Westclock
I found some wonderful information on this once Great company on a site called clockhistory.com, here are some excerpts and wonderful photos.
( Northern Illinois University Archives, Stoddard photos, 1992)
1884
Stahlberg and others arrived in Peru, Illinois from Waterbury, Connecticut to make clocks based on Stahlberg’s idea. Small factory established in back of Brylski’s Department Store. First produced 1 clock per day, then 3 or 4 per day, gradually increasing. Started with 8 people.
Western Clock Manufacturing company made their first pocket watches in 1899. Early models include The American and the Boyproof. Pocket Ben was first made about 1919 and first advertised in 1921. Glo-Ben, the luminous version of Pocket Ben, was introduced in 1919 and renamed Pocket Ben Luminous in 1927
1901
Production capacity 1,000,000 alarm clocks per year (500,000 units actual production). 285 employees.
1914
3.5 million Big Ben alarms sold to date (according to March 21, 1914 Saturday Evening Post ad - figure doesn't agree with Westclox sales data ). Advertising manager Gaston LeRoy died in battle in France.
1929
3058 employees (peak number of employees before depression)
1941
3700 Employees.
1942
All non-war production ceased July 31.
1956
More than 4,000 employees produced 40,000 timepieces/day. More than 40 million Big Bens and 28 million Baby Bens had been produced to date. Style 7 Big Ben and Baby Ben introduced. New Big Ben single key wind movement.
2001 Style 10 Big Ben and Baby Ben introduced. Reproduction Moonbeam introduced.
June: General Time Corporation announced it was closing its entire operation. Facilities in the United States were the headquarters in Norcross, Georgia and the factory in Athens, Georgia. The distribution centers in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Hong Kong were closed as well.
2007 On July 18, 2007 Salton, Inc. ("Seller") and NYL Holdings LLC ("Buyer") entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement as amended on August 23, 2007 ("Agreement"). The terms of the Agreement provided for Buyer to purchase Seller's clock inventory and certain time products related trademarks and tooling and molds. The closing occurred in October 2007, when all inventory was transferred to Buyer.
Another Tragic sight just sitting and rusting in Peru, Illinois:crying: