Winslow Digital Catalin Clocks

Winslow Clock

The Winslow Manufacturing Company created this striking Art Deco digital clock in the late 1930's.  They were housed in Catalin plastic cabinets of various colors.  Three number wheels driven by a gear train formed the readout, driven by a self-starting synchronous motor.  A 7 1/2 watt incandescent bulb illuminated the wheels.  The switch for this lamp was sometimes in front, more often in the rear.  The recommended method for setting the clock was to use the eraser end of a pencil to rotate the wheels to the desired time.

Winslow Clock

This clock, sadly, had a major design flaw.  The movement was supported by a steel plate which was slid into the case from below.  Slots were cast into each side of the case for this purpose.  As the Catalin shrank, interference from the steel plate eventually caused the case to crack.  Thus, it is almost unheard of to find one of these clocks with an undamaged case.  The one shown above had lain disassembled for many years which, no doubt, saved the case from inevitable destruction.

Home