Archive for November, 2009

Howard Miller Warranties Wall Clocks Mantel Clocks

Monday, November 30th, 2009

Howard Miller Mantle Clocks and Wall Clocks LIMITED WARRANTY

NOTE THAT 1-800-4CLOCKS ENSURES THAT ALL HOWARD MILLER CLOCKS PURCHASED FROM  US HAVE A WARRANTY OF 2 YEARS.  THIS APPLIES FOR CLOCKS for which even Howard Miller only offers a 1 Year Warranty.  1-800-4CLOCKS extends it for an additional year in those cases (applies mostly to quartz or battery operated Wall Clocks or Mantle Clocks).

This product has been manufactured using only the very finest of materials and has been thoroughly tested prior to leaving our manufacturing facility.

Howard Miller warrants to the original consumer/purchaser or recipient that this product will be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use and service for a period of one year from date of purchase.

Howard Miller’s obligation under this warranty shall be limited to repairing the product with new or renewed components or, at its option, replacing it with a new or renewed product. This warranty does not include damage to product or components resulting from abuse, accident, alteration, climatic/environmental conditions, damage beyond normal use, freight damage, mishandling, misuse, or unauthorized repair.

HOWARD MILLER DISCLAIMS ANY LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF BREACH OF THIS WARRANTY OR ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY. IMPLIED WARRANTIES ON THIS PRODUCT SHALL BE IN EFFECT ONLY FOR THE DURATION OF THE EXPRESS WARRANTY SET FORTH ABOVE AND THEREAFTER, THERE SHALL BE NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, (INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE), ON THIS PRODUCT.

Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages or the limitation on how long an implied warranty lasts so the above limitations or exclusions may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.

4

HAMMER

ARM

CHIME

COIL

or

ROD

MOON DIAL

CLICK

SPRING

FIGURE 12

FIGURE 11

5

SERVICE INFORMATION

Before pursuing service, ensure that all instructions provided with your Howard Miller clock have been carefully followed. These instructions will provide detailed information to answer most questions. Contact the Howard Miller web site ( www.howardmiller.com ) for a list of frequently asked questions that may conveniently resolve your problem or answer your question. Most problems can be quickly resolved without returning the clock for service. Before calling, please have these instructions and the following information available:

Model Number: ________________ Serial Number: _________________ Date of

Purchase: ________________ Where Purchased: _________________ The model and serial number can be found on the Product Information Label (see General Information). (A copy of the original bill of sale or proof of purchase or receipt date.) Brief Description of Problem:

____________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________

PROCEDURES TO OBTAIN REPAIR SERVICE

. In the unlikely event that your clock appears to be malfunctioning or require repair, IN NORTH AMERICA please call one of our Repair Technicians at (616) 772-7277 (extension #386). OUTSIDE NORTH AMERICA please call your distributor or agent.

. Have a copy of the original bill of sale or other proof of purchase or receipt date available.

. Have the Howard Miller model number and serial number and a complete description of the problem available.

. Return Authorization is required for all returns to Howard Miller. If you have been given authorization to return the clock to Howard Miller, you will be given a Return Authorization number (RGA#). Returns without prior authorization may be subject to additional charges and delays.

If a return is necessary, please package clock in the ORIGINAL packaging.

Failure to properly pack the clock may cause damage that is not covered under warranty. You should obtain insurance for the return shipment. If ORIGINAL packaging is not available, you may find it convenient to take the clock to a professional packaging and shipping company (consumer expense). Otherwise, please follow the instructions below.

1. Package the clock into a stiff corrugated carton. This carton needs to be larger than the clock and should have at least 4″ (inches) of space between the clock and each carton wall, to allow for adequate cushion material.

2. Position the clock into the carton.

. Wrap the item in a plastic bag.

Damaged Glass Note: Remove all broken glass before packing the clock for return.

Failure to do so may further damage the clock and would not be covered under warranty.

. Cover the bottom 4″ (inches) of the carton with cushioning material.

Cushioning material may

include foamed peanuts, tightly packed newspaper or other similar material.

. Place the clock in the center of the carton on top of the cushioning material.

. Enclose the following inside the carton with the clock: the reason for returning the product, the RGA#, and a copy of the original bill of sale or proof of purchase.

. Fill the remaining space around the clock, and use enough additional cushioning material so that the clock cannot move or shift in transit.

3. Seal the carton securely with packaging tape. DO NOT use masking or tape intended for gift wrapping.

4. Clearly mark the outside of the carton with the complete Howard Miller Company “ship to”

address. Include your complete address. Please include the Return Authorization number (RGA#), above your name, on the address label.

5. Damage caused by poor packaging or freight handling is not covered under warranty.

NON-WARRANTY REPAIR SERVICE

Charges will result for repair services if a bill of sale or other proof of purchase date is not provided, if instructions were not followed, if the clock is beyond the Limited Warranty period or is otherwise outside the scope of the Limited Warranty.

MINOR ADJUSTMENTS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY Repair service and/or parts to correct the following minor adjustments are at the consumer’s

expense:

1. “Set-Up”. Set-Up instructions have been provided with your Howard Miller product.

2. Mechanical Movement Oiling and Cleaning. The movement in your clock is a mechanical mechanism and, therefore, requires periodic oiling and cleaning depending on climatic and environmental conditions. Under normal conditions a movement requires oiling with high quality clock oil approximately every two years from the date of purchase. Please contact a qualified clock repair person or authorized Howard Miller Service Center for this service.

3. Replacement of Suspension Spring. Please return broken suspension spring to Howard Miller for proper identification. Replacement suspension springs are available from Howard Miller.

4. Pendulum, Timing, and Chime/Strike Hammer Adjustments. Instructions for these adjustments have been provided in this publication.

FREIGHT DAMAGE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY It is the responsibility of the consignee to claim any freight loss or damage directly with the carrier. If the carton indicates signs of “visible damage”, instruct the driver to note the damage on the freight bill. If the carton contains “concealed damage”, notify the carrier and request in writing within 14 days of product receipt a carrier inspection and damage report.

Failure to notify the carrier within 14 days of product receipt may waive your rights to a damage claim.

NOT 100% crystal clear?  Having a wall clock or mantel clock  problem?  please feel free to call us at any time at 1-800-4CLOCKS (1-800-425-6257).  We’ll be here and aim to help!

E.J. Dent Clocks and Pocket Watches Think Big Ben

Saturday, November 28th, 2009

Dent and Company is perhaps best known for designing the Tower Clock in England’s Houses of Parliament, that has become known over the years as Big Ben (which is actually the name of the Bell in the Clock Tower).

Dent also made bracket clocks and wall clocks, though we see very few of them for sale.  Antique Grandfather Clocks by Dent also no doubt exist, though we believe they are quite rare as we can’t remember the last time we saw an original of  Dent Grandfather Clocks.

Pocket Watches by Dent are of extraordinarily high quality and were made in some large numbers.  The Dent family spanned several generations in clocks and pocket watch making.

The history of Dent & Co. spans three centuries of precision watch and clock making in Great Britain. Established in 1814 by (the very first) Edward J. Dent, the company embraced the Victorian fervor for technological innovation and created precision chronometers to navigate the Royal Navy and guide some of the most intrepid explorers on their voyages. The British Empire was in full expansion and its maritime tradition had produced some remarkable technological breakthroughs from the late 18th century; John Harrison’s triumphant mechanical solution in 1764 to locate a ship’s position at sea won the coveted Board of Longitudes prize money and further consolidated Britain as the horological force in the world.  Propelling the impetus of Britain’s primacy, Dent proved a key player in Victorian horological history manufacturing the Standard Clock at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich which was to keep “Greenwich Mean Time”  the time to which all others in the Empire were referred, (better known today as G.M.T.) and continued to do so until replaced by an electronic clock in 1946.  Dent also made probably the most famous clock in the world – the Great Clock for the Houses of Parliament, familiarly known as Big Ben.

A Chronology of Dent Family Business Premises – all locations are in London, England

1826   E.J.Dent, 43 King Street, Long Acre

1830   Arnold & Dent, 84 Strand

1840   Edward J. Dent, 82 Strand

1843   Edward J. Dent, 82 Strand & 33 Cockspur Street

1847   Edward J. Dent, 82 Strand & 33 Cockspur Street & 34 Royal Exchange

1851   Edward J. Dent, 61 Strand & 33 Cockspur Street & 34 Royal Exchange

1853  Frederick Dent, 61 Strand & 34 Royal Exchange

1853   Richard Edward Dent, 33 Cockspur Street

1856   Frederick Dent, 61 Strand, 34 & 35 Royal Exchange

1857   M. F. Dent, 33 Cockspur Street

1861   Dent & Co, 61 Strand, 34 & 35 Royal Exchange

1861   M. F. Dent, 33 & 34 Cockspur Street

1864   E. Dent & Co, 61 Strand, 34 & 35 Royal Exchange

1886   E. Dent & Co, 61 Strand, & 4 Royal Exchange

1897  E. Dent & Co Ltd, 61 Strand, & 4 Royal Exchange

1904   M. F. Dent, 34 Cockspur Street

1920   E.  Dent & Co Ltd (consolidation M. F. Dent), 61 Strand, 4 Royal Exchange & 34 Cockspur Street

1921   E. Dent & Co Ltd, 61 Strand, 4 Royal Exchange & 28 Cockspur Street

1936   E. Dent & Co Ltd, 41 Pall Mall & 4 Royal Exchange

1941 – 1977   E. Dent & Co Ltd, 41 Pall Mall

Dent & Co. also acquired a range of titles and appointments. They include:

Makers to and holders of Royal Warrants from Her Majesty Queen Victoria and H.R.H. Albert, Prince of Wales, His Majesty King Edward VI, His Majesty King George V,  Her Majesty Queen Mary, His Majesty Tsar Alexander III, His Majesty Tsar Nicolas II Emperors of Russia and His Majesty Emperor Mejii of Japan.  Makers to the Courts and Governments of France, Austria, Italy, Russia, Germany, Spain, the United States, Japan and no doubt many others.

Grandmother Clocks

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

Grandfather Clocks and Grandmother Clocks — do you carry both?  What is the difference?  Why in your clocks store do you list some grandfather clocks as both a grandfather clock and a grandmother clock?  Can a big long wall clock be considered a grandmother clock, or does it need to be freestanding?  The above are questions we get every day and there is a lot of confusion about the similarities and differences between grandfather clocks and grandmother clocks.

Adding to the confusion, our experience is that if you have ten grandfather clocks  experts in a room to clarify the distinctions defining a grandfather clocks and a grandmother clock, you may get 15-20 different opinions.  There is absolutely no universal agreement on a definition of what defines a grandmother clock vs. a grandfather clock.  Nevertheless, we will share here our perspective on the differences between the two kinds of these floor clocks.

First, grandmother clocks and grandfather clocks are both Floor Clocks.  They must be freestanding, and while they may be adjacent to a wall, or even anchored to a wall for protection against tipping over (a critical baby-proofing and “young-kind proofing” necessity in our view), they stand up on their own base, which is the bottom of the clock.

The height of the floor clock is by far the single most distinguishing and defining characteristic and criterion for whether any clock is a grandmother clock or a grandfather clock.  We use a height of 80 inches (sometimes up to 82 inches depending upon the style of the floor clock) as the very rough guideline and dividing line below which a clock may be called a grandmother clock.

Floor clocks that in our view are “short enough” to be considered or classified as grandmother clocks are still included on our own website with the descriptive term grandfather clock.  While we recognize this confuses some or our grandfather clocks and grandmother clocks shopping customers, and we get calls about it from time to time from people who are confused, we do not want to make the presentation of clocks more confusing by listing the same EXACT clock as BOTH a grandmother clock and a grandfather clock.

Howard Miller Clocks offers the biggest selection of grandfather clocks that quality for both of these clocks categories.  We offer great discounts on these clocks, as we do for all the high-end discount grandmother clocks and grandfather clocks on sale.

We hope this adds value and to the knowledge base of discount grandfather clocks and those looking for grandmother clocks on sale, and deciding between the two types of floor clocks.

Discount Grandfather Clocks

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

Tis the Season for many joyous occasions, including discounts on grandfather clocks, wall clocks, mantle clocks and much more.  While plasma and high definition televisions may be high on the list of many people, as well as the latest iMacs, iPods, iPhones, we know that clocks, especially grandfather clocks, show up on peoples radar screens much of the time.

We are asked many times if we have coupons or coupon codes available for checkout from our 1-800-4CLOCKS.com website.  The short answer is that is not something we usually do.  The reason being that we strive to ALWAYS offer the lowest available price and to be one step ahead of our competition as much as reasonably possible.  We do not believe in grandfather clock discounts that “expire tonight at midnight” or other phony sales gimmicks.  We encourage any clocks customer who is at all unsure about the pros and cons of certain clocks, or has any questions, to call us at 1-800-4CLOCKS, and we always strive to share as much detail about our clocks offerings as we can, all the time.

So when Black Friday comes, while it will be as good as any other day shopping for grandfather clocks or mantle clocks or wall clocks, you might want to spend your time looking for the discount lures that are put out there by so many major retailers.  Come visit us or call us, and maybe you will be surprised, or maybe not.

We don’t believe in artificially raising prices, only so we can lower them the next day and offer steeper percent discounts.  1-800-4CLOCKS prides itself on being very approachable, and we are delighted to talk through the pros and cons of, say, cable driven grandfather clocks vs. chain driven grandfather clocks.  Quartz grandfather clocks too.  Even tubular chime grandfather clocks and what they have to offer. We are happy to discuss the different makers, including Howard Miller, Hermle, Ridgeway, Bulova, Kieninger and so many more.  We will even search for a particular clock, whether an antique grandfather clocks or an old bracket clock with nested bells.

We aim to be your one stop shop for all clock needs, both personal and professional.  Increasingly, corporate customers, governments, and other organizations including libraries and hospitals, and coming to us for special order clocks that can be customized to meet their promotional or environmental and decor needs.

We would like to do the same for you, in 2009 and for many years to come.

GrandfatherClocks for Sale

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

GrandfatherClocks for Sale? We are all used to seeing For Sale signs for just about everything, including Grandfather Clocks.  But how one presents the item for sale, whether it is a house, an apartment for sale, an automobile, or one of any of a number of homer decor or interior decoration items, how it is presented is critical.

Does seeing GrandfatherClocks for Sale make you focus more on the selling proposition than seeing Grandfather Clocks for Sale? It may sound like a silly wordsmith distinction, but timepiece companies as well as almost all corporations selling to consumers and businesses spend a lot of time and money getting the words just right, whether they are selling on line in in bricks and mortar stores or even catalogs.

How about GrandfatherClock for sale vs. Grandfather Clock for Sale.

What about GrandmotherClocks for Sale in place of Grandmother Clocks for Sale.

Or what about FloorClocks for Sale instead of Floor Clocks for Sale.

Or what about HallClocks in place of Hall Clocks.

I myself have always had trouble distinguishing between tallcase clocks and tall case clocks, as well as longcase clocks and long case clocks – but that is based more on a cultural divide between British and American linguistics.

On these seemingly nonsensical distinctions, cottage industries are built on finding the best terminology that can in fact make a big difference in investment decisions and advertising.  If this all seems a bit nonsensical to you, it does as well to us. But believe it or not, we need to factor stuff like this into our advertising and public relations strategy time and time again.