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!

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.

If one asks the average clock shopper what are the very best brands of clocks out there historically, including grandfather clocks, mantel clocks, and wall clocks, the answers given will be all over the map.  Interestingly, though, one can be sure that much of the time one will here of Tiffany & Company as the best maker of clocks.

Well, Tiffany Clocks are an interesting place to start, especially when looking back over time and also including antique clocks.  Over time, and we honestly are not certain about today’s practices, but historically Tiffany never made there own grandfather clocks, wall clocks, mantel clocks, carriage clocks, cartel clocks, or even desk clocks.  The Company sourced out its clock making as well as Tiffany pocket watch making to different companies, generally all of whom were considered high-end.  Some early Tiffany Grandfather Clocks were actually made by the Waltham Clock and Watch Company, frequently unsigned by the actual maker.  Others we know of were made by Elliot of London, Herschede, Walter Durfee, and Winterhalder & Hoffmeier, among other.  Many mantel clocks were actually made by Japy Freres or Samuel Marti, among many others.  Pocket watches were made by companies as diverse as Patek Philippe, Longines, and the Concord Watch Company, all of excellent quality, though some would argue quality to varying degrees.  The older clocks were generally made in smaller groups, and to our knowledge Tiffany did not keep records of exactly what made whom when [note to Tiffany & Co. - please feel free to set the record straight by adding a comment or contacting us directly to adderess].  Our understanding is that they were also made in small groups.  And though the Tiffany name was-is proudly displayed on the clock, they were actually “only” the retailer of the clocks.

Not that this is-was a new practice.  In Britian in the 1800s, it was standard practice for many clock retailers, and many pocket watch makers as well, to put their own name of the dial of the clock, with varying practices about hopww much information did or did not go on the movement.  So there was no funny business going on here, simply carrying on a long-held tradition in the retailing industry!

What about other well known names like Cartier Clocks, Seth Thomas, Ingraham Clocks, Simon Willard Clocks and Aaron Willard Clocks, Howard Miller, Ridgeway Clocks, Hermle Clocks, Kieninger Clocks, Gustav Becker clocks, Leinzkirk clocks, Warren Telechron Clocks, General Electric, Self Winding Clock Company Clocks, E Howard and Company Clocks, and so many more.

It is interesting that the value of some antique clocks today may be a casualty opf the succcess and durability of particular manufacturers.  In particular we think of Seth Thomas, which made great clocks, is Amrerica’s oldest Clock Company, and was probably the most prolific.  However, because they made their clocks built to last, we believe their prices as collectibles have been severely tempered simply as a result of supply and demand.  There are still simply so many people out there with working Seth Thomas Clocks.

What about English clockmakers.  The list of great British clockmakers is too long to even begin to enumerate.  So we will take the cowardly way out and simply skip over this vast and rich subject and history.  Among German clocks, some of the clockmakers we like the best are Gustav Becker and Winterhalder & Hoffmeier.  It is important to note that we are glossing over many GREAT master clocksmiths who may have made the most fantastic clocks, but did so in smaller numbers.  The farther back one goes in history, the more true this is.  In England, just as an example of this one point J.W. Benson and Edward Dent (the creator of Big Ben) made clocks in vastly smaller numbers than more contemporary British makers, e.g. Elliot of London.

WHom do you think makes the best clocks?  Today, many would argue that Howard Miller Clocks and Hermle Clocks, along with Ridgeway Clocks and Kieninger, and Bulova Clocks are among the leaders.  And NOT coincidentally, these are among the brands that are featured and sold by 1-800-4CLOCKS.

Howard Miller Grandfather Clcoks have been the high-end market leader in grandfather clocks over the last generation.  The Ridgeway Grandfather Clock collection, Hermle Floor Clocks, Bulova Grandfather Clcoks, and Kieninger Grandfather Clocks, among others, all seem to have gained some traction in recent years. We believe they are all of excellent quality and worksmanship, with mostly all solid wood cases and high-end German 8 Day mechanical clocks movements.

The history of grandfather clocks and clock history in general will continue to evolve in the years and decades to come.

One interesting dunamic is the relatively recent flood of what we view as poorer quality imports from the Far East.  We fully expect to see some better quality and more competition in this area in the years to come.

We welcome your comments as to whom you would add to the best of clocks list.  Think of this as the beginning of time.

We are always seeking feedback from our customers on how we can improve the grandfather clocks and other clocks we offer, as well as input on adding new ones.

We had ventured into the Pet Clocks™ niche, which we are still pursuing, albeit with fewer resources than we had originally planned.  We read today about a prototype in the works for a 100% solar-powered plane that could fly non-stop (except for maintenance) day and night with no other power source.  Quite exciting.  It will have the wingspan of a commercial jet and yet otherwise look a lot like a helicopter without the rotary blades atop.  If this can be done, surely we can make or find some solar clocks that are better than the ones we, at least, have seen on the market to date.  We want to be more green too!

What about a clock that could talk to you in your own voice, or that of a loved one (or hated or feared one), as your way of waking up in the morning.  Or one with a customized chime?  Would you be willing to pay a lot more for a super-high-quality sound you might want to showcase in your own home?

One area we definitely will be beefing up in the near term is for clocks for the visually impaired or those with hearing problems.  We will likely be adding phones as well, as well of course and very large numeral clocks, in the near future.  One manufacturer promised us their clocks could “wake the dead”.  We can guarantee you that we will be making no such claims.  Yet the range of offerings, from alarm clocks which shake the bed to one which also has a line go on and off and on and off, will be quite impressive.  With the phones, we will likely be offering services or features which are somewhat similar to the First Alert (I’ve fallen and I can’t get up) system which has been on the market for many years.

Stay tuned for some exciting additions.

AND please do let us know WHAT YOU WANT.  We know grandfather clocks are the greatest.  we just want to make sure we meet as many of our customer needs as reasonably possible.

Do you spell tabletop clocks as Mantle Clocks or Mantel Clocks?  An interesting language dynamic which affects how people buy and sell clocks has to do with this often seen simple variation on the spelling of either mantel clocks or mantle clocks.  Both are correct.  Major clock manufacturers use both spelling all the time.  A simple search of the 2 terms on Google (now is the time to make a guess as to which is more popular) shows – we just looked – about 194,000 search results for mantel clocks and 199,000 for the mantle clocks spelling. We view that as a strikingly similar number for the spelling variation.

Our general understanding, without having performed a scientific analysis, is that mantel clocks is generally the American spelling, and that mantle clocks is generally the British spelling.  Take geographic considerations into account, and the first is more popular in all of North America and the latter more popular in all of Europe.

Less of a variation than grandfather clocks vs. tall case clocks and long case clocks, but nonetheless a very interesting one.  If one looks at the manufacturers of new clocks, not surprisingly, Howard Miller Clocks, based in the USA, tends to use the mantel clocks spelling, while Hermle Clocks, based in Germany, tends to use the mantle clocks spelling.

Also, antique clocks, most of which were made in Europe, if one looks at the history of clocks, will frequently be seen with the Mantle Clocks spelling.

Personally, we like Bracket Clocks, and are pleased that there appears to be only way to spell wall clocks.

With the addition of Schubert’s Ode to Joy and Beethoven’s Ave Maria Chimes, one will soon be able to listen to most all of the clocks chimes currently available.  These two newest clocks chimes add to the historically more famous, or at least utilized, chimes, which are the Westminster Chimes, St Michaels Chimes and the Whittngton Chimes.

It is worth noting that almost all of the quartz clocks playing either of these chimes give the Customer an opportunity to have not only the more traditional Chimes noted above, BUT ALSO to listen to the Ave Maria and Ode to Joy Chines on each quarter of every hour vs. hour only, which is the way Grandfather Clocks play these two newly added chimes all the time (currently, at least).  Take a look at several of the Howard Miller Grandfather Clocks to hear the different chimes.

Howard Miller Clocks and Ridgeway Clocks, in particular, offer many clocks with the Ave Maria Chimes (frequently in concert with the Westminster Chimes) and Ode to Joy Chimes.  Look around, listen, and enjoy!

Clocks Blog is Pleased to Announce the 2007 Wall Clocks and Mantel Clocks Contest brought to you by 1-800-4CLOCKS.

Many people have a favorite among the many wall clocks and mantel clocks they have seen or may themselves own. The reasons can be many, from antique wall clocks with mercury pendulums, multiple time zone or astronomical dials, amazing casework and carving, the chimes (whether nested bells, gongs or rod chimes) or even built in music box or automata – whether made by Britian’s Edward Dent, John Benson, J.J. Elliott , Tiffany and Company, JE Caldwell, EF Caldwell, Winterhalder & Hoffmeier, Hermle Clocks, Seth Thomas Clocks, or one of the new makers like Howard Miller Clocks, Hermle Clocks (been around long enough to have made both antique and new-vintage clocks), the Ridgeway Clock Collection, Kieninger Clocks or the thousands of other makers of antique wall clocks or mantel clocks or new wall clocks or mantle clocks. Home-made wall clocks and mantel clocks and those built from wall clock kits or mantle clock kits are also welcome.

The 1-800-4CLOCKS 2007 Wall Clocks and Mantel Clocks Contest is open to everyone, and will offer two grand prizes of $250 gift certificates good for 1 year at 1-800-4CLOCKS. ALL ENTRIES MUST BE POSTMARKED BY DECEMBER 31, 2007. No purchase is required, and each individual may submit one entry only (1 for Antique Wall Clock or Mantel Clock and 1 for New-Vintage Wall Clock or Mantel Clock). Your ORIGINAL photo(s) AND description (the more detailed the better) must be included with your entry. You do not need to be the owner of the wall clock or mantel clock you submit, but potential copyright issues may prevent posting more than a description if there are any copyright issues regarding the photo or description. The winners will likely be featured, along with their clocks if desired and as possible, on the www.1-800-4CLOCKS.com website.

There are 2 Categories – one for each $250 grand prize (Gift Certificate at 1-800-4CLOCKS):

1 for Best and Most Interesting Antique Wall Clock or Antique Mantel Clock, and

1 for Best and Most Interesting New or Vintage Wall Clock or Mantel Clock.

Please mail via USPS your photos and description to us at:

2007 Wall-Clocks-Mantel-Clocks Contest

1-800-4CLOCKS

15 Vanderbilt Avenue, Store 31D

Grand Central Terminal

New York, NY 10017

USA

Please remember to include your name and all your contact information. We regret that it will not be possible to return any entries, and ALL must be sent via USPS and postmarked by December 31, 2007. The winners for each category will be decided by the Staff of 1-800-4CLOCKS at their sole discretion. We recognize that mantel clocks and wall clocks have such a rich history, and we expect picking a winner amongst the many spectacular wall and mantel clocks will be both a subjective and difficult decision.