Telechron and General Electric Digital Clocks

Telechron/GE Upright Digital Clocks
Telechron produced a long succession of digital-readout clocks beginning in the early 1930's which they called "Cyclometers", a reference to the three slot machine-like number wheels inside.  The earlier versions (1933 through 1936) were of the upright configuration as shown above, while later versions (1936 through the late 1940's) assumed a horizontal configuration.  The mechanisms were very similar, however.

At the far left, the photo above shows the 1933 Telechron model 8B01 (the "Minitmaster"), and to its right, the 1933 GE model AB8B02 (the "Executive").  The two clocks on the right are two versions of the 1934-36 Telechron Model 8B05 (the "New Minitmaster").
White "New Minitmaster"

 

 White "New Minitmaster" Lit

The upright Cyclometers used small lamps to illuminate the numerals.  The white version of the 8B05, made of Plaskon plastic, assumes a gentle, ghostly glow when lit.

Telechron "Baron

Above is illustrated one of the many horizontal format Cyclometers.  This is the 1936-39 Telechron model 8B07 (the "Baron").  It features a brown Bakelite base with a black Bakelite cover.  The bezel is chrome-plated brass, with painted decoration to match the base.  It is a sleek and attractive Deco design by Walter Dorwin Teague.  Below is another Teague design, the GE model 8B04 (the "New Executive").

GE "New Executive"

Above are two pages from a GE dealer's catalog from 1933 (left) and 1937 (right).

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