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.

Over time,  we have weighed in on the strengths, weaknesses, and commonalities of the various makers of grandfather clocks, mantle clocks and wall clocks.

Now we are asking for your opinions as to the best makers of wall clocks, mantel clocks and grandfather clocks.

Here are the categories:

GrandfatherClocks:  and Grandmother Clocks too!

Howard Miller Grandfather Clocks

Hermle Grandfather Clocks

Bulova Grandfather Clocks

Ridgeway Grandfather Clocks

Kieninger Grandfather Clocks

We would encourage you in this case to supply your own criteria for rating grandfather clocks. We look forward to hearing from many floor clocks and grandfather clocks enthusiasts.

Mantle Clocks:  Mantel Clocks maker categories include -

Bulova Mantel Clocks

Howard Miller Mantel Clocks

Hermle Mantel Clocks

Ridgeway Mantel Clocks

Seth Thomas Mantel Clocks

Kieninger Mantle Clocks

Included in this category are mechanical chiming mantel clocks, quartz chiming mantle clocks, quartz time only mantel clocks, and others.  We look forward to your input!

Wall Clocks:

Wall clock categories and makers here include

Howard Miller Wall Clocks

Hermle Wall Clocks

Seth Thomas Wall Clocks

Bulova Wall Clocks

Kieninger Wall Clocks

Ridgeway Wall Clocks

Categories within here include Atomic Wall Clocks, Gallery or oversized wall clocks, mechanical chiming wall clocks, quartz chiming wall clocks, quartz rime only wall clocks, wrought iron wall clocks, decorative wall clocks, and indoor outdoor wall clocks.  We would also include combination barometers and wall clocks in this category.

What do you think?  We very much want your input, and we will figure out the best way to present the results for grandfather clocks, wall clocks, and mantel clocks.  It will be quite interesting to see how they differ from the best selling brands and types of grandfather clocks, mantle clocks, wall clocks.  Atomic clocks may be a special focus, especially because of their increasing popularity.

As we ring in 2010, we thought we might look forward in time by looking backwards.  Sound strange?  Well, here is the thinking.  If we know what are the top 10 Features that people most want in their grandfather clocks, mantel clocks, atomic clocks, wall clocks, etc., it will help us all to offer clocks to better meed the clocks sale needs of customers everywhere.

Here is our guess at a Top 10 clocks features list.  We would love input and look forward to sharing it over time.

1.  Clocks on sale or clocks discount.   Sorry, but had to get this one out of the way, even though it may not technically be a clocks feature.  We know it’s top of mind of most consumers shopping for discount grandfather clocks and other clocks, so we thought we would get it out of the way (and remember our Low Price Guarantee!).

2. Atomic time.  Atomic clocks, formerly and still also known as radio controlled clocks, are an incredible innovation in timekeeping accuracy.  Gone are the days when workers argue about when the 5pm quitting time really begins, and gone are the days of hospital workers who may have to note the time of death (sorry on such a cheery subject, but a reality, and a good example) with no issue of accuracy.

3. Automatic night time shut-off on grandfather clocks, mantle clocks, and wall clocks.  Customers who purchase clocks with this feature have the HUGE advantage of having their clock shut off its chime automatically every night at, say, 10pm, and start up again the next morning at, say 7am.  Some customers have commented on how helpful this feature can be if they have a clock in a room in which visitors sleep over.  They have the option of turning the chime off.  Others just love it because they think or fear the sound-chimes might bother them.  it really a personal choice, but it is a great one to have.

4. Illuminated Dials.  While not new in general, this feature is reasonably new to some high-end models of grandfather clocks, most notably some Howard Miller Grandfather Clocks.  Some have illuminated interiors as well.  The big advantage is one can see both the clock’s time, and the clock and dial, even when the light is out.  It is cool!  The only downside is that the clock needs to be near an electrical outlet.  But this is a reasonably new feature many people love.

5. Ave Maria and ode to Joy Chimes.  In very recent years, the high-end clock makers have introduced movements that many times in addition to the Westminster Chimes, offer one or both of the Beethoven ode to Joy and/or Schubert Ave Maria Chimes.  While the Westminster Chimes has been the overwhelming favorite for decades, even when customers have triple chime grandfather clocks, there are many many excited customers eager to also have one or both of their Ave Maria and Ode to Joy Chimes on their Clocks.  And these have been made available not only on quartz movement mantel clocks and wall clocks, but also on some grandfather clocks as well, such as the Howard Miller Clayton Grandfather Clock Model 610-950 (610950) .  We expect this feature with these chimes to be much more popular in the coming decade.

6. Customization of clocks, especially custom or customized atomic wall clocks.  We have seen an increasing desire on the part of businesses and other organization to have atomic clocks, which were addressed above, but with dials that are customized to their needs.  While this might seem simple, many clock manufacturers have stumbled in this area.  We have been able to address this issue with some special design approaches.  And customized atomic clocks for home and office and other organizations will only increase in popularity!

7. Contemporary grandfather clocks.  Many people, and we do not agree with this thought, but nonetheless, many people think of grandfather clocks as very traditional and perhaps out of date for today’s times.  We hear this at 1-800-4CLOCKS.com quite frequently.  Despite the fact that we think there is nothing more beautiful than a traditional or contemporary grandfather clock, and that it adds great home decor value and should be recognized as a treasured piece of furniture, some people are “turned on” only by the contemporary grandfather clocks.  We’ve had clocks of ours of a contemporary nature featured both in TeenVogue as well as on a National NBC Home Rescue show.  Contemporary is here to stay, and will open up many new avenues and new demand.

8.  PC or computer or iPhone or Cell Telephone Clocks.  To be writing about this subject and not recognize the reality that people are seeing the time in many more ways than they ever have before, whether it be on their Apple Mac or PC or iPhone or iPod or simply a basic cell phone (and we’ll mention Google’s Droid phone here too, because we like Google).  Gone are the days of Victorian England when Parliament had to legislate Public Clocks and Pub clocks so the masses would know what time it is.  We believe that the home decor and collectible value of clocks of all types will mean that they will be in homes and offices for many generations to come.  it’s interesting that very recent studies show that with so many sources for time, clocks and watches still receive 90%+ of the views when an individual is seriously interested in knowing what time it is.

9. Clocks for Special Needs or Special Markets.  Technology is allowing clocks to be made which are leaps and bounds ahead in serving individuals with special requirements.  For those who are hard of hearing or have difficulty waking up in the morning, clocks are know available which will not only shake your bed, but they will also have varying forms of strobe lights, AND they have alarms that will knock your socks off, literally and figuratively.  For people who are vision impaired, the shaking and the piercing sounds can be an amazing blessing.  We plan to be carrying these types of clocks very soon.

10. Green clocks.  Would you believe that there is a clock on the market that literally runs on water.  And it’s an LED clock, not tied to a bucket.  We will right more about this amazing clock, and may soon carry it. And solar clocks are making headway in the market.  we expect to see a lot more.

So what do you think?  Will we soon have a solar powered atomic customizable grandfather clocks selection? Which features are most important?  What new ones should we be looking at?  PLEASE share your views with us so that we may serve you better!

1-800-4CLOCKS, which is based in New York City, is proud to have been a participant in making this Open House National NBC Television Show come to life.  The major contribution we made was the selection, donation, delivery and placement of one of the nicest contemporary grandfather clocks we sell, which is the Howard Miller Coco Grandfather Clocks Model  which can be seen just below:

Howard Miller Coco Grandfather Clock

Read all about it below and see where you can tune in locally in New York, as well as Nationally across the USA brought to you by NBC and LXTV.

‘OPENHOUSE NYC,’ WNBC’S PREMIERE DESTINATION FOR ALL THINGS REAL ESTATE & DESIGN, GIVES HOLIDAY MAKEOVER MIRACLE TO SINGLE MOTHER AFTER DEVASTATING FIRE GUTS HER HOME

Renowned Designer, Christopher Hyland, Teams Up with Home Improvement Guru George Oliphant, to Surprise a New Jersey Family with a Whole House Restoration Just in Time for the New Year

‘Open House-To the Rescue’ Airs on WNBC on Sunday, December 20

EMBARGOED INFORMATION FOR ONLINE/PRINT, December 14, 2009—OpenHouse NYC, WNBC’s popular real estate and design series (that regularly outperforms its competition on Sunday mornings), is giving back this holiday season when the program’s home improvement guru, George Oliphant, partners with OpenHouse contributor and prominent  Manhattan-based interior designer Christopher Hyland, to create a holiday miracle for one Parsippany, NJ family.

Over 20 local and national businesses, including lead contractor Stephen Fanuka of Fanuka, Inc., will come together to give Laurie O’Hara and her family what was taken from them just under one year ago—their home. The entire re-build and restoration, from start to finish, will be featured on a special half-hour, OpenHouse– To the Rescue on Sunday, December 20 at 8:30am on WNBC in the New York region, and nationally on all NBC owned and operated stations (check local listings).

On January 24, 2009, while Laurie O’Hara, a paralegal, and her two teenage children were out shopping for a new car to replace the one that was totaled in an accident just days before, a fire started in their laundry room spreading throughout the home’s three levels. The disastrous fire destroyed all of their belongings, including priceless heirlooms, photos and memorabilia. Sadly, one of the family dogs also lost its life to injuries received in the fire. As a single mother with a son away at college and a daughter in high school, the matriarch of the household did all she could to move past the tragedy and rebuild their lives. But when it came time to renovating her home, she needed help. As such, she wrote into OpenHouse asking if they would send host George Oliphant, who lives in nearby Montclair, for a “To the Rescue” shoot. While the popular weekend real estate show did get back to her and offer help, little does she know the extent that they’re stepping in! This holiday season, OpenHouse is giving the gift of rebirth to this deserving family.

“The ‘To the Rescue’ segments are always rewarding,” commented Oliphant. “But this one in particular, really pulls at your heart strings. I can’t wait until the family sees the final product!”

The six-room raised ranch is being outfitted by Christopher Hyland with luxurious interior design elements and architectural detail. After months of work, the master bedroom will be decked out in old Hollywood glam; the kitchen will get an art deco refinishing with bright cabinetry; her son, who is an avid hockey player, will have a room decked out with official NHL paraphernalia and Catskill-style stick furniture; her daughter’s room will incorporate her love of cheerleading with a country Swedish aesthetic; and every room will be wallpapered with varying grass cloth to add opulence, texture and environmental sensitivity. Thanks to OpenHouse, they’ll be able to celebrate the New Year with a fresh start, in home that has been completely transformed by Oliphant and Hyland.

Hyland added: “This modern and comfortable design scheme can be at home in any upscale setting – from the existing suburban location, to Park Avenue or a beachside vacation community.”

About LX.TV

Emmy Award-winning LX.TV was founded in 2006 and purchased by NBC’s Local Media Division in January 2008. LX.TV produces high-quality original content accessible on multiple platforms from on-air to online to out-of-home. LX.TV’s original programming includes “1ST LOOK,” which runs in all of NBC’s Local Media markets and “OPENHOUSE,” which currently runs on all NBC owned and operated stations, in syndication and on cable. LX.TV also produces special series and programs including the wedding series, “I Do,” and the documentary series, “My First Time” and the home improvement program, “George To The Rescue.”   LX.TV is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NBC Local Media.

Media Contacts:

Bonita Lynch / Stephanie Baumoel at FerenComm for LX.TV

bonital@ferencomm.com

stephanieb@ferencomm.com

212.983.9898

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!

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.

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.

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? 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.

Have you ever seen a piece of jewelry in the shape of a grandfather clock?  A pin with a wall clock? What about a solid 14k gold pendant of the Big Ben Tower Clock of London to wear on a necklace (I own one of those, actually)? Watches as earrings, particularly from the Art Deco Watches period.  Or what about gears from clocks and watches being used as parts for jewelery.

While we can’t see we see an ever increasing trend toward the uses of horological timepieces in jewelry, we can say for a fact that there has always been a place for the clock and watch in the jewelry market.  Do you see this yourself – please let us know.

We have even toyed over the years with introducing jewelry ourselves in the shape of timepieces of all types, from the basic grandfather clock necklace, pendant or earrings, to similar items with a wall clock or mantle clock design.  Whether to make the grandfather clock actually tick and function, or the wall clock tell time, is another question entirely.  And we see these more as decorative pieces compared to the more functional pocket watches that antique pocket watches or pendant watches that women used to wear much more routinely in the past vs. present.

Let’s not forget about the men out there who may be interested in grandfather clock cuff links, or wall clock studs for that special shirt or tuxedo.

We would very much like your horological and design sense and potential buyer input.  Have you seen much grandfather clock jewelry out there? Any wall clock jewelry you would like to see?

Let us know your thoughts and opinions.