Mantle clocks are mantel clocks.  Did I just say that?  Or did you just wonder what you read?  The two spellings of the same word, mantle and mantel, are used almost interchangeably nowadays.  As I write this blog post, I am looking up how many times mantle clocks and mantel clocks each show up?  Honest, I haven’t looked before, but let’s find out together.

OK.  Done.  Mantle clocks yields about 739,000 results in a Google search.  And mantel clocks?  Only 278,000 Google search results.  I am really shocked, I must say!  I have always thought mantel clocks was the “American” spelling and mantle clocks was the European spelling.  Apparently but not necessarily so.

Let’s move on to the dictionary definitions of mantle clocks and mantel clocks, and see if we glean any horological spelling insights, or clock terminology country of origin insights.  I will now check the Random House dictionary online.  I left my horological dictionary at home — just kidding, don’t have such a clocks dictionary …. not sure if I’ve ever even seen one before, and I’ve seen more clocks books of all types than I care to mention.  Anyhow, on to the dictionary definitions of mantle clocks and mantel clocks.  Ladies and Gentleman, place your clocks bets!

Well this is interesting and not very conclusive.  Looking at the origins of the 2 terms:

No matter what type of clocks you are looking for, you likely will be able to find them at 1-800-4clocks.com.  All types of both new and antique clocks are being offered, including grandfather clocks, mantle clocks, wall clocks and atomic clocks.  We always attempt to offer both the greatest selections and savings on all the clocks we sell, while at the same time offering the best service service and being a helpful source on the internet for both those doing shopping and looking for the best clocks on sale and discounts grandfather clocks etc., as well as educating customers prior to the sale with the information to the range of clocks options and as much as possible answering sales questions ahead of time, through resources such as our Clocks Blogs, as well as expert resources available when customer inquire about specific or even general sales questions when they are actually contemplating a clocks purchase.

We also offer custom clocks and customized clocks for special needs such as those clock needs for hospital, such as hospital wall clocks, universities and colleges, where a uniform look and accuracy are desired within building and classrooms and offices and patient rooms, etc., and between building and facilities.  Facilities managers and purchasing directors are among our most loyal customers, and this is as true for corporations large and small as well.

Atomic clocks have taken on a special place in the hearts and minds of those purchasing clocks, looking both for wall clocks accuracy and wall clocks each of maintenance in general and during time changes, such as Daylight Savings Time.   Atomic Clocks were sometimes known and frequently referred to as Radio Controlled Clocks, a term which is essentially synonymous with atomic clocks.

Global atomic clocks are a newer kind, reading signals from different atomic clocks around the world.  The USA and Canada are essentially covered regarding data transmission by the well-known Atomic Clock in Fort Collins Colorado.  Picking up the signal can sometimes be an art, and we get many pre-sales questions regarding this aspect of atomic clocks accuracy.  We plan to start to offer global atomic clocks within the next 6 months.  Watches and wristwatches, e.g. those made by Casio, have had computer systems built in which essentially adjust for time differences if you “tell” your watch what zone you are in.  Whether we will be carrying global atomic clocks that act in that way, or those that actually pick up atomic signals from other parts of the world when one is traveling there, remains to be seen.

Manufacturers of some of the best wall clocks and mantle clocks  include Howard Miller, Hermle Clocks, Ridgeway Clocks, Seth Thomas Clocks, Lacrosse and Infinity Clocks, and clocks we have carried on and off including Rhythm clocks and Oregon Scientific Clocks.  While not directly relevant, we also currently carry E. Howard  watches which are atomic in gold and silver cases.

Please read our Blog Postings, especially here at Clocks Clog, to learn the most you can about antique and new wall clocks, mantle clocks, grandfather clocks, atomic clocks and mantel clock alternatives.  Custom clocks are our specialty.

See anything timepieces elsewhere that you don’t want but don’t see on our website, then please email or call us at 1-800-4CLOCKS, and we will see if we can help!

When is a brand not a brand?  When it is words in another language translated because they both sound and look good!  This is the case of the so-called branded Tempus Fugit Grandfather Clocks.  Tempus Fugit is Latin for the words “time flies”.  Because of that, everybody and their brother whom manufactures grandfather clocks, or who has made grandfather clocks, grandmother clocks, tall case clocks or longcase clocks over the last 200+ years has had many of them wearing the Tempus Fugit name prominently displayed on these antique grandfather clocks and antique grandmother clocks.  Even many pocket watches say Tempus Fugit on them!

At 1-800-4CLOCKS.com, we get at least one call a day from individuals wanting to know what their “Tempus Fugit” branded grandfather clocks are worth, and when they were made.  Guess what — just about all the major clock brands, from Howard Miller Clocks to Seth Thomas Clocks, Ridgeway Clocks, Hermle Clocks, and many more have made models bearing that Latin phrase, and it is absolutely irrelevant in determining the value of a grandfather clock.

Before Howard Miller Grandfather Clocks, and Ridgeway Grandfather Clocks, and Seth Thomas and Hermle Grandfather Clocks, there were many tens of thousand of great makers around the world making clocks some of which no doubt sported the Time Flies saying in Latin.

Even many mantle clocks and wall clocks also have the Tempus Fugit saying on them.

In a previous post we stated, not to be anti-social but rather to save everyone some time, to please not call us if you are looking for grandfather clock parts or mantel clock parts or wall clock parts because we do NOT carry them.  Well, by the same logic, and not to sound anti-clock or unhelpful, please do NOT call us asking about the value of your Tempus Fugit grandfather clock.

It’s about as valuable in appraising a clock as E Pluribis Unum is in telling you what your coin or dollar bill is worth.

May Father Time be with you!

No thank you, we do not carry parts for grandfather clocks. Or wall clocks parts, or parts for mantle clocks, or even mantel clocks, nor atomic clocks nor parts for cuckoo clocks. And we do not sell movements for grandfather clocks, wall clocks, mantle clocks, atomic clocks, or pretty much any clock or watch or pocket watch.

So why do we get so many visits and calls and emails from prospective customers looking for grandfather clock parts.   Not to be rude, BUT PLEASE DO NOT CALL US FOR GRANDFATHER CLOCK PARTS! OR ANY WALL CLOCK PARTS, OR MANTLE CLOCKS PARTS, OR CUCKOO CLOCK PARTS — well, you probably get the idea…

You might be interested in the grandfather clock parts resource we supplied in one of our posts to our very own grandfather clocks blog and is repeated here for your use and convenience.

We would suggest the following 3 resources:

1. Look on this page on our website to see if you can find an answer to your question(s): just click on -> http://www.1-800-4clocks.com/page/CLOCKS/ClockFAQ
2. You can locate a Howard Miller Authorized Service Center local to you here -> http://cql.howardmiller.com/HM/ServiceCenterLocator.aspx. NOTE that all mechanical Howard Miller clocks had Hermle movements in them until about 5 years ago, and that most any if not all of these Service Centers should be able to work on any Hermle Clock. This Service Center Network is a great resource, and we have had an excellent experiences working with Service Centers around the Country (and also Canada) using this Service Center Network. Probably at least half of these Service Centers can work on antique clocks too, as well as other Brands of Clocks!!!!
3. You can order Hermle (and other) Parts (e.g. movements, weights, pendulum, keys, etc.) from the following 2 suppliers -> www.BlackForestImports.com and www.Merritts.com. While we have no relationship to them whatsoever, we personally have had good results working with them ourselves. Their contact information is available on each of the noted websites. We would most definitely recommend calling them rather than attempting to order from their websites (which would likely be a fruitless effort).

Please pay special attention to the Howard Miller Authorized Service Center Directory, which is search-able by zip code.  It can even come in incredibly handy if you are moving a grandfather clock from one part of the country to another.  Just simply find and hire the best available packing grandfather clocks  shipping (who should also have knowledge about the shipping companies and access to the best rates, if you are not transporting the clock yourself.  Then you can hire a local Howard Miller or Ridgeway Authorized Service Technician on the delivery end to unpack and set-up the grandfather clock in its new home.  It is not at all uncommon that even with the best packing, and reasonable handling, a grandfather clock may require adjustment upon delivery by a qualified technician.

For repairs or transportation of grandfather clocks, wall clocks, mantle clocks, atomic clocks and more, IF YOU ARE IN THE New York tri-state region, feel free to contact us.  If you live elsewhere, you will save yourself some time by following the advice above, and get your parts elsewhere in almost all cases.

When thinking about a perfect wedding present, and finding the ideal gift, especially to give to the bride and the groom, a grandfather clock has become a favorite for parents and parents-in-law to give the to the Bride and Groom to be.  It is, or certainly can be, a timely present that will be a gift with heirloom quality and amazing appreciation on the part of gift recipients.

We have also seen an increasing trend toward giving grandfather clocks as special anniversary presents by one loved one to another.  Or to a parent or parents, or group of siblings, to especially appreciated offspring who have the means to pay for such a gift.   A special promotion, a present for a special birthday, and many other occasions for celebration can be great excuses to give clocks.  And it is not only grandfather clocks.  Wall Clocks, Atomic Clocks, Mantel Clocks, and others, including antique clocks, make great gifts — even for members of the wedding party, including the Best Man and Matron of Honor or Maid of Honor.  And don’t forget gifts for the groomsmen!

The brands that are most popular include Howard Miller Clocks, Hermle Clocks, Ridgeway Clocks,  Seth Thomas clocks, and especially Movado wall clocks and Movado mantel clocks, or mantle clocks, as gifts for groomsmen.  They all make great wall clocks, mantle clocks, gallery clocks, indoor-outdoor clocks, grandmother clocks, grandfather clocks, novelty clocks, and so much more.  The clocks can also be customized, and it can be especially cost-effective for larger order quantities.  We have customized logo and even promotional clocks for some of the largest corporations, hospitals, government organizations, non-profits or charitable organizations, universities, and many other organizations around the world.

The history of grandfather clocks brands is an ever changing one.  Going back to the 1700s and 1800s is Western Europe, parts of Eastern Europe, and the New World, the makers of clocks were extremely decentralized.  This was true for pocket watches as well.  So much so that when signing a grandfather clock or a pocket watch, or a wall clock or mantel clock for that matter, the maker, when they signed their work, put their name, and then their town location.  That tells you a lot right their about how locally focused individual clocks markers were, even though the works if select makers were prized the world over.

In the late 1800s, clock makers started to be centralized, and built manufacturing facilities capable of producing high quality clocks in much larger quantities.  Many of the major makers of their day went out of business, or were later brought back to life because of the value of their name, for different reasons.  Clock makers that fall into this category include Junghans, Gustav Becker, Winterhalder and Hoffmeir, E.J. Dent, New Haven Clock Company, Ansonia Clocks, E Howard Clocks, and the list goes on and on.

Today, when focusing on grandfather clocks specifically, and keeping in mind that we are looking at only what we consider to be the high-end makers and those who make clocks in any quantities, there are relatively few players on the higher-end.  Howard Miller grandfather clocks continue to dominate the high-end market.  Hermle grandfather clocks, which have been around for well over a hundred years, is another leading high end maker of floor clocks, a term used synonymously for grandfather clocks.  Ridgeway grandfather clocks, which have also been making grandfather clocks for over 100 years, is another great brand.  It is worth noting that Ridgeway Clocks was purchased by Howard Miller Clocks about 8 years ago, and while Ridgeway grandfather clocks still bear their brand name with pride, they are in reality not only a division of Howard Miller Clocks, but also essentially identical to Howard Miller grandfather clocks with comparable movements and features, and are effectively other models built by the same company, using the same German made movements, with the cases made in the same locations.

All the major high-end clockmakers currently use German made movements, and are frequently thought of as German grandfather clocks, even when the makers are American companies.  Kieninger grandfather clcoks can be considered German through and through.  Yet it is worth noting that Kieninger Clocks was purchased by Howard Miller Clocks about 7 or 8 years ago.  Howard Miller Clocks and Ridgeway clocks that have mechanical movements inside have those that are made by Kieninger.  Bulova Clocks took over the Sligh grandfather clocks brand designs several years ago.  Bulova clocks uses German Hermle made movements in its grandfather clocks.

There are other companies worthy of note whose brands we do not currently carry, but are of high quality, including Hentschel Clocks and Comiti of London.

Stay tuned for further grandfather clocks brand developments over time.

We have of course heard of many people talk of and ask for Floor Clocks and Grandfather Clocks, but we are noticing a new trend with individuals using the term Grandfather Floor Clocks.  Have you heard that term before?  Perhaps it has appeared in some advertising or Home Improvement or architectural digest or house beautiful or home and garden type of publication or media of late.

Grandfather clocks are by definition floor clocks, or free standing clocks with that familiar rectangular shape with the mechanical kind housing a pendulum and being weight-driven by 1-3 weights, depending upon whether it is time only, time and strike, or time and strike and chiming.  Most of us know this very general definition of grandfather clocks or floor clocks.

Howard Miller Clocks in particular have popularized the term Floor Clocks.   Hermle Clocks too with their grandfather clocks frequently being referred to as Floor Clocks.  It kind of reminds us of radio controlled clocks being used interchangeably with atomic clocks by many manufacturers.  But we have yet to hear of an atomic radio controlled clock, or radio-controlled atomic clocks for that matter.

It seems the terms have simply blended together — floor clocks and grandfather clocks being referred to as grandfather floor clocks.  Not exactly a parallel with mantel clocks and mantle clocks, nor with grandfather clocks and tallcase clocks and longcase clocks, but nonetheless interesting horological linguistic distinction brought about by differences and changes in time and within and between cultures.

Anyone out there heard of a Grandmother Floor Clock?  We expect we will be asked about one some time very soon.

Have you ever heard about a gasoline powered alarm clock?  What about gasoline powered grandfather clocks with the Energy Star seal of approval from the US Government.

Well, throughout history, as the saying goes, truth can be stranger than fiction.  Unbelievably, the USA Government’s Energy Department’s system for qualifying for the EnergyStar Seal of approval for many products, allowed approval for many products, including the gasoline powered alarm clock and other products, that well, did not actually even exist!  There was also an “air purifier” that was actually an electric space heater with a feather duster pasted on top that also received the right to use the Energy Star Seal of approval.

Congressional Auditors posting as several different companies submitted these and other bogus products to see how effective the vetting process for receiving the EnergyStar seal of approval really was.

In its defense, the program managers said that only preliminary steps were passed in many if not all of the cases, and that a required “human review” had not yet taken place.  That was the case for the gasoline powered alarm clock, among others, said the Agency.  We really wish someone had also submitted a fake diesel powered grandfather clocks application or a water powered wall clocks model.  Or perhaps antique grandfather clocks powered by history.

Watchdogs within the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy, among others, have been somewhat cynical of the effectiveness of the program and how helpful it really is it identifying individual products that are truly energy efficient.  As we understand it, at least historically, some companies that qualified for this rating for one product were automatically therefore allowed to advertise the sign on other products that had never been submitted for any testing.

No doubt this program will from now on start to receive the attention and credibility that would greatly benefit consumers and businesses with lower costs and lower world dependence on depleting natural resources.

Very seriously, 1-800-4CLOCKS.com calls for Energy Standards to be considered and implemented by our government, and hopefully international agreement, that over time will be both uniform and help set forward thinking and planning goals that will help us all.  If you agree, please write to your Congressional representatives and President Obama.

As for the gasoline powered alarm clock, don’t hold your breath.  Or on second thought, if you do somehow get a gasoline powered alarm clock, holding your breath may in fact be the best course of action .

Well, it’s the Sunday in Spring after the 2am morning change where we switch from Standard Time to Daylight Savings Time.  Most people remember the “Spring Forward Fall Back” mnemonic to help remember what to do when.  The writer of this Blog Post tried to go to bed an hour earlier last night to help ease into the time change of the loss of the hour’s sleep, or at least time, from our schedule as we move forward until next fall.  Just after winding all of our new and antique grandfather clocks.

The good news is that it will now be lighter, with natural sunshine across the USA, later in the day.  And theoretically at least, we as a country are supposed to use less energy as a result of the extra amount of sunshine, balanced with the mornings being naturally brighter as we move from Winter to Spring. Not sure this has ever been proven in any definitive study, but the basic theory is sound.

Over the years, the US Congress has switched the dates as to when Daylight Savings Time (DST) and Standard Tine (ST) start and stop.  Aside from being time and tempo aficionados, you may wonder how or why we are so keenly aware of this change when it is made by the Government?  Well, one reason is that we sell some clocks which have what is know as an Autoset mechanism.  What this feature does, is automatically move the time forward one hour during the spring at the designated day, and the time backwards one hour on the designated day in the winter.  Sounds straightforward!  Sounds great for our customers too!  But what happens when Congress decides to fiddle with the actual dates when these time changes take place.  Well, this happened just a couple of  years ago, and boy did that cause problems for our customers and us.  All of the sudden, their clocks were changing time forwards and backwards on the wrong days!!

For those customers with the forethought to contact us, we were able to either send replacement movements or completely new clocks which had the NEW correct time and hour and DATE coded into them as to when to make the time change.  Many clocks shoppers and customers, though, contacted us after the problem became apparent.  We were able to make all of the customers eventually satisfied by replacing their clocks with the appropriate movements or replacement wall clocks.   Most of these clocks are used in institutional organizations, such as hospitals clocks, schools clocks, or factory clocks, or corporate clocks throughout an organization.

Atomic wall clocks obviate the need for this potential problem and solutions, as they set their time EXACTLY according to the atomic time on the atomic clock in Fort Collins Colorado.  So it may take an individual clock a few hours to pick up the revised signal, but it is smart enough to make the change by itself for itself.  This is one big advantage of atomic clocks, aside from keeping absolutely incredibly accurate time.  The only downside to the atomic clock is that some may not be able to pick up the atomic signal, particularly if they are in buildings with very thick concrete walls.  This is occasionally as issue for our clocks shopping customers, and we always try to make clocks discount hunters aware of the potential downside when considering this kind of wall clocks.  Happily, in most instances, it’s not an issue or problem.

Now what about the Monday following the change in Daylight Savings Time.  As a clocks shop employee, where we sell many types of grandfather clocks, wall clocks, mantel clocks, antique clocks of all kinds, not to mention atomic clocks and Autoset Clocks, I personally dread those Monday mornings?  Why, you might ask?  Well, the reason is that most calls on Monday begin with How do I change the time on my grandfather clock, wall clocks, mantle clocks or whatever clock, new or antique.  This is true regardless whether the brand is Howard Miller Clocks, Ridgeway Clocks, Hermle Clocks, Kieninger Clocks selection, or Bulova clocks,  Antique clocks too — and an antique grandfather clcok wik have special considerations regarding what NOT to do to change the time that will not apply with a newer Howard Miller grandfather clock or one of the Ridgeway or Hermle grandfather clocks.

Maybe I will take tomorrow off  .  But nope, I love clocks of all kinds, and like-love most all of the clocks shoppers, whether they are always looking for discount grandfather clocks or grandfather clocks on sale.

What was that clocks vow I took — “for better or worse”,  “in sickness and in health, including changes in Daylight Savings Time”.

We at 1-800-4CLOCKS.com will be open tomorrow to help all of our past and present grandfather, wall, mantle, autoset, atomic, mantel, and antique clocks shoppers.

p.s. be sure not to not forget to change the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.  The semi-annual changes in time with DST are a great time to do that.  Also, you may want to look at how many years old your smoke detectors are, and whether it is time to invest in new ones which will both (hopefully) definitely work and have the latest in technology.  It could just save the lives of you and your loved ones!

When shopping for grandfather clocks, one needs to keep in mind the alternate terminology for grandfather clock, such as floor clocks, longcase clocks, tall-case clocks, grandmother clocks, and, yes, sometimes even hall clocks.

So perhaps it is not too surprising that when talking about table clocks or desktop clocks or shelf clocks, all of which can be used reasonably synonymously, there is also the term mantel clocks that is used perhaps most commonly.  Even of more interest and relevance is that the term mantel clocks is spelled just about as frequently as mantle clocks.  Both spellings are about equally popular, and are used both in North America as well as Western Europe with both spellings.  We used to think that mantle clocks was simply a more European spelling for mantel clocks, but careful study and observation suggests both clocks terms have taken hold across a wide swath of geographical locations.

Which term do you find to be most descriptive for this category of clock – table clock, desktop clock, shelf clock or mantle-mantel clock?  We like all and have just somehow assumed that the mantel-mantle clock nomenclature, which seems to be the standard according to most manufacturers of high quality clocks.  What’s your opinion?  Which term best reflects this.  Don’t forget about bracket clocks too!  The bracket clock is a term which we believe was reasonably standard in England during the 1700s and 1800s and early-mid 1900s.  Of course there was-is also the term tambour clock, also known as a Napoleon’s Hat clock, for those with that special design.  While we use the terms bracket clocks and tambour clocks frequently, especially when referring to antique clocks.  Yet we rarely hear American customers, especially those shopping for new grandfather or wall or mantel clocks use the alternate type of clock speak noted above.

And how about wall clocks?  There are gallery clocks, railroad station clocks, atomic wall clocks which are also know as radio controlled frequency clocks, not to mention the specialty wall clocks including cuckoo clocks and wall skeleton clocks.

Let us know which term for tabletop or desktop clocks most speaks to you.  Should we stick with the mantel clock and mantle clock variation, or be more bold and trendsetting in the clock industry.