Grandfather Clock Plans used to be quite popular.  Going back 20 to 40 years, there was a ready supply of available plans which were made available – some the bare-bones grandfather clocks plans where everything was dome from scratch, and others with kits provided with either some of the components, e.g. a grandfather clock movement only, and others which also included wood finished and cut and stained, from not at all, to the assembly-only required types of grandfather clock kits that came with easier grandfather clock plans.

Some of the most well known publishers of grandfather clock plans included Mason and Sullivan, which had both the from scratch plans as well as those that came with movements and grandfather clock case, as well as mantel clock case, and wall clock case parts.  Mason and Sullivan went out of business at least 15-20 years ago, but their plans are still occasionally available for purchase, in places such as eBay.  Empire Clocks, or was it Emperor Clocks, were another big name in grandfather clock plans and grandfather clock kits.  Like Mason and Sullivan, they also made back to basics from scratch grandfather clock plans, as well as offering grandfather clock kits, but from our recollection most all still required some real woodwork and staining.  This was also true for wall clocks and mantle clocks offered with clock plans, e.g. wall clock plans, and mantel clock plans, many of which are also found and sold as vintage items.

One company that took a lot of the work out but added tremendous quality was the Kuempel Chime Clock Company, which sold both individual grandfather clocks made to order, as well as grandfather clock kits that came with grandfather clock plans to put them together.  Based in Minnesota, the Kuempel grandfather clocks, as well as mantel clocks and wall clocks, really raised the bar by providing only the highest end solid wood components or completed cases.   The company was run by a visionary man named John Swon who, among many other areas where he saw wisdom, saw the benefit in hiring workers who were local and were senior citizens.  It was a win-win for everyone, including grandfather clock customers who were the lucky beneficiaries of the clocks and clock kits  made by these craftsmen and workers already skilled or who were trained and became skilled in woodworking.

Kuempel also sold very popular grandfather clock kits with German Grandfather Clocks that had Kieninger grandfather clock movements. In addition, they had kits and plans for mantel clocks and wall clocks too, again of German origin. Unfortunately, this great company we believe went out of business shortly after its visionary owner passed away all too suddenly and unexpectedly.

In more general terms, the grandfather clock market seems to have “spoken out” in favor of the economics of buying pre-made high quality grandfather clocks rather than spending the incredible time and effort necessary into doing it the most old-fashioned way.  When one looks at the selections of grandfather clocks offered by Howard Miller Clocks, as well as Hermle Grandfather Clocks, the Ridgeway Grandfather Clocks selection,, the Americana Grandfather Clocks Collection, and Kieninger Grandfather Clocks, and the prices and quality offered with many styles of traditional and contemporary grandfather clocks, it is easy to see that buying one of these incredibly made grandfather clocks, instead of using a grandfather clock plan, may be the easiest decision of all.  Always evaluate the grandfather clocks brands and makers and differences within and between the high-end heirloom quality clocks that will one day be an antique grandfather clock and an antique family heirloom to be  treasured by generation after generation.

 

 

Personal shoppers are no longer just a privilege enjoyed by ladies with envy-inducing retail budgets. A picky customer puts four services to the test.

At 1-800-4CLOCKS.com, we are well aware that grandfather clock shoppers looking for grandfather clocks for sale or high-end discount grandfather clocks and grandmother clocks may look to such places as grandfather clock warehouse sales, grandfather clock outlet sites, or those sometimes disingenuous grandfather clocks store going out of business sales.  Many of these are marketing gimmicks by slick clock retailers trying to lure in smart grandfather clock shoppers who are reasonably looking to get the best grandfather clock discount they can on the grandfather or floor clock brand or particular model they may have already scoped out.

Make no mistake.  We think the purchase of a new or antique grandfather clock or grandmother clock, whether one of the Howard Miller Grandfather Clocks, Hermle Floor Clocks, Ridgeway Grandfather Clocks, Americana Grandfather Clocks or the ultra high-end Kieninger Grandfather Clocks is a very serious purchase decision, and should be made thoughtfully and with great care not only because of the value of the item, but also because it is or should be an heirloom piece that you will want to pass from generation to generation and has a very good chance of still being prized as an heirloom antique grandfather clock 100 years from now.

When talking about grandfather clock warehouse sales, we feel we would be remiss in not also addressing the warehouse clubs like Costco and BJs and Sams Club.  It is especially worthy for the informed shopper to be aware that while, occasionally, some of the same models we at 1-800-4CLOCKS will sell may sometimes find their way into one of these price clubs, but much more often than not the manufacturers make special models which are available to and sold by only these price club warehouse stores.  We get hundreds of calls from people wanting to find out how great a deal they got on the xyz model grandfather clock, and in those cases we can only tell them that in reality there is no real MSRP because these models are made only to be sold in these outlets.  Which is not to say it may not be a good purchase.  Having said that, we believe in an eyes wide open shopping and research approach to your grandfather clocks purchase.  Do your homework.  Find people who really understand the different makers, models, features, quality and much more (good luck finding that at Costco!).  This is why niche clock retailers like 1-800-4CLOCKS, who are happy to take the time necessary to answer any/all questions about particular grandfather clock models, and differences within and between brands and features, can make the grandfather clock shopping experience that much more valuable to a prospective grandfather clock owner.  And more than likely, you will end up saving money shopping with us as well.

Back to a grandfather clocks warehouse.  there is another element to buying from a grandfather clock or clocks retailer who has the option of shipping a clock to you “factory fresh” from the actual maker of the clock.  The greatest benefit is that the clock ships only once, thereby minimizing the chance of any shipping damage, which can be all-too disappointing, upon its receipt.  We work with you to make sure you are covered if this happens, but who wants to go through all the extra time and “pain and suffering” involved in these instances.  the other main advantages are that you know 100% you are getting a brand new factory fresh clock, and with zero chance of any counterfeiting or unknowingly being stuck with some grandfather clock floor model when you had every reason to think you were getting a brand new “out of the box” grandfather clock.

So do you think we should be advertising grandfather clocks warehouse sales?  To date, we never have, but we can offer all the benefits of one.

Grandfather clock shoppers – we would love to get your reaction.

Grandfather Clocks on Facebook, found at www.facebook.com/grandfatherclocks, is the limited presence of 1-800-4CLOCKS to date on Facebook.  We know we have the ability to have tens if not hundreds of thousands of Facebook friends, but we have yet to even begin to really capitalize upon it.

By many measures, we are Americas Top Grandfather Clocks Shop, and it is a clocks shop slogan we have even trademarked.  We know we offer the best service on grandfather clocks discounts and sales, while still providing superior customer service and toll-free support.  We carry only the brands that we think are the finest makers of grandfather clocks, including such names as Howard Miller Grandfather Clocks, Hermle Grandfather Clocks, the Ridgeway Floor Clock Collection, Kieninger Floor Clocks and Americana Grandfather Clocks.  Historically, we have also introduced our own brands including Museum Clocks™, Grandson Clocks™, and Gigantic Clocks™.   Grandmother clocks by most makers, including Howard Miller Clocks, Hermle Clocks and Ridgeway Clocks, have been another core part of our collection.

We are very interested to get to know if our grandfather clocks customers and shoppers would be interested in us having an expanded Facebook grandfather clocks presence.  We could include wall clocks and mantel clocks as well, my Kieninger Clock, Hermle Clocks, Howard Miller and others, as well as antique grandfather clocks, antique mantle clocks and antique wall clocks.

One differentiating factor in our grandfather clock sales, is that we always have experts available, whether in-stores or toll-free at 1-800-4CLOCKS toll-free on the telephone.  The large majority of our biggest competitors have call centers with people who know little or nothing about grandfather clocks, wall clocks and mantel clocks, whether new or antique.  We also feature grandmother clocks, novelty clocks, cuckoo clocks, atomic clocks, and some wristwatches as well.  Is this something that you as an existing or prospective grandfather clock or other customer would like to be able to address on Facebook?  Would you want to share purchases with friends on Facebook?

What about the History of grandfather clocks, and even grandfather clock trivia, such as the history behind the story and music by Henry Work Clay and  his song My Grandfather Clock, which actually popularized the name grandfather clock in the USA, vs. tallcase and long case clocks as they had been know up until then, and still are referred to today in the United Kingdom and Western Europe.

Grandfather clock movements are another critical component in understanding and comparing grandfather clocks, not only between makers, but also within the grandfather clock product line offerings within a single brand, such as Howard Miller cable-driven grandfather clocks vs Howard Miller chain-driven grandfather clocks as but one of many possible illustrations of the importance of understanding the grandfather clock choices and alternatives facing a customer.  Everything from chimes, to a working moondial, to illuminated grandfather clock dials, to the differences between a grandmother clock and a grandfather clock can be critical to end of purchasing an heirloom quality that will be cherished for generations to follow.

Now again we come back to Facebook, where we can be found at http://www.facebook.com/grandfatherclocks, and whether that is a good or great forum to share so,e, many or most of these comparison clock shopping knowledge based facts which can be so important in any purchase decision.  We thought at one point of putting an actual 1-800-4CLOCKS Grandfather Clocks Store on Facebook, where people could post comments, questions, and also make recommendations and purchases.

What do you think? We would be very interested in your opinion, as social media omnipresence seems to be here to stay.  Demographically speaking, more of our customers, shoppers, and buyers are likely also Facebook members.  Or feel free to send us a tweet at #FloorClocks or @FloorClocks with our Twitter UserName Grandfather Clocks, or visit what we have displayed now on Facebook with the UserName GrandfatherClocks:  www.facebook.com/grandfatherclocks

Clocks Blog is proud to highlight the widely used but not well known term clockes, whether we are talking about grandfather clockes and wall clockes and mantel clockes and atomic clockes.  Even antique clockes including antique grandfather clockes, antique wall clockes and antique mantel clockes.  Talking about the same clocks, but shown with an alternate spelling.

While we deal in antique clockes of all varieties, including antique grandfather clocks, grandmother clockes, atomic clocks, wall clocks, regulators, neon clockes, novelty clockes, astrolabiums, congreve clocks, telleriums, new grandfather clockes by Howard Miller Clock Companymand those Ridgeway Grandfather Clockes and Kieninger Clocks and Americana Grandfather Clockes, not to mention the Hermle Grandfather Clockes collection.

We are known as both America’s Top Clock Shop™ and America’s Top Grandfather Clocks Shop™ .  Perhaps we should also trademark Americas Top Clocke Shop™ and Americas Top Grandfather Clockes Shop™.  Better sooner rather than later!  We have seen this alternate spelling for clockes, or clocks, the world over, and yet even we are not sure where it originated. Anyone who has any knowledge on this clock fact and would care to share would make us and our clocks blog readers very appreciative.  Our best sense, as the author of this post is quite familiar with the clock world, especially in both North America and Britain and the United Kingdom, our best is that it is a spelling used in a non-English language.  Does not make it any less interesting for someone who is intrigued by new and antique clockes and clocks of all types.

Of course we realize there are mechanical clocke movements or movements for wall clockes and mechanical and quartz clockes movements.  The most common grandfather clocke chime by far being the Westminster Grandfather Clock, and with the movements today being made in any real quantity originating from Germle, and either Kieninger or Hermle.

I suppose 1-800-4CLOCKS is fortunate in that it represents just the right number of characters so that we can be reached at 1-800-4CLOCKS, or 1-800-425-6257.  Using the clockes terminology, we would not have been able to use that same marketing tie and and customer service and support that so many of our clockes customers have come to cherish over the years.  Having the greatest selection of high-end heirloom quality grandfather clocks, with the best savings, the greatest value, with grandfather clocks on sale every day, and discount grandfather clocks and wall clocks and atomic and mantle clocks, along with lowest prices and the best customer service, it is no wonder why we have such a high percentage of repeat customers and referrals year after year after year.

When consumers are serious about purchasing a high-end grandfather clock, they will and should not only want to get the best discount grandfather clock available that suits their tastes, but they also need to do their due diligence to understand not only the differences between grandfather clock brands, but also why they may or should choose one type of grandfather clock style with a certain grandfather clock movements, and even understanding the features and varying movements generally available even within that one brand.  They also want to see it and compare it side by side with others in a local clock gallery or grandfather clock showroom.

Aside from searching for a grandfather clock on sale, understanding the differences between and among Howard Miller Grandfather Clocks and Hermle Floor Clocks, Kieninger Grandfather Clocks, the Ridgeway Grandfather Clock Collection, and our newest line, the high-quality Americana Grandfather Clocks.  This is just as true whether looking at mechanical Howard Miller Wall Clocks or Mantel Clocks, mantle clocks by Ridgeway Clocks and Hermle Clocks, and whether one is looking at the single Westminster chime or whether you are looking for a grandfather clock, grandmother clocks, mantel clock or wall clock that has triple chimes with various alternatives.  Aside from chain-driven grandfather clocks vs cable driven grandfather clocks, and the tubular chime grandfather clocks we offer, there is also the option of a clock with a quartz, also known as battery-operated clock movement.  These are the least expensive, and have some real pros and cons, and we at 1-800-4CLOCKS.com are always delighted to talk with customers who want to understand their options while learning and shopping.  One has to be especially wary of some of the cheaply made imported grandfather clocks that have flooded the market in recent years, and may seemingly look like a “steal” but in reality are a complete waste for almost every reason.  Sadly, some of the largest retailers are selling these clocks made to appear like their higher-end seeming lookalikes, and we get hundreds of calls from grandfather clock customers who purchased these, frequently with clock model names similar to the best brands.  There is not really any way we can help these grandfather clock customers who have effectively been taken, and even the big department stores will not allow them to be return because some assembly for these grandfather clock “cheapos” almost always required.  There is also no information about whom these customers can call if and when they have any problems.

What this whole grandfather clock and wall clock and mantle clock shopping experience frequent boils down to is customers wanting to have the ability and opportunity to see and hear these clocks — whether Howard Miller Clocks, Hermle Clocks, Kieninger Wall Clocks and Grandfather Clocks, and Ridgeway Clocks, is to see all the clocks side by side and in a Clock Showroom or Grandfather Clock Gallery.

A fully stocked grandfather clock showroom, with the major models with the top brands such as Howard Miller, Hermle Clock and Ridgeway and Kieninger Clock, is what we aspire to eventually offer to our customers.  The challenge is that this is more of an artifact from the past that the reality of shopping for high-end grandfather clocks in person.  Even when we had our main Grand Central Station Store open, we generally had at most 4 new grandfather clocks on display.  And the clock store that sells and displays a huge selection of new grandfather clocks are very few and far between in different parts of the country.

An antique grandfather clock is a different story, and yet these are a much harder sell, and by definition will be one of a kind at that time which happens to be available.

At 1-800-4CLOCKS, we do hope to buck the trend and have a fully stocked grandfather clock showroom and gallery where people can see and hear everything in person before they buy.

In the meantime, with the advent of the internet, we work hard to make our virtual grandfather clock showroom and grandfather clock gallery online as close to the in-person shopping experience as humanly and technically possible.  Many of our customers seem to truly understand the ways in which we try to bring grandfather clocks to life with the best pictures, the ability to hear grandfather clock chimes, and our willingness to answer any and all questions grandfather clock shoppers may have either before or after their purchase.

We want to be your one stop destination for all your grandfather clock, wall clock and mantel clock needs.  Any questions or suggestions, always feel free to contact us at 1-800-4CLOCKS.

As America’s Top Grandfather Clocks Shop, we are proud to be an Authorized Howard Miller Clocks Dealer among many other brands, including Hermle Clocks, Americana Grandfather Clocks, Ridgeway Clocks, Kieninger Clocks and more.

Howard Miller Clocks is an unusual company in that it offers the largest variety of high-end grandfather clocks, grandmother clocks, wall clocks, mantel clocks, corporate gift and promotional clocks as well.  Howard Miller has a wonderful selection of contemporary grandfather clocks, as well as traditional grandmother clocks and grandfather clocks as well.

Everyone likes a grandfather clocks discount and to see grandfather clocks on sale, but there can be a huge cost in buying from a grandfather clock shop that is not an Authorized Dealer.  It is not unlikely that a grandfather clock shopper could lose all of his or her money.  There is no accountability, and the grandfather clock may never ship.  If it does ship, there is no guarantee that it is a genuine Howard Miller Grandfather Clock and not a fake luxury goods counterfeit or knock-off.  It could also be a second, meaning not of first quality or perhaps stood as a grandfather clock floor model for many years somewhere.

If the clock arrives damaged, there may be no one with whom to file an insurance claim.  Unfortunately, grandfather clock damage in shipping can occur, but is minimized when the floor clock is packed correctly by knowledgeable experts.  If the grandfather clock movement is broken or worn or of inferior quality, one may have purchased even more than a money pit, but possibly a complete waste of money.  Grandfather clocks movements, especially German-made, like those in all mechanical Howard Miller Grandfather Clocks, can be expensive to replace.  Additionally, depending upon whether the grandfather clock is single chime like Westminster, or a triple chime grandfather clock, which may also include Ave Maria and Ode to Joy, can be especially costly to replace or repair.

A word to the wise shopper would be to always purchase from a known Authorized Dealer not only for grandfather clocks, but also for high end wall clocks and mantel clocks as well.  Such an heirloom investment can be expensive by any reasonable standard, and at a minimum, aside from the other ways the purchase of a grandfather clock being an enhanced shopping experience which we at 1-800-4CLOCKS.com always strive to offer, knowing that you are getting the actual product you ordered, and that it will in fact be backed by both the Manufacturer’s Warranty as well as the grandfather clock retailer having your back, should be a minimum standard for any high-end clocks purchase.

Always buy grandfather clocks, wall clocks, and mantel clocks from a Howard Miller Authorized Clocks Dealer.

An heirloom quality investment is worth it.

A clock, whether it is a grandfather clock, grandmother clock, wall clock or mantle clock, may have a moving pendulum in the clock case which does not necessarily tell a viewer whether the clock is mechanically or quartz driven.

Clocks in free-standing cases with moving pendulums have historically been the very definition of a grandfather clock or grandmother clock, especially when looking at an antique grandfather clock or antique grandmother clock.

A funny thing has happened to the www.pendulum-clock.com in the clock industry in recent years, which is the development of quartz or battery driven wall clocks and grandfather clocks and mantel clock where the pendulum may be moving back and forth and appear to be identical to an antique mechanical pendulum-driven clock, but in actuality, the pendulum is driven by its own separate mechanism, frequently including batteries, and simulates the movement of a mechanical mantel clock, wall clock or grandfather clock.  These clocks, especially the grandfather clocks, will also have weights, and therefore appear to be weight driven mechanical clocks, but the weights are purely decorative, and do not move up when the clock is wound, because there is nothing to wind anyway and they are battery driven but the weights do also not move down over time as it is the quartz movement driven by batteries which are making the clock run, and the weights are there purely for decoration or show or simulation of a mechanical grandfather, mantle or wall clock.

Whenever a customer orders a quartz clock either in our Stores or over the phone and they order a quartz driven clock with a moving pendulum, we always try to make sure they know what they are getting.  These clocks can be quite nice, and they are generally a lot less expensive, but as with anything else in life, there can be pros and cons to each type of so-called pendulum clocks movement.

We also need to make the distinction between high quality brands such as Howard Miller Clocks and Hermle Clocks and Kieninger Clocks and Ridgeway Clocks and the many no-name or “misleading name” truly cheap and poorly made clocks that may look nice in the pictures or even when first open, but are crafted to simply fool customers into thinking they are getting a great deal or making some meaningful compromise, when all they are really getting is, putting it frankly, a piece of junk.  These clocks will also have quartz driven movements, and the cases may appear similar at first glance, but that is about where the legitimate comparisons end.  We get dozens of calls weekly from individuals who have purchased these cheaply made clocks, frequently with model names similar to the major brands, and also frequently carried by large national well-respected retailers, but these callers find there is no one to call when they run into the inevitable problems, and they may have done some assembly which means the retailer will not even consider any return.  One area often overlooked is the quality of the chiming mechanism of the grandfather clock or grandmother or wall or mantel clock, which can vary widely.  Generally speaking, mechanical grandfather movements made by the high-end grandfather clock makers, such as Howard Miller and Hermle Clock and Kieninger Clocks will have the best sounding chimes, including Westminster Chimes, Ave Maria, Ode to Joy, Whittington and St Michaels.  Some of these ultra-cheap models might have the same chime, but comparing the quality of the chime is the difference between night and day.

Some advantages of well-made quartz-driven clocks, aside from the lower cost, include the fact that one does not have to wind the clock.  Most models come with both volume control and automatic nighttime shutoff.  These advantages can outweigh the disadvantages for some customers, who might also want to compare chain driven grandfather clocks, which tend to be much less expensive than cable driven grandfather clocks, but still have many of the same advantages or mechanical vs quartz.

At 1-800-4CLOCKS.com, we realize these choices can be a bit daunting to grandfather clock shoppers, as well as wall clocks shoppers and those looking for the best mantle clock or mantel clock from their perspective.

Feel free to give us a call or visit us any time.  We are here to help and to make your clock shopping experience all that it can be.

Quartz Grandfather Clocks

We at 1-800-4CLOCKS.com are pleased to bring you the Howard Miller Clocks Manuals and Product Guides which you can download yourself from this posting, for use especially with Grandfather Clocks and Grandmother Clocks.  Each Howard Miller Clock Setup Manual is presented in PDF searchable mode, so that you can search each clock manual, whether it is the Howard Miller Grandfather Clock Setup Manual or one of the Howard Miller Wall Clocks manuals, or a Howard Miller Mantle Clock Setup Manual.  We are also providing the Summary Manuals, as well as the Longer versions which can frequently be much more informative and useful.

Grandfather Clocks Instruction Manuals – English, Chinese, Russian, and Quartz Grandfather Clock models

Howard Miller Grandfather Clocks Instruction Manual <- click to download and view

Chinese Language_Howard Miller Grandfather Clock Instruction Manual <- click to download and view

Russian Language_Howard Miller Grandfather Clock Instruction Manual <- click to download and view

GRANDFATHER CLOCK INSTRUCTION MANUAL-QUARTZ TRIPLE CHIME HARMONIC MOVEMENT r <- click to download and view

Grandfather Clock Instruction Manual for Quartz Dual Chime Movements <- click to download and view

Grandfather Clock Instruction Manual for QUARTZ DUAL CHIME MOVEMENT with Attached Pendulum <- click to download and view

GRANDFATHER CLOCK INSTRUCTION MANUAL-QUARTZ DUAL CHIME MOVEMENT with INDEPENDENT PENDULUM <- click to download and view

Grandfather Clock Quick Setup Guide – in ENGLISH

Grandfather Clock Quick Setup Guide – in SPANISH ESPANOL

Initially we had intended this post to include the instruction manuals for not only Howard Miller Floor Clocks and Howard Miller Grandfather Clocks, but also Howard Miller Wall Clocks and Howard Miller Mantel Clocks or Mantle Clocks.  Yet there is such an abundance of Instruction Manuals and Guides for Grandfather Clocks by Howard Miller Clocks, that we will do a separate post for Wall Clocks by Howard Miller Instruction Manuals and Instruction and Product Manuals for Mantel Clocks by Howard Miller.

Please keep checking back at Clocks Blog, your single source of information for all things clocks related.

While we are among the leading and biggest grandfather clock retailers in the USA, carrying all the leading brands we choose including Howard Miller Grandfather Clocks, Hermle Floor Clocks, Ridgeway Grandfather Clocks, Americana Grandmother and Grandfather Clocks, and Kieninger Grandfather clocks, we do not sell grandfather clock movements, other grandfather clock parts like pendulums and weights, or even grandfather clock plans, or even quartz movements.  Go figure.

The quality of Grandfather Clock movements makes or breaks the quality of any grandfather clock, assuming it is in a suitable grandfather clock case.

A key question facing any grandfather clock shopper is which of the three most likely categories they may fit in.  One is a buyer of a new grandfather clock, or even an individual who is using grandfather clocks plans or grandfather clock kits, and they want to be sure they either get a certain specific movement, or that the one they are considering or perhaps came with their grandfather clock kit is of high caliber and from a respected maker of mechanical clock movements.  A second buyer is trying to replace a mechanical grandfather clock movement for an existing grandfather clock or grandmother clock that they currently own, and the movement may be cheaper to replace than to fix – which leaves open the question of what not having the original movement in a clock might do to its investment value.  The third category is someone who is thinking of buying a used, vintage, or antique grandfather clock or grandmother clock, also known as a Tall Case Clock or Longcase Clock, which may or may not be worth considering replacing, but these individuals want to get some sense of the value of the grandfather clock from the quality and maker of the grandfather clock movement.

One fly in the ointment in easily assessing what grandfather clock has which grandfather clock movement comes from a number of variables, including that many grandfather clocks will have no name on their dial, others may have the name of the retailer who sold them rather than the manufacturer, some can be special order clocks with customized dials, and in many instances even knowing the maker of the clock will not necessarily give you any indication of who made the grandfather clock movement or which modes of grandfather clock movement is resident in your grandfather clock case or grandmother clock case.

A good example of this is Howard Miller Grandfather Clocks and Ridgeway Grandfather Clocks. Up until about 10 years ago, both of these American makers of grandfather clocks both used Hermle Clocks German mechanical movements, which are very high quality, in most all of their grandfather clocks.  Then, in rapid fire succession, Howard Miller Clocks purchased both Ridgeway Clocks, including Ridgeway Grandfather Clocks, as well as Kieninger Clocks, which were then and still are the other preeminent maker of high end German mechanical movements that make high-end chiming grandfather clock movements in any quantity.  Clearly the purchase of Kieninger Clocks by Howard Miller was an attempt to vertically integrate their manufacturing process and Company.  Both Kieninger Clocks and Hermle Clocks have excellent reputations, long and storied histories, and each make great high-end mechanical movements.

What Howard Miller Clocks started doing with their mechanical grandfather clocks, mechanical wall clocks, and mechanical mantle clocks was to gradually swap out the new production runs with Kieninger Clock movements instead of Hermle Clock movements, given that Howard Miller Clocks now owned Kieninger Clocks.  Ridgeway Grandfather Clcoks, as well as mechanical Ridgeway Wall Clocks and Ridgeway Mantel Clcoks also started being built with Kieninger Clock movements instead of Hermle Clock movements.  This was true also for grandmother clocks made by both Ridgeway Clocks and Howard Miller Clocks.

Did this change in mechanical movement makers from Hermle Clock to Kieninger Clock make a material difference in the quality of the grandfather, wall, and mantle clcoks being sold by Howard Miller and Ridgeway Clocks?  In our opinion, in a word, the answer is no!  Both of these German makers make fine high-quality movements built to last, with similar features, similar chime sounds, and similar in most all other ways as well. Did Hermle Clocks suffer from losing Howard Miller Clocks as a customer.  No doubt it stung, but the Hermle Clock Company has innovated, including expanding their own like of mechanical wall, mantle and grandfather and grandmother clocks, and they seem to be prospering today even in these wild economic times.

Another challenge in buying or selling grandfather clock mechanical movements is that people need to understand that the relevant markings in order to get a replacement movement that is either identical or not but would still nonetheless work, the information and words and numbers on the back of the grandfather clock movement need to be conveyed exactly as they are written or the grandfather clock movement provider will not be in a position to be helpful.  So much time is wasted by so many because of this lack of knowledge by individuals.  It is one of the main reasons we decided years ago not to sell grandfather clock movements, grandmother clock movements, or mantle and wall clock movements of any kind.  We will, however, repair and/or possibly replace grandfather clocks for individuals and organizations when we are the ones who are handling the grandmother of grandfather or floor clocks or mantel or wall or cuckoo clock repair, whether a newer clock, a vintage clock, or an antique clock.

Hope this helps our customers and others looking for new grandfather clock, wall clock, mantle clock, grandmother clock, cuckoo clock, and other mechanical clock movements.

1/4 key wind movement with escapement (5 jewels) and triple chime (Westminster, St. Michael & Whittington) for 8-rod gong 120/140/160/180 mm, Plate size 100 x 104 x 2,0 mm, 6 bronze bushings (2nd wheel), spring barrel with removable axle, mantel clock version with escapement (Swiss escapement), pendulum version with solid anchor with stationary escapement (Graham) and automatic beat adjustment, chime shut-off, front or rear winding.