Featured Alarm Clock
This featured alarm clock, called "Illuminated Alarm Clock", was made by B. Bradley and Co., 259 Washington Street, Boston, Mass. The Davies Patent, No. 186,317, is dated January 16, 1877, filed August 25, 1876 and named "LIGHTING ATTACHMENTS FOR ALARM CLOCK".
In The Owner's Words
by Vince Angell clock bio
I remember the day and the comment made by my wife Phyllis when I purchased this alarm clock from Ebay. It was January 7, 2001 at about 3:30 in the afternoon. Phyllis was on her way out the door for an appointment, my hands were shaking waiting for the end of the auction to bid and the last thing she said as she went out the door was "Don't be cheap"!
Well, I reevaluated the clock and decided to bid another $85.00. The end was coming close and at the 20 second to the end mark I hit the enter key and the computer coughed and spurted then finally accepted the bid showing that I was the high bidder. After the auction, I looked at the bid history and realized that had I bid 25 cents less it would not have been enough to outbid the second highest bidder and I would not be telling this story today for the Alarm Clock Chapter's "Featured Alarm Clock" section.
When I saw the clock on Ebay for the first time a week earlier, I could not believe my eyes. I had only seen these clocks in pictures. In fact only one picture that is in Palmer's "The Book of American Clocks" No 279 shows this Illuminating Alarm Clock by H. J. Davies which is in the Mitchell collection. Upon further examination, the clock in the book was missing the right match holder and the one on Ebay appeared to be complete.
At that time, I had been collecting alarm clocks for the past 25 years and had never seen, definitely not for sale, what I would consider the "Ultimate alarm clock". This clock has it all (e.g., American, original walnut case, great original label, marked movement, alarm to wake you up, and the most unusual mechanism for lighting the alcohol fueled burner to light the room). I consider this to be my best alarm clock and also my favorite.
Upon conducting some research on the alcohol burner, I discovered on the Internet an organization called "The International Guild of Lamp Researchers". We began sending information back and forth for about a week. The Lamp Guild found this clock to be so interesting that they put it on their website for their members to comment about.
The Lamp Guild was able to research the lamp based upon my discovery of words on the ratchet to raise the wick "The P & A Manufacturing Co". This turns out to be the Plume and Atwood Company. This may or may not be the original burner for the lamp but it is definitely the same period as the clock. According to the Lamp Guild, in those days if the burner broke or malfunctioned it could be replaced for pennies at any time.
There were several models of this clock. Two of the clocks and cases were manufactured either by Seth Thomas or The Ansonia Brass and Copper Company. Both were originally cottage clocks that had the H. J. Davies patented lighting attachment added to the top of each clock.
The only design that I know of that incorporates both the clock and the lighting mechanism in the manufacture of the clock is the one in this article. As can be seen in these pictures, the lighting mechanism is built into the case of the clock.
The Davies Patent, No. 186,317, is dated January 16, 1877; application filed August 25, 1876. At this time, I have no idea who manufactured the case, but will research this in the future and report any findings to the Alarm Clock Chapter.
Here is a brief description of how the lamp lighter works:
- The alarm is set as is any early clock with this alarm mechanism. The small brass dial in the center of the dial is turned clockwise so that the hour you wish to awake is under the hour hand.
- As for the lighter, the metal band with the sandpaper strip on it is pulled until it locks on the catch that is on the wire that goes into the clock.
- Once that is done, the match is inserted through the holder and into the hole in the post, turned to the left in the direction of the sandpaper and lightly lays on the paper.
- When the alarm goes off and rings, the device in the clock next to the movement moves down releasing the metal strip of sandpaper, striking the match.
- The match then turns to the right with the help of the spring on the post and lights the lantern to light up the room. Hopefully, not burning down the house!
Patent Material
Updated May 19, 2004: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) provides patent images through their web site. The following images are based on USPTO images. Thank you USPTO.
Directions Printed On Case
ILLUMINATED ALARM CLOCK
Patent Applied For.
Place the matches on the holes of the upright pillar, allowing the match to extend to the wick of the lamp, then turn the pillar (in which the matches are placed) to the left, holding the same against the stop, until you draw out the spring till the latch holds it, the matches will then lie against the sand-paper and when the time comes for the Alarm to go off, the match will be struck and the lamp lighted. Use Sulphur Matches only.
Turn small dial in the centre of large dial to the right until the hour on it at which you want the clock to alarm is under the hour hand, then wind the alarm part.
In hanging on the Pendulum, be careful not to bend the pendulum wire, being thin at the top and easily bent. If the clock runs too fast remove the Pendulum Ball from the wire and lower it by means of a screw at the bottom; if it runs too slow, raise it in the same way.
Lever Clocks. If the clock runs too slow, remove the pins in the half-circular hole on the dial to the left, if too fast, to the right.
259 Washington Street.. Boston, Mass
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