Antique Alarm Clock

User-settable mechanical alarm clocks date back at least to 15th-century Europe. These early alarm clocks had a ring of holes in the clock dial and were set by placing a pin in the appropriate hole. An alarm clock with a similar setting mechanism was designed by Taqi al-Din, of the Ottoman Empire, and described in his 1559 book The Brightest Stars for the Construction of Mechanical Clocks (Al-Kawakib al-durriyya fi wadh' al-bankamat al-dawriyya).

In the 14th and 15th centuries, large, mechanical clocks chimed every hour in many European city squares. There is evidence that far more primitive versions of alarm clocks were in use in Ancient Greece. Many of the early mechanical models are popular among collectors.

Another mechanical alarm clock was created by Levi Hutchins, of New Hampshire in the United States, in 1787. This device he made only for himself however, and it only rang at 4 AM, in order to wake him for his job. The French inventor Antoine Redier was the first to patent an adjustable mechanical alarm clock, in 1847.

Alarm clocks, like almost all other consumer goods in the United States of America, ceased production in the spring of 1942, as the factories which made them were converted over to war work during World War II, but they were one of the first consumer items to resume manufacture for civilian use, in November 1944.

One popular style was the advertising clock. An advertising alarm clock has a company logo or brand represented on the face of the alarm clock.  Examples of an advertising alarm clock would include the Coca-Cola and Kool-Aid alarm clocks.  The antique advertising alarm clocks are among the most popular collector clocks in modern days, since many collectors can relate to the brand on the clock.

The Art Deco style seemed to dominate the design of clocks in the 1920's and 30's. The clean lines and geometric shapes were incorporated into many mantle clocks.  French and Swiss watch makers, among them Cartier, designed antique alarm clocks with a square face, and black enameled handles and gold hands.

Westclox's 1959 model, the Drowser, was the first clock with a snooze button feature.  This antique alarm clock is very popular amongst alarm clock collectors and can go for top prices at antique clock auctions.  The snooze button has been a staple of today’s alarm clock, which is why having the first alarm clock with this function has been so important to many collectors. 

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