Howard Miller has introduced wall clocks and oversized wall clocks designed by Ty Pennington. The wall clocks all bear Ty Pennington’s signature. While most of the readers of this blog will we believe likely know who Ty Pennington is, for those of you who don’t, he is a very well-respected designer (and “jack of many trades”) who is known probably best for his role in the ABC Television Show Extreme Makeover Home Edition.

In addition to wall clocks designed by Ty Pennington and made by Howard Miller Clocks, grandfather clocks and grandmother clocks, including a waterfall floor clock, have also been made and introduced into the Howard Miller Ty Pennington Clock Collection.

Gallery Clock, or clocks we define as being oversize and minimally 15 inches in diameter, with many being 30 or more inches in diameter.  There are some very stylish and contemporary wall clocks and gallery clocks.   The grandfather clocks or floor clocks are also worthy of a special look!

One of the favorite clocks of this blog post’s author is the Howard Miller Joslin Wall Clock, which can be seen below, and also has a similarly designed grandfather clock called the Howard Miller Joslin Grandfather Clock.

Here is a picture of the Howard Miller Joslin Wall Clock:

Howard Miller Joslin Wall Clock by Ty Pennington, Model 625-470 625470

It is very much worth it to look at it side-by-side with the Howard Miller Joslin Grandfather Clock:

Howard Miller Joslin Floor Grandfather Clock by Ty Pennington, Model 611-156 611156

Can you imagine the Home Decor statement made by having BOTH of these amazing Howard Miller Ty Pennington clocks in your home.  We think for many tastes this may be a dream come true, and we know that interior decorators and interior designers are taking note.

Stay tuned for more introductions of wall clocks, grandfather clocks, mantel clocks (we hope), and many other Howard Miller Clocks and other furniture pieces designed by Ty Pennington.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wall clocks in hospitals large and small, as well as in colleges and universities, along with all major businesses, have a continuing need for wall clocks.  It can be especially important to have clocks that keep good time and do not break down, so that hospital workers and office individuals are not disagreeing about whether the quitting time has actually arrived or not.

Even hospital purchasing organizations, procurement divisions of government, businesses and other organizations are always seeking to maintain and improve the systems in place to track time, and wall clocks, not surprisingly, are the clock of choice.

When it comes to accuracy, radio controlled or atomic clocks have gained much favor and general acceptance by major institutions.  Many purchase just a few to test them out to ensure they will work well for them.  There is also a technology known as an Autoset or Auto Set clock which is generally not an atomic, but does automatically move forward an hour and back an hour on the appropriate days for changes in daylight savings time.

There are a tremendous variety of clocks to choose from.  Even within the atomic wall clock category, there are atomic analog wall clocks, atomic digital wall clocks, clocks which may show the date, the day of the week, and even the temperature in the room.  The atomic analog clocks come in wood finishes, as well as hard plastic and glass.  The size of the digits in digital atomic wall clocks generally vary from 1-2 inches, and the size of atomic analog wall clocks are generally about 10 inches to 16 inches in diameter, with 12 inches being by far the most popular models offered and sold.

The most popular makers of atomic wall clocks include Howard Miller Clocks, LaCrosse Clocks, ITC Clocks and Infinity Clocks.  The Howard Miller Wall Clocks are especially popular, and all are good sellers.  We can also customize many of the wall clocks with logos or in other ways that customers desire.

Additional clocks which are not atomic clocks open up a wide range of styles and choices, including oversize and gallery wall clocks, contemporary wall clocks, many traditional wall clock styles, some designer wall clocks, and still a choice of analog vs. digital wall clocks.  Wall clocks by Howard Miller, Seth Thomas Wall Clocks, Infinity Instruments wall clocks, La Crosse Wall Clocks, Hermle Wall Clocks and the Ridge wall Clock and Bulova Wall Clocks Collections offer many many choices to wall clock shoppers and those seeking wall clocks discounts.

We cater especially to institutions who are looking for custom wall clocks or other forms of personalized wall clock design or unique implementation.  Promotional wall clocks, and clocks as awards or gifts for executives are also a specialty, but tend to generally be more used with mantle clocks, with custom Movado Clocks being especially popular, whether a crystal Movado clock or a more traditional corporate clock look.

Call us for all your volume custom wall clock needs and options.

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

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

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

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

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

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

May Father Time be with you!

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

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

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

We would suggest the following 3 resources:

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

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

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

“Hello, we would like to register for the Howard Miller Reagan Presidential Grandfather Clock at your Store.  Do you have a Bridal Registry for Grandfather Clocks, Wall Clocks and Mantel Clocks?”

Howard Miller Reagan Grandfather Clock Model 610-999

Yes we do have a Wedding Gifts Grandfather Clocks Bridal Gifts Registry, and it is growing increasingly popular.  Interestingly, most grandfather clock wedding gifts are given by past and reasonably current clocks customers who have seen first-hand the joy and pleasure that grandfather clocks can bring into their home.  Some of our customers have made it a practice to make a grandfather clock the ideal wedding gift for their child and child-in-law.  Howard Miller Grandfather Clocks, the Hermle Grandfather Clock collection, and Ridgeway Grandfather Clocks have been the most popular selections.

At one time, we had a formal bridal registry option on our website at 1-800-4CLOCKS.com.  At this moment, people need to call us at 1-800-4CLOCKS (1-800-425-6257) to arrange for the perfect wedding gift of a grandfather clock.  We may soon add the feature back to our website.

We also have many brides and grooms seeking special thank you gifts for the bridesmaids, groomsmen, best man, and maid of honor or matron of honor.  The most popular choices for these gifts have been Movado Clocks, Howard Miller Clocks, Seth Thomas Clocks and Ridgeway Clocks.  We are delighted to work with people to help them find the perfect gift for the perfect wedding occasion, whether it is “the wedding gift”, gifts for bridesmaids, presents for groomsmen, or a gift that the Maid of Honor or Best Man will treasure for a lifetime.

Would it be a big plus for you if we had a formal bridal registry that one could register for a grandfather clock plus online, or do you prefer ordering your time pieces like grandfather clocks the old fashioned way by telephone or stopping by?

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.