'Alert' alarm clock by Colton, Palmer and Preston Ltd
Object No. H7994
A wind-up alarm clock doesn't need batteries, so that's one less thing to go wrong when you need to be woken up. If it were invented today, it would be heralded as a marvel, requiring only a bit of muscle power to keep it ticking along. Too bad if the ticking keeps you awake! It's almost impossible to find a wind-up alarm clock today, but when this one was made clockwork was the only choice. Australia had imported most of its clocks before the Second World War, but a few manufacturers started making them here just after the war. It was one way to keep people and machines employed after the need had passed to produce armaments and other products needed for the war. The clock was made in Adelaide, and the dies for making it were also made there. Thus the clock embodies a high degree of local skilled workmanship: a design engineer, a production engineer, a toolmaker and production line staff would all have been involved in making it. Debbie Rudder, Curator, 2012
Loading...
Summary
Object Statement
Alarm clock, 'Alert', hand-wound with alarm, metal / glass / paint, made by Colton, Palmer and Preston Ltd, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1945-1950
Physical Description
Alarm clock, 'Alert', hand-wound with alarm, metal / glass / paint, made by Colton, Palmer and Preston Ltd, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1945-1950 The clock has a round face and case, and the case is set into a small rectangular metal stand. The case and stand are painted cream, the glass is held in place by a rounded nickel bezel, and a flat nickel band is screwed into the case around its midline. The centre of the face is white, and the black numbers are set against a wide cream ring. A small clockface under the number 12 indicates the time for which the alarm is set to ring. There are two winding keys at the back of the clock, along with two setting knobs and a small button that probably serves to stop the alarm ringing.
DIMENSIONS
Height
130 mm
Width
105 mm
Depth
45 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
This clock was made in Adelaide, South Australia, by Colton, Palmer and Preston, using dies made in Adelaide. This company began making alarm clocks in 1945. The manufacturing company originated as Colton and Co. in the 1840s as a supplier of hardware and horse-riding products. After merging with Harrold Bros in 1889 and Palmer Preston & Co. in 1911, they expanded their operations to include bicycles, lamps, and clocks. During World War Two they produced items for the defence force. Australia had imported most of its clocks before the Second World War, but a few manufacturers started making them here just after the war. It was one way to keep people and machines employed after the need had passed to produce armaments and other products needed for the war.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Gift of Wolfe J H, 1966
Acquisition Date
17 August 1966
Copyright for the above image is held by the Powerhouse and may be subject to third-party copyright restrictions. Please submit an Image Licensing Enquiry for information regarding reproduction, copyright and fees. Text is released under Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivative licence.
Image Licensing Enquiry
Object Enquiry