New Haven Travel Alarm Clock Value Guide

The New Haven Travel Alarm Clock is a quintessential mid-century accessory produced by one of America's pioneering mass-production clockmakers in Connecticut. These portable timepieces became essential for the post-WWII traveling class, combining a durable folding leatherette case with a functional, square-dial alarm mechanism.

What Is New Haven Travel Alarm Clock Worth?

The typical price range for New Haven Travel Alarm Clock is $20 - $25 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• Condition of the brown leatherette exterior, as peeling or heavy wear significantly reduces the $20-$25 market value.
• Mechanical functionality of the alarm and timekeeping movements after decades of storage.
• Clarity of the glass lens and the presence of all original brass winding keys on the reverse.
• The presence of original radium paint on the hands and numerals, which should be intact for maximum collector interest.

How to Identify New Haven Travel Alarm Clock?

• Check for the 'New Haven' brand name centered on the square dial face.
• Examine the brown textured leatherette case for the signature folding mechanism designed to protect the glass.
• Look for radium-painted numerals, which were standard for nighttime visibility in the 1940-1955 era.
• Verify the brass and steel construction of the internal clock housing and winding keys.

History of New Haven Travel Alarm Clock

The New Haven Clock Company, founded in 1853 in Connecticut, was one of the first American clockmakers to utilize mass-production techniques. Following World War II, travel alarm clocks became essential accessories for the growing middle class and business travelers. These clocks were designed to be portable and durable, often featuring radium-painted numerals for nighttime visibility and compact folding cases to protect the glass during transit.