Westclox Information

[JPR]

Hello to all,

I am new to this forum and I have reviewed many of the entries so I know my subject matter and questions will not be new. My very first watch was a mid to late 50's Westclox wrist watch. It had a light brown leather band, white face, and a sweep second hand with a red arrow shaped tip. It had numbers for the hours and not roman numerals or slash marks. It was purchased for a young boy so could have been a child's model? It was wind up of course. First question. Does anyone know what would have been the model name for this watch?

Second question. I am thinking of purchasing an estate sale Westclox wrist watch. The price seems fair but the watch is "quartz" in movement and I don't know if Westclox lasted in business long enough to make quartz movement watches. Did they and what would have been the time period of such a watches manufacture?

Third question background information. I purchased some months ago another estate sale Westclox wrist watch. It was in mint condition and had, apparently, never been worn. It still retained the original sales and identification tag attached to the back with model number.

The model number is "38122" and it listed for $29.95 at time of purchase/sale. The watch is self-winding automatic, 17 jewel movement, white face with no numbers only slash marks at hour points. The back indicates "water resistant", "shock resistant", "antimagnetic", and the usual "bas metal bezel" and "stainless steel back". It is yellow metal case and same color metal expansion band. Half of the band is expandable and half is not. It appears to be a man's dress watch. On the face is only "Westclox" and "Automatic 17 jewels".

Third question. I have read that Westclox went to an IBM computer numbering system in 1960. The model numbers after that date were of a certain length and a certain numeric range. I don't know what they were however. My question is could my watch be from the late 50's? If it is in the 60's, and after the model number change over, how early (what date) could it have been manufactured?

I have another question about another watch that I am considering purchasing, again a Westclox, but will save questions on that one for another post. My purpose and hope is to find a watch from the same era as the one of my childhood, or as close as I can get to that era, I feel fortunate to have found this forum to help me in that quest.

John

[Bill Stoddard]

Hi John,

You might want to get the book "Westclox Wind-Up" by Jim Liinz, as it shows several men's wrist watches form the 1950s with red tip seconds hands.

Bill

[Tanya]

I have a Westclox "Quartzmatic" so it sounds like they did branch into the quartz watches.
My collection is from a gentleman who was president of a wholesale business in Indianpolis and in the 70's (?) he set aside four Westclox wrist watches. Two are still in their original wholesale AND retail boxes and two might be in their original boxes but I'm not sure. They look to be about as mint as you can get. Is there a yearly watch auction or auction house that handles watch collections regularly?

[JPR]

I have taken your advise Bill and purchased the book by Linz. I found it on e-bay and am waiting to receive it. Thanks!

Tanya I also want to thank you for your reply and the info on your interesting set of vintage watches. I read your initial inquiry also about auctions and such regarding your Westclox watches. Your sole response was depressing. To find out that vintage Westclox wrist watches have become as common as a "table lamp" at auctions?

In any event I recently bid on and won three vintage Westclox wrist watches on e-bay. I would second the opinion offered to you as to where to sell your collection. One of the watches I purchased on e-bay was for over $50 dollars, and the other two were over $100 dollars for me to win them. So, as with most things I guess, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. My very first grown up watch was a Westclox and they hold sentimental value to me

John