No-Key Clock Co Mountain State Electric Company Wheeling, W.Va. This company is one of the more unusual clock companies that had a very few of their clocks survive since the company survived several owners, a flood and a fraud in which the investors lost their investments. It was organized by the Mountain State Electric Company in 1909 and ran to 1912 but in 1913 the stock and all current production were lost in a flood.This particular clock appears to have a different switch than pictures of others that I have found. The clock runs perfectly as is and hard to tell if it is the late model, that was produced at the very end of their prduction, or a style that just hasn't been seen. It does have, what appears to be, a serial number on the top that is # 200 3 that could be the # 3 style movement. The clock runs perfectly and keeps reasonable time given its size and beat. Should you have any information on this company and willing to share, please email, If you have or know of one of these clocks, please email me the serial number. Rick Thomes at Rareclock@aol.com Currently Known Serial Numbers # 499 Brass Gilded, Bottom not Rolled # 575 Copper finish, Bottom not Rolled # 590 Copper Finish, Bottom not Rolled # 606 copper finish, bottom not Rolled # 806 # 1188 # 2003 Brass gilded finish, Bottom Rolled |
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**(2) Buckeye Horology, James W. Gibbs, Quote from James A. Beam **(2) “In 1911 Mr. D. M. Dorsey of Mount Vernon, Ohio, Inherited several coal mines near Ten Mile, West Virginia. Mr. Dorsey spent some time in Wheeling investigating his inheritance and while there met the manufacturer of the No-Key Clock of Wheeling. He traded one of his coal mines to Mountain State Electrical Company for the patent rights, dies, jigs, tools, fixtures, partly completed clocks and a sizeable amount of raw materials, valued at $62,000.00. Mr. Dorsey moved his new company to Mount Vernon, Ohio, where he formed a partnership with Mr. George Owens, a local jeweler. By late fall of 1912, several hundred clocks had been manufactured and George Owens, the sales manager of the new clock company, started out to sell their production. His first stop was Coshocton, Ohio, where he was unable to sell for cash but was able to put on consignment his merchandise in the leading jewelry store. His next stop was Zanesville, Ohio. There he met the same resistance and ended up by consigning his second order. Mr. Owens then followed the Muskingham River to Marietta, where he consigned more clocks, moving down the Ohio River and making stops at river towns. He landed at Cincinnati where he consigned the remainder of the 1912 production of the No-Key Clock. There were a few of these clocks sold and in the early part of 1913, there was a great flood in Ohio. Unfortunately, most of the clocks out on consignment were destroyed by the flood and the company found itself bankrupt. The following year a high-pressure salesman from Chicago, whom we will call Mr. X because no real identity was ever disclosed, offered to reorganize the clock company and guaranteed to produce and market the No-Key Clocks for a 51% interest in the bankrupt partnership. Mr. X journeyed to Lodi, Ohio, where he interested the newly formed Chamber of Commerce to provide a building for the new clock company. He called on the leading merchants of Lodi and sold them about $10,000 worth of stock. With this money in hand, he opened an account in Ashland, Ohio, bank, established his credit, and borrowed $25,000 for the company, depositing the patents and good names of the stockholders of Lodi as collateral. Clock Machinery was purchased and installed in the new factory, but never paid for. Mr. X’s operation took about six months and the grand opening day was announced. The men from Mount Vernon who thought they owned 49% of the stock planned to visit Lodi for the great event. The stockholders of Lodi organized a picnic for the infamous day. Several days before the opening, Mr. X failed to appear at the factory where he was making the final adjustments to production-line machinery. Upon inquiry of his landlady to find out if he were ill, she disclosed that he had not inhabited his room the previous night. The remainder of the day was spent in query of the whereabouts of Mr. X. A check on the Ashland bank disclosed that practically all the money had been withdrawn from the No-Key Clock Company account by the president and general manager, Mr. X. The No-Key Clock Company was again bankrupt. The two stockholders from Mount Vernon gave up the entire project as a miserable failure and were fortunate that they were hot held liable for Mr. X’s operation. “ |
 Note that the serial number is 200 3 This is the only No-Key Clock That I have seen or heard of with this type Electro Mechanical Switch. |