ending over a century of American Westclox production.
Frequently Asked Questions about Westclox
- When did Westclox stop making watches?
- Westclox ceased American production in 2001 when its historic La Salle, Illinois factory closed. The brand had been in decline since the 1970s as manufacturing moved overseas under successive corporate owners.
- Are Westclox watches still valuable?
- Vintage Westclox pieces, particularly early Big Ben and Baby Ben alarm clocks in good working condition, have modest collector value. Pre-war examples and pocket watches like the Scotty series command higher prices among Americana collectors.
- Can I still buy a Westclox watch today?
- The Westclox brand name has been licensed for budget imported clocks sold through mass retailers, though these bear no connection to the original American manufacturer. Vintage pieces remain available through antique dealers and auction sites.
- Why was Westclox so significant in American history?
- Westclox pioneered mass production techniques that made reliable timekeeping affordable for ordinary Americans. The Big Ben became a household staple, and at its peak the La Salle factory was one of the largest clock manufacturers in the world.
- What happened to the Westclox factory?
- The sprawling La Salle factory complex, once employing thousands of workers, was closed in 2001. Parts of the historic site have since been demolished or repurposed, marking the end of an era in American manufacturing.