AD’s favorite stories from around the web

In rural Virginia, designer Amelia Handegan brings exquisite élan to an artfully refurbished plantation house

A new design fair showcasing 20th- and 21st-century treasures debuts in New York City

How does one define the difference between a vintage grandfather clock and an antique grandfather clock?  Many people will refer to clocks that are 20 years old as antiques, and as someone who is considerably older than 20, I find that rather frightening.  Having said that, when it comes to cars, our understanding is that automobiles are legally defined as antiques when they are 30 years or older, and even can then qualify for special license plates which include the antique designation for those autos.  When growing up, the author of this bog post always thought of antiques as being items that are 100 years or older, and that is the definition we use for whether a clock is an antique clock or not.  If the clock, whether it’s a grandfather clock or mantel clock or wall clock, if it is less than 100 years old, but more than say 10-20 years old, we would consider those to be vintage grandfather clocks, vintage wall clocks, or vintage mantle clocks.

Whether a clock is a vintage grandfather clock or an antique grandfather clock is a question we get frequently, especially from people who want to sell their grandfather clocks or grandmother clocks to us.  In general, 1-800-4CLOCKS.com will only consider buying antique clocks, meaning ones 100 years or older, although we frequently buy newer and vintage wristwatches and pocket watches, as well as antique pocket watches, especially watch collections and pocket watch collections, and whether the timepieces are working or not.  In general, unless an older but not antique clock is highly unusual, because of its rarity or the clock’s functionality or special features, we would not be interested in purchasing it.  Some examples of clocks we have purchased which are not antique clocks and fit into this category include Atmos Clock by LeCoultre, and the Dent Inclined Plane Clock, and some mechanical clocks with unusual automata, including congreve clocks, astrolabiums, an orrery or orreries, a tellerium, the occasional astroregulator, and perhaps some unusual Art Deco clocks as well.  We always keep an open mind, so we always encourage people to ask.  Timepieces of many kinds may be of interest.

The worth of a vintage grandfather clock or mantel or wall clock is another area where we get many inquiries daily.  It is not infrequent that someone calls inquiring about whether we have the xyz clock in stock, and when we tell them no, they then offer that they actually own xyz clock and want to know how much it is worth.  We will usually suggest they either look at completed auctions on eBay or at the website AntiqueClocksPriceGuide dot com, which charges a we believe modest and sliding subscription fee, based on the length of time access, for various time intervals.  How much is my Howard Miller grandfather clock or my Ridgeway grandfather clock worth are 2 other of the many frequent questions we get.  Another is do we buy them (no, but we generally would suggest either selling them on eBay or listing them on Craigslist, and in that case also being very careful for your personal safety.  Great pictures and descriptions, as well as having the Buyer be responsible for pick-up and/or shipping, would be smart moves for any seller.  The Howard Miller website has a link which gives the MSRP (Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price) for all of the grandfather clocks they have sold over their history.  One simply has to input the howard miller grandfather clock model number.  Vintage Ridgeway Grandfather Clocks owners are not as fortunate that way, as the records of all of the serail numbers, and even many of the old clock catalogs, have as we understand it been lost in either a flood or fire for records regarding grandfather clocks and mantle clcoks and wall clocks that are over ten years old.  Hermle clocks and Kieninger Clocks, as well as Americana Clocks including grandfather clocks do not historically have any serial numbers.

Wristwatch brands that we are always on the lookout to purchase include but are not limited to Omega, Rolex, Movado, IWC, Vacheron Constantin, Patek Phillippe, Breitling, Audemars, Hamilton, Tiffany, Cartier and many others.  Pocket watches, even including non-working watches and parts and even old tools, include Waltham, Elgin, Hamilton, Cartier, Tiffany, IWC, Vacheron Constantin, Patek and many others, including older European pocket watches whether working or not.

We hope this post helps owners of vintage clocks, including vintage floor clock owners, vintage wall clock or regulator owners or people acting on behalf of owners, or vinatge mantel clocks or table clocks or desk clocks.  Vintage alarm clocks too.

New York's chief auction houses on Tuesday kicked off a two-week series of sales that will test price levels for dozens of top artists—and in the process, gauge the health of the art market.

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.

 

 

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

At least a handful of times a day, we at 1-800-4CLOCKS get inquiries from prospective customers asking whether we sell grandfather clock movements or other clock parts, especially those which fall into the category we call project clocks.  Our answer is that we will only sell grandfather clocks movements if the customer knows exactly which model they of clock they have and exactly which mechanical clock movement they are seeking.  This can also be true for wall clocks and mantel clocks, particularly mechanical mantle and wall clock movements.  If a customer does not have an exact match, while there are a small number of professional mechanical clock movement sellers out there who can tell you what clock movement will be the equivalent and fit into your xyz john doe clock. we are not one of those clock movement companies.  An exact clock movement match, yes. The functional equivalent which in many instances may require some tinkering, no.  Does this mean that we cannot repair most any kind of antique grandfather clock or new mantel clock or antique wall clock, no.  It just means it is particularly hard to know, unless that is all one does, what movement will absolutely or even very likely replace a movement that may no longer be made, for example.  A tough clock trick.

Ironically perhaps, from the 1950s through the 1980s, probably the majority of clock repair people who brought their clock into a clock repair shop with a mechanical movement simply had their what might now be considered valuable antique movement taken out rather than repaired and simply replaced with a then modern mechanical movement.  Many people even heralded in the quartz or battery operated clock movement era by simply having their mantel clocks and wall clocks movements replaced with battery operated movements.

The sad reality is that this approach essentially destroys the large majority of any collectible value for serious clock collectors, as a clock being all original, aside from its condition, is undoubtedly the single most important criterion in evaluating an antique clock purchase.  Some of these earlier owners had the foresight to keep the original movements even if they were not working, while many other clock owners did not.  One of the worst things a serious and knowledgeable clock collector or clock dealer can refer to is a “clock marriage”, which simply put, means, say, the grandfather clock case and grandfather clock movement are not original to each other, but instead were brought together sometime later during the clock and the clock movement’s lives.

We at 1-800-4CLOCKS also get many people who are looking for very inexpensive battery operated quartz movements, frequently to use for a group school project or even as part of a birthday activity.  We do not sell these parts, nor do we sell clock keys or clock winders or pendulums or clock weights.  There are people again who specialize in these areas, and we feel it is best both for the customer and for these clock specialists to deal with each other to make certain both parties are satisfied to the maximum extent.

 

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 furniture shopping and clock shopping, many buyers find the best of both worlds when they either come upon Curio Grandfather Clocks made by Hermle Clocks or Howard Miller Clocks, or when they happen on the great selection of curio cabinets, with Howard Miller Curios and Curio Cabinets offers the widest range of choices at great savings.

Some of the most interesting and space-saving Curio cabinets, some of which are still offered today, include Corner Curio Cabinets and Grandfather Clocks with curio cabinets made especially to fit snugly into a corner.  While a great selection of corner curio cabinets made by companies such as Howard Miller still are offered today, it is difficult to find corner curio grandfather clock, as these clocks are seldom made today.

One decor and interior decorating dynamic brought out in the above discussion is that grandfather clocks and grandmother clocks, whether they have a curio component or not, and by themselves thought of my most home decorators and interior designers as fine furniture pieces of heirloom quality.  Indeed, one question we ate 1-800-4CLOCKS frequently get is what is the reason behind the cost difference between two grandfather clocks of the same brand, seemingly with the same movement, and yet they are thousands of dollars apart in price.  In the cases where everything else is the same, the answer generally is in the extra or additional wood and its quality, the workmanship that can go into the carving, or the special and variety of woods, carvings, inlays and other materials that can make some clocks look especially appealing to the eye.

Many other furniture and clock companies make many different styles of curio cabinets, and grandfather clock curious, perhaps better termed curio grandfather clocks, and we believe some of the most fascinating to look at.

Aside from Howard Miller Clocks, Ridgeway Clocks also makes a small but excellent collection of curio grandfather clocks.  Additionally, Bulova Clocks, Museum Clocks, and Sligh Clocks made grandfather clocks with curio shelved built into each of certain models of grandfather clocks and grandmother clocks.  They remain popular today, for new sales, as new old stock (nos), and in the aftermarket for grandfather clock sales.

Here below are pictures and links to some of our favorite grandfather clock curios which are currently available:

Howard Miller Majestic II Grandfather Clock Shown here in Cherry, and also available in Oak Wood

List: $5,561.00
SALE: $3,892.70

Ridgeway Decorah Curio Grandfather Clock
List: $3,990.00
SALE: $2,793.00

Furniture cabinets that are more strictly fine furniture come in many shapes and sizes.  The Howard Miller Curio Cabinet collection including Howard Miller’s well known Furniture Trend Designs, as well corner designed display Curio Cabinets, as well as 8 shelf curio cabinets, as well as what Howard Miller Clocks calls certain display curio cabinets as Traditional Curio Cabinets wall, the Stylewise Curio Cabinet selection, and the Visual Display Curio Cabinets to display many of your favorite keepsakes and collectibles.  So our recommendations for purchasing a curio cabinet are similar thematically to purchasing a grandfather clock or grandmother clock.  Aside from excellent value for money spent, if one is looking for a well-built long-lasting heirloom quality display curio cabinet, by clicking on the View All Display Curio Cabinets link below, it will take you to the the entire selection of curio cabinets, not including the few with clocks – which we may soon add there as well.