The Westclox Direct Reading Dialite
- a quirkly little cyclometer from the late 60s.

You'll find the Westclox Direct Reading Dialite on eBay from time to time, and it's sure to catch your eye with the hour spelled out but the minutes displayed in numerals. It really begs the question, why? Perhaps the designer just wanted to be different. Or maybe it was a psychological trick to confuse the brain and make time reading more difficult, for some unknown reason. Who knows.

But it was just so different, here at FlipClockFans.com we had to take a closer look

The clock is housed in basic plastic but boasting a brushed metal face. It's very similar to the Seth Thomas Speed Read. It is a rolling wheel or cyclometer clock with the obvious difference that the numbers are spelled out. Apparently, people in the day were not over enthusiastic other manufactures did not rush to make a similar model. But that's what makes them so interesting to collectors of early flip digital clocks.

To be brutally honest, the feel of the clock in the hand is of cheapness (no offense to fans of this clock). That's just my first impression probably because the case is lightweight and thin plastic. Yet, the clock is a well made clock and this particular clock is running after some 50 years.

Clock Details:
Westclox Direct Reading Dialite
Electric digital (rolling wheel) clock

Features: Hour spelled out, minutes in bold numerals, seconds indicated in 5 second increments on rolling wheel in red.

Bold numerals denote minutes and 5 second periods on lighted dial. The hour is spelled out. Woodgrain finish case with brushed gold face highlighted with gold edging.

Manufacturer: Westclox
Model Name: Direct Reading Dialite
Model Number: S29C
Westclox Catalog Number: 20222
Introduced: 1967
Discontinued: 1972
Initial Retail: $19.95
Case Material: Plastic
Case Color: Simulated woodgrain
Face Color: brushed gold color metal, gold border
Details: Black numerals on white background, seconds red on white backgound, "Japan" located on 0 seconds.
Dimensions (inches) Height:3 5/8 Width:7 3/8 Depth:3 3/8
Dial Illumination: Orange Neon Glow Bulb


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