Smiths English Clocks Ltd Red Riding Hood Alarm Clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1952
This mantel alarm clock, produced in 1952 by Smiths English Clocks Ltd in Cricklewood, England, features a white plastic case and a pictorial dial. The dial displays an illustration of Red Riding Hood and a wolf within a forest setting.
The clock incorporates a musical alarm mechanism that plays the tune 'Who's afraid of the big bad wolf' using a steel comb engaged by pins on a brass cylinder. The wolf character on the dial is designed with a stick that moves to beat the balance of the clock. Time is indicated by black hands against white Arabic numerals, complemented by a dedicated copper hand for setting the alarm function. The movement is spring-wound and utilizes a lever escapement.
Inscriptions on the dial and case back confirm the manufacturer and origin.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Date
- 1952
- Type
- Travel & alarm clock
- Material
- Plastic
- Escapement
- Lever
- Manufacturer
- Smiths English Clocks Ltd
- Alarm Feature
- Musical
- Place recorded
- England
- Dial Inscription
- Smiths Music Call
- Maker / attribution
- Smiths English Clocks Ltd
- Registration Number
- ST 25244
Design
- Case and Dial
- The clock is housed in a white plastic case featuring a mantel-style silhouette with a stepped base. The front display is defined by a painted dial depicting a forest scene with the figures of Red Riding Hood and the wolf. The layout includes white Arabic numerals arranged around the perimeter of the illustration. Three hands are present: two black hands for the standard timekeeping function and a short copper hand intended for setting the alarm. The dial is signed with the brand identification.
- Visible features
- • Pictorial dial featuring Red Riding Hood and wolf • White plastic case with footed base • Copper alarm-setting hand visible on the dial • Arabic numerals for time display
- Movement and Mechanism
- The timepiece is powered by a spring-wound mechanism regulated by a lever escapement. A distinctive feature is the integrated musical alarm, which performs the melody 'Who's afraid of the big bad wolf' through a steel comb that is struck by pins mounted on a rotating brass cylinder. The clock also includes an animated element where the wolf figure on the dial holds a stick that beats against the clock's balance, synchronizing visual movement with the operation of the timepiece. The internal components are constructed to facilitate both standard timekeeping and the specific musical alarm function.
- Signatures and Identification
- The object is identified by the registration number ST 25244. The dial face carries the inscription 'Smiths Music Call' alongside the manufacturing origin 'Made in Great Britain'. Further manufacturer details are found on the back of the case, which bears the mark 'Smiths English Clocks Limited, Made in England'. These markings verify the manufacturer as Smiths English Clocks Ltd, based in Cricklewood, England, with the date of production cited as 1952.
Identification
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The exact mechanical internal state is not detailed beyond the general description of the movement
- Research required: The operational status of the musical alarm mechanism is not confirmed in the source