The combination and design of
Phinney-Walker alarm clock and
Evans cigarette lighter is a very fine example of the
Art Deco style. This Alarm Clock Lighter was
marketed in the United States in 1956–1960. Very collectible
– many cigarette lighters collectors' guides have it on its pages. Its actual catalog name is
Smoke-Time and
30-Hour Desk Lighter Alarm (model no. PW44E1400). The catalog retail price from 1959 was $ 22.50.
The Phinney-Walker Co. was founded in
New York in ca. 1903. In the 1910s and 1920s they designed and manufactured
automobile clocks. The most popular Rim-Wind Car Clock called "Embassy" was manufactured in 1925 and was an
eight day clock that was wound and set by rotating the outer rim (
source). It was mounted among others in the 1930 Rolls-Royce Phantom II. The earlier version of the Phinney-Walker, also an eight day clock, was mounted in Ford Model-T.
Starting from the 1930s the company became
less a producer and more a marketing company. It was active till 1970s. The production was outsourced to many different companies placed in Germany (Semca), United States (mainly in Connecticut), Japan and Switzerland. Phinney Walker Co. was also very popular for marketing travel alarm clocks in the 1950s.
The alarm clock is
Swiss made and has a
30-hour mechanical movement. The clock's face has gilt figures, hours indicators with cream and gold/luminous hands, and a gold alarm hand.
The case of the clock is made of brass, partly brushed and partly gold color plated.
The
lighter unit was provided by Evans (USA). It is made of metal and gold color plated.
The rounded base is padded with blue felt. The Alarm Clock Lighter was advertised as:
"Sure-Fire" appeal... that'll "light-up" the charm of the genial host or hostess. It's priceless for office or home.
The same clock and lighter base was used by
SWIZA (founded in 1904)
an 8 Jewel Alarm Clock Lighter. The lighter insert however was not made by Evans but by one of the English suppliers. See
here.
Type:
petrol (wick) lighter
Scarcity:
uncommon–rare
Value for very good–mint condition: $140.00–200.00 (approx €100.00–145.00)
Weight:
450 grams (1 pound)
Dimensions:
- height: 13.0 cm (5.2")
- width: 8.0 cm (3.15")
- depth: 6.0 cm (2.36")
This Swiza Alarm Clock Table Lighter combination was manufactured mainly for the British market in between 1959 and 1961. It is a very collectible lighter and rare to find in this version. It is equipped with a 30-Hour Desk Lighter Alarm made by Swiza which was founded in 1904 by Louis Schwab in Switzerland. Today Swiza SA is the biggest Swiss table and alarm clock manufacturer.
