Cleaned and Operational LaSalle Dura Alarm Clock Mechanism
Restoring Two Westclox Baby Ben Clocks: A Tale of Mechanical Resurrection
Two enthusiasts, each with a passion for vintage Westclox alarm clocks, embarked on a journey to restore their recently acquired Baby Ben clocks. The first, affectionately known as the author, received a clock in a less than perfect condition, with a broken crystal, rough case, and a broken time key. Surprisingly, the movement inside worked. The second, a reader, received a second Westclox LaSalle 61C alarm clock, also in need of some TLC.
The author, determined to breathe new life into their clocks, started by cleaning the movement of their original clock using an ultrasonic cleaner and heat from an oven to dry the parts. However, despite oiling the pivots, the non-working movement refused to run, only managing to operate for a few seconds before stopping. The reader, on the other hand, was more successful. After a similar cleaning process, they were able to get the movement of the received clock to work.
Both clocks were of the Westclox Baby Ben 61 number 2 movement, a mechanical wind-up clock that, despite having enough mainspring power, may stop running after a few seconds due to mechanical issues such as escapement problems, dirt or lubrication failure, or a gear/jamming obstruction.
The author discovered that many parts in the Baby Ben movement are interchangeable with other Baby Bens, both before and after this movement was made. This knowledge proved invaluable as they planned to combine the best parts from the two clocks to create one working clock.
The LaSalle series clocks, including the model 61-C (401), also known as Dura clocks, were made with nickel-plated, die-cast zinc cases by The Dura Casting Corporation in the United States. The date stamp on the movement of the received clock revealed it to be from June 1930.
The Westclox Clock Company, renowned for producing various versions of Big Ben and Baby Ben windup alarm clocks from 1909 to the mid 1980s, crafted these reliable timekeepers. Now, the author has two working movements and one good case, ready to be assembled into a functioning clock. The reader, too, has a working movement, waiting to be integrated into their collection.
As for the author, they find joy in working on Baby Bens and plan to look for more to add to their collection. This journey of restoration serves as a testament to the enduring charm and mechanical intrigue of these vintage clocks.
Embracing the charm of vintage lifestyle, the author and the reader, both fond of Westclox Baby Ben clocks, are now in possession of functioning mechanical timepieces – the author having two movements and a good case, while the reader owns a single working movement. In the realm of technology, the interchangeable parts of these Baby Ben movements continue to restore the functionality of these enduringly intriguing vintage clocks.
