Preliminary identification
Photo reference
2 uploaded photos
Overview
This is an iconic Style 5 Big Ben Loud Alarm mechanical bedside clock, masterfully redesigned by legendary industrial designer Henry Dreyfuss. Featuring a gunmetal black case, bold radium-style luminescent hands, and a distinctive teardrop-profile base, it was an omnipresent fixture on mid-century American nightstands.
Story
In 1939, design pioneer Henry Dreyfuss streamlined America's morning routine with this sleek Art Deco silhouette. Millions of workers and WWII soldiers woke up to its unmistakable, unapologetically loud bell.
Maker / Origin
Westclox patented the original Big Ben in 1908, but in the 1930s they partnered with Henry Dreyfuss—the industrial designer behind the round Honeywell thermostat and the classic Bell telephone. Dreyfuss transformed utilitarian mechanical alarm clocks into enduring icons of American modernism.
Condition & Value
Fair vintage condition. Case and dial show surface spotting, edge wear, and age-related oxidation; owner notes the clock is currently non-working and the alarm lever does not turn. Non-working mechanical status reduces value by roughly 50-60%.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Your first full report is on us.
See sold comps, value drivers, and where to sell. One complimentary report, no card required.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.