Finding the Minicube alarm clock by Seth Thomas in yellow prompted me to find out what other colors this little gem was released in, and to seek out retro cube clocks in general. A great variety were made.
The Minicube cube alarm clock is given the model designation E043-000. Seth Thomas is a division of General Time, a Talley Industries Company. Click for a brief history of Seth Thomas. The clock is approximately 3-3/4” on a side. It operates on AC and must be plugged in, it is not battery operated. These clocks are relatively common and can be purchased for under $30.
On the back of the clock there is a metal pull that engages the alarm. A wheel is pushed and turned to set the alarm and pulled and turned to set the time.
From a Howland advertisement on p. 7 of the December 13, 1971 issue of The Hour, Norwalk, CT.
here’s Howland with your gift list for Christmas ‘71
For grandfolks, a milk maid clock, gold colored numerals, hand, 17.50. For teenagers, a blue, green, or white mini-cube alarm, 9.95. For dads, brothers and uncles, a speed-read, wood grain digital clock, 22.00. By Seth Thomas.
Seth Thomas Minicube alarm clock with box. Image source: funkandjunk.com
The following table lists the case and face color combinations of the Seth Thomas Minicube alarm clocks I have found. It does not include any of the special variants.
| Case color | Face color | Catalog number |
| blue | white | 547 |
| orange | white | 548 |
| white | orange | 549 |
| black | white | 553 |
| green | green | 555 |
| orange | orange | 556 |
| yellow | yellow | 557 |
One of the interesting aspects of the Minicube clock is its marketing by different companies in different countries. The Seth Thomas version is identical structurally to the Westclox version. The Seth Thomas Minicube on the left is marked “MADE IN U.S.A.” on the bottom of the face. The Westclox Minicube on the right is marked “MADE IN CANADA”
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How could this be? Well, Westclox and Seth Thomas were both under the same corporate umbrella. The first Westclox factory outside the United States opened in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada in 1920 and by 1923 a new factory opened. In 1930, Western Clock Company was merged with Seth Thomas Clock Company as “General Time Corporation,” and in 1936 it was renamed the Westclox Division of General Time Corp. Expansions to the Peterborough facility were made through the 1950s as business grew. In 1968, General Time was acquired by Talley Industries.
Westclox Minicube. From etsy.com.
Orange case, white face, catalog number 548. From eBay.
White case, orange face, catalog number 549. From eBay.
Black case, white face, catalog number 553. From etsy.com.
Blue case, white face, catalog number 547. From etsy.com.
Orange case, orange face, catalog number 556. From etsy.com.
Yellow case, yellow face, catalog number 557. Click to see the original post about this Seth Thomas Minicube alarm clock.
Green case, green face, catalog number 555. From eBay.
Below are some additional, specialized models from the Minicube line.
Yosemite Sam, catalog number 6902. From eBay.
Bugs Bunny, catalog number 6903. From eBay.
Some of the clocks in the Minicube line were made exclusively for American Greetings. Clock number 995-STC-2. From eBay.
Minicube – Currier & Ives. Catalog number 480. Model 0480-000 but identified as Minicube on the label. From eBay.
More information about these clocks would be appreciated. If you know of different designs or color combinations, please comment below!
References
Howland advertisement. (1971, December 13). The Hour, p. 7.
Westclox Canada. Retrieved January 21, 2013 from http://www.canclockmuseum.ca/gallery/WESTCLOX_CANADA/2202.html.
Westclox corporate history. Retrieved January 21, 2013 from http://clockhistory.com/westclox/company/index.html.
