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BENCH THREE

White And Gold Big Ben

Work Items

  • Dirty Glass
  • Destroyed Winding Assembly – Replacement needed
  • Needs thorough cleaning and lubrication
  • Crumbling grommets, need replacements


This is a Big Ben alarm clock by Westclox

I believe it to be a Style 4 or 4a based on

https://clockhistory.com/westclox/products/ben/id-guide.pdf

On the movement plate is the stamp 27 36. There did not seem to be a month stamp on this one

That indicates this movement was made in 1936, making it 90 years young in 2026 when it was with me.

It was in decent condition on receipt, but would not wind. So I believed it had a broken mainspring, but I found the REAL problem… read on.

Front Reference
Front Reference
ID Guide Reference — This is a screenshot from the excellent Big Ben Identification guide By Richard Tjarks and Bill Stoddard. https://clockhistory.com/westclox/products/ben/id-guide.pdf
ID Guide Reference — This is a screenshot from the excellent Big Ben Identification guide By Richard Tjarks and Bill Stoddard.
https://clockhistory.com/westclox/products/ben/id-guide.pdf
Comparison: Bench Photo / Guide Picture
Comparison: Bench Photo / Guide Picture
This is an obviously misspelled thing.
This is an obviously misspelled thing.
This is a text annotation!
This is a text annotation!
Top Screw out of case
Top Screw out of case
Base comes off
Base comes off
Missing Screw — As I was inspecting I noticed this screw was missing, so I noted it here. But then I forgot. I looked everywhere for that lost screw, on the floor, behind the bench, in my pockets. Then I realized - I never had it! I found a suitable replacement in my parts drawer on assembly.
Missing Screw — As I was inspecting I noticed this screw was missing, so I noted it here. But then I forgot. I looked everywhere for that lost screw, on the floor, behind the bench, in my pockets. Then I realized – I never had it! I found a suitable replacement in my parts drawer on assembly.
Dirty Glass
Dirty Glass
Dial Closeup — This dial is in okay shape. These dials are paper and so do not hold up the best to time. They very often have water damage and scratching from where the movement gets loose enough over time that the hands rub on the index edge.
Dial Closeup — This dial is in okay shape. These dials are paper and so do not hold up the best to time. They very often have water damage and scratching from where the movement gets loose enough over time that the hands rub on the index edge.
Removed these three from front — Removed these three from front
Removed these three from front — Removed these three from front
Case Screws Unpolished — I decided for fun and learning I was going to attempt to polish and heat blue these screws. Royal treatment for a standard antique alarm clock really. But a fun exercise, see the results later.
Case Screws Unpolished — I decided for fun and learning I was going to attempt to polish and heat blue these screws. Royal treatment for a standard antique alarm clock really. But a fun exercise, see the results later.
Destroyed Winding Assembly - Replacement needed — The clock would not wind, I believed initially I was likely dealing with a broken mainspring, but on getting into the movement this part of the winding system was just ground to a pulp. Hard to say what happened exactly but you can see the old grease and grime have turned into a sort of abrasive paste. I had an extra of these in my parts, so I was able to make the swap easily and quickly for this one.
Destroyed Winding Assembly – Replacement needed — The clock would not wind, I believed initially I was likely dealing with a broken mainspring, but on getting into the movement this part of the winding system was just ground to a pulp. Hard to say what happened exactly but you can see the old grease and grime have turned into a sort of abrasive paste. I had an extra of these in my parts, so I was able to make the swap easily and quickly for this one.
Washer Position Reference — So on this one there are washers at position one that go over the winding arbors of two and three. The larger holed metal washers go over the alarm setter and winder. The smaller hole with no brass "eye" washer goes over the winding.
Washer Position Reference — So on this one there are washers at position one that go over the winding arbors of two and three. The larger holed metal washers go over the alarm setter and winder. The smaller hole with no brass "eye" washer goes over the winding.
It is playing out here that the small hole silver washer doesn't have a brass over and under washer like the other one does.
It is playing out here that the small hole silver washer doesn't have a brass over and under washer like the other one does.
Needs thorough cleaning and lubrication
Needs thorough cleaning and lubrication
So the rubber grommets on these are kind of rotted away and we're going to have to remove this ring to clean the movement, so I think that's going to mean we have to replace the rubber grommets.
So the rubber grommets on these are kind of rotted away and we're going to have to remove this ring to clean the movement, so I think that's going to mean we have to replace the rubber grommets.
Grommets look okay from the front
Grommets look okay from the front
Crumbling grommets, need replacements
Crumbling grommets, need replacements
Glass cleaned up well — Nice and clean, guys!
Glass cleaned up well — Nice and clean, guys!
Crumbling Grommets — I decided to take out all the grommets; you can see they just kind of crumbled everywhere.
Crumbling Grommets — I decided to take out all the grommets; you can see they just kind of crumbled everywhere.
Screws Before — The screws on the back are kind of messed up a little bit. I decided to polish them. I didn't blue these ones. I may...
Screws Before — The screws on the back are kind of messed up a little bit. I decided to polish them. I didn't blue these ones. I may…
One Screw Polished — One polished next to an unpolished one for comparison. Not the best picture.
One Screw Polished — One polished next to an unpolished one for comparison. Not the best picture.
Alarm Unit Going Back In
Alarm Unit Going Back In
Replaced Grommets & Cleaned Movement
Replaced Grommets & Cleaned Movement
I think I see a "1" making this potentially January 27, 1936 as the manufacturing date.
I think I see a "1" making this potentially January 27, 1936 as the manufacturing date.
Posing with some of its cousins
Posing with some of its cousins
Polished these screws and "blued" them to a yellow color to match the gold plating of this clock.
Polished these screws and "blued" them to a yellow color to match the gold plating of this clock.

Published with Bench Buddy.