Alarm Clock

Westclox Company, ca. 1980

Plastic, mechanical components

7.62 x 7.62 x 2.54 cm (closed)

Gifted to Robert Patrick, 1980

Collection of Robert Patrick

This vintage alarm clock relates to the time period of the past, not only because it was manufactured more than 40 years ago, but also because of how obsolete this object’s usage has become within our society. Today, majority of people either have alarms set on their phone or clock radio. As a result, the handheld alarm clock is completely unnecessary in many ways. Regardless of where you are today, you will most likely always have access to something that functions as an alarm clock. In turn, this causes this historical alarm clock to seem very archaic and would be considered impractical by today’s standard.

This alarm clock belongs to my father and he received it as a gift for Christmas sometime in the 1980s. As a young adult, my father used this alarm clock all the time when he travelled or was away from home. It is a device that was built to be dependable yet portable at the same time. The alarm clock is able to fold up into a size that is smaller than a wallet and can be easily contained within a pocket. This feature is very important because if you had to carry around an alarm clock on your travels you would want it to be as portable and convenient as possible. Another design that this alarm clock has is the minimalistic display on the clock face with only having the numbers 12, 3, 6, and 9. Although this is not an exclusive design to this clock, it does complement the subtle folding style of the alarm clock. My father still has this alarm clock, which goes to show the craftsmanship that went in to producing this device. Although my father does not use this anymore and has not used it for quite a long time, the fact that he kept it proves its significance. It has meaning to him. He received it as a gift so there must be some sentimental value. This may just seem like an average alarm clock to some, but the convenience that it provides, along with the meaningfulness it contains makes it more than just that to my father.

Noah Patrick