1970s Equity Blue Dial Twin Bell Wind-Up Alarm Clock Taiwan
A compact 1970s Equity twin-bell alarm clock with a striking metallic blue sunburst dial, cream oval case, gleaming gold-tone bells and trim, and wonderfully stylized white Arabic numerals. The old-school mechanical movement ticks, keeps time, and the alarm has been tested and works as it should.
The luminous material on the hands and hour markers also responds brightly after being charged with a blacklight/UV light, giving that already-vivid blue dial an especially fun nighttime personality.
📚 Historical Context
By the 1970s, the alarm clock had become a surprisingly international little machine. Equity’s clockmaking roots stretch back to the 1960s through the Chiaphua clockmaking operation in Hong Kong, while the EQUITY name was formally registered in the United States for clocks in 1974. This particular example was manufactured in Taiwan.
And then there’s the back.
Stamped right into the movement plate are patent numbers from the United States, Britain, and Germany. The U.S. number - 3,678,679 - belongs to a 1972 patent issued to Eastern Time Limited of Kowloon for the mechanism controlling the alarm hammer. In other words, behind the bright blue dial and polished bells is some wonderfully straightforward engineering: a mainspring, gears, a hammer, two bells, and absolutely no interest in letting you sleep through 6:00 a.m.
It is exactly the sort of mechanical object the era did so well, practical enough for the nightstand, decorative enough to show off, and built to accomplish its job without a battery, circuit board, app, or software update.
✨ Condition Notes
- Clock ticks and keeps time when wound.
- Alarm has been tested and works.
- Luminous material on the hands and hour markers responds after being charged with blacklight/UV light, as shown in the photos.
- Metallic blue dial remains vibrant with light scattered age-related marks and surface wear.
- Cream-colored case shows light scuffs, small marks, and mild age-related discoloration consistent with vintage use.
- Gold-tone bells, handle, and trim show light scratches, rubbing, and areas of age-related patina.
- Rear movement plate shows normal surface wear and finish loss around the controls.
- Rear plate is marked TAIWAN and retains the visible international patent markings.
- A partial original paper label remains on the side and reads “Suggested Consumer Price / Model #32”; the label itself is worn and partially missing.
- Clear front lens shows light age-related surface wear.
Please review all photographs closely, as they form an important part of the condition description.
📏 Measurements (approximate)
Height: ~3.4 in to top of handle
Width: ~3.4 in
Depth: ~1.5 in
📦 Packaging
Clock will be professionally padded and boxed with care.
A compact 1970s Equity twin-bell alarm clock with a striking metallic blue sunburst dial, cream oval case, gleaming gold-tone bells and trim, and wonderfully stylized white Arabic numerals. The old-school mechanical movement ticks, keeps time, and the alarm has been tested and works as it should.
The luminous material on the hands and hour markers also responds brightly after being charged with a blacklight/UV light, giving that already-vivid blue dial an especially fun nighttime personality.
📚 Historical Context
By the 1970s, the alarm clock had become a surprisingly international little machine. Equity’s clockmaking roots stretch back to the 1960s through the Chiaphua clockmaking operation in Hong Kong, while the EQUITY name was formally registered in the United States for clocks in 1974. This particular example was manufactured in Taiwan.
And then there’s the back.
Stamped right into the movement plate are patent numbers from the United States, Britain, and Germany. The U.S. number - 3,678,679 - belongs to a 1972 patent issued to Eastern Time Limited of Kowloon for the mechanism controlling the alarm hammer. In other words, behind the bright blue dial and polished bells is some wonderfully straightforward engineering: a mainspring, gears, a hammer, two bells, and absolutely no interest in letting you sleep through 6:00 a.m.
It is exactly the sort of mechanical object the era did so well, practical enough for the nightstand, decorative enough to show off, and built to accomplish its job without a battery, circuit board, app, or software update.
✨ Condition Notes
- Clock ticks and keeps time when wound.
- Alarm has been tested and works.
- Luminous material on the hands and hour markers responds after being charged with blacklight/UV light, as shown in the photos.
- Metallic blue dial remains vibrant with light scattered age-related marks and surface wear.
- Cream-colored case shows light scuffs, small marks, and mild age-related discoloration consistent with vintage use.
- Gold-tone bells, handle, and trim show light scratches, rubbing, and areas of age-related patina.
- Rear movement plate shows normal surface wear and finish loss around the controls.
- Rear plate is marked TAIWAN and retains the visible international patent markings.
- A partial original paper label remains on the side and reads “Suggested Consumer Price / Model #32”; the label itself is worn and partially missing.
- Clear front lens shows light age-related surface wear.
Please review all photographs closely, as they form an important part of the condition description.
📏 Measurements (approximate)
Height: ~3.4 in to top of handle
Width: ~3.4 in
Depth: ~1.5 in
📦 Packaging
Clock will be professionally padded and boxed with care.
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