Baldwin Grandfather Clock Models? 300 Most Correct Answers

Here are seven factors to consider when determining the value of an antique watch.

Whether you found an antique grandfather clock in your grandmother’s basement or spotted an actual Black Forest cuckoo clock at your neighbor’s flea market, you probably want to know if you’ve discovered something valuable that could appreciate in value over the years.

To determine the value of an old watch, you should first know what makes something antique. An antique is a collector’s item – from a piece of furniture or a work of art to a ring or a watch – that has a high value because of its age. As a general rule, the item must be more than 100 years old to be considered an antique.

But not every antique is valuable, and markets are cyclical, so what might be worth a lot one year might be worth something else 10 years later.

Despite the unpredictable nature of the market, there are several criteria for judging the value of the antique watch you own or are planning to purchase.

type of clock

First you need to correctly identify the watch type. Examine the watch for the marker’s signature or label. Check the dial, mechanism and case. Watches marked or stamped with the manufacturer’s name or a brand are more desirable than unmarked watches. If you can’t find a label or stamp, you’ll need to identify the watch type yourself.

There are many types of antique clocks: advertising, jubilee, atmospheric, bow, carriage, cuckoo, deck kitchen, lantern, grandfather, mantel, pendulum, skeleton, wall clock. Each type of antique watch is valued differently. For example, ornate German cuckoo clocks are more collectible than mass-produced kitchen clocks.

Historical meaning

Once you know the type of watch, research whether it has any historical significance. A watch with interesting proof of ownership and a respected provenance will be more valuable. Remember that personal worth is subjective. Although you may think your grandfather clock has a remarkable origin story, it may not catch the attention of an appraiser or collector.

reputation of the manufacturer

A watch made by a reputable artist or company is unsurprisingly worth more. If the watch bears the signature of an important watchmaker, the value increases significantly.

rarity

Rarity can mean a few different things. Your watch could be rare if very few were made at all. However, it can also be rare that there are many but the owners do not want to sell them, so they are rarely found on the market. It’s all about supply and demand. An antique parlor clock, even one that is 150 years old, is not going to be that valuable because there are thousands of them. But an antique, authentic Black Forest cuckoo clock is worth more because collectors are eagerly looking for it.

authenticity

For your antique watch to be of any value, it must be genuine. If it is a 20th century reproduction of an 18th century German cuckoo clock, it is not very desirable. If you can prove the period it dates from, your antique watch will be worth more. If it doesn’t have all the original parts, its value will drop significantly.

The type of material used also influences the value of the antique. For example, if the watch has components that look like bronze but are actually tinned, a combination of metals that look like bronze, it will be considered far less valuable.

type of mechanism

The more mechanically impressive the watch is, the more valuable it is. For example, an eight-day cuckoo clock is more desirable than a one-day cuckoo clock that requires daily winding. A clock that tells the time and plays a melody is more impressive than a clock that just tells you what time it is. A clock with moving figures is also considered more valuable. If any of the watch’s mechanisms have been extensively repaired, or if any of the movements are not original, most collectors will consider the antique worthless.

Condition

If your antique watch is of any value, it falls into one of three condition categories:

● Mint condition means the watch is perfect. There are no repairs, no missing parts, no cracks.

● Excellent condition means that the watch has minor imperfections. It may have been damaged but professionally repaired.

● Good condition means that the watch has a few chips or cracks, discoloration or signs of repair.

Common imperfections that affect the condition – and value – of an antique are breaks, chips or cracks; dents or ridges; discoloration; broken figures on cuckoo clocks; missing parts; and repair marks. Watches in mint condition, even those that aren’t as collectible or rare, can often be worth more than watches that aren’t in textbook condition.

If you’re planning to sell your antique watch, do some research at watch stores, auction houses, online forums, and eBay to find comparable watches that have recently been sold. This will help you determine a good entry price. You don’t want to make a mistake and give away something that could potentially be worth thousands.

You can also get advice from experts. Professional appraisers have the experience and knowledge to determine an objective value for your watch. Remember that the value you place on your watch may not match what the experts say. Ultimately, the value of your antique watch depends on what someone is willing to pay.

On the other hand, if you have an antique watch that you don’t want to sell, then what matters most is the value you give it.

author

Bob Ellis is the founder and owner of Bavarian Clockworks

Have you ever wondered how to identify an antique watch? If you have, you are not alone. Almost everyone who is interested in old watches has asked themselves this question at some point.

Antique clocks The subject of old clocks has occupied collectors for many years. Some are only interested in watches made by a specific craftsman or in a specific country. Others are fascinated by the inner workings of a watch, exquisite works of art or beautiful cases. Regardless of the focus of a watch collector’s interest, it is important to know how to identify a watch or where to find the resources to help with identification. Related Articles Tips on Identifying Antique Glassware and What to Look For

Identifying antique cutlery patterns and popular designs

Winchester Firearms Antique Model Values ​​Antique clocks and antique clock identification covers a wide range of information, from the first collector’s clock of the 16th century, the lantern clock, through grandfather and grandmother clocks to early 20th century clocks . Although the chances of finding an original lantern clock at a local sale or auction are virtually nil, the possibility of finding a late 19th century Ansonia mantel clock or a Gustav Becker weight-driven wall clock from the same period is one real possibility. Be careful, there is also a chance that the watch you find is a reproduction or a marriage.

Using the Manufacturer or Company Name to Identify an Antique Watch Over the centuries, thousands upon thousands of watches have been produced by countless watchmakers and manufacturing companies in numerous styles and designs. In addition to American watches, there are many made in Europe, South America and Asia. Still, there are certain things to look for in a watch in order to identify it and the period in which it was made. Check the watch for the watchmaker’s name or company name. On many nineteenth-century American-made watches, the company’s full name usually appears somewhere on the watch. The name can be: Engraved or printed near the center surface of the dial

Engraved or printed around the edge of the dial and may be hidden by the bezel

Stamped or engraved on the movement back plate

A paper label on the back of the watch

A paper label attached to the inside of the watch case. However, on some watches, the name on the dial may not be the watchmaker’s name. Sometimes it is the name of the retailer who sold the watch. If it’s the retailer’s name, finding information about the company can help identify and date the watch. Many watches made in countries other than the United States are often unmarked. When marked, they usually only have initials or a hallmark.

Additional Notes on Identifying Antique Watches The following are some additional things to help when trying to identify or date an antique watch: Watch style

Type of watch glass, stenciling, hand style and fasteners

Type of percussion, such as a bell, baton, or gong

Material of the dial, such as paper, ceramic, wood, or pewter

serial number

More Identification Tips Shelf clocks manufactured in the USA typically had wooden movements up until the 1820s.

In the early 1880’s Adamantine veneer was used on clocks by Seth Thomas to look like wood grain, slate and marble.

Antique wall clocks were not made until the late 18th century.

By 1896, all watches imported into the United States were required to have the country of origin clearly marked.

Plywood was not used for clocks before 1905.

Web sources

Savage and Polites Antique Watch Identification and Pricing Guide The Savage and Polites Antique Watch Identification and Pricing Guide is a valuable resource for identifying antique and vintage watches. Although portions of the site are generally accessible, many of the features of this identification and pricing guide require a paid subscription. Below is some of the information contained on this site: More than 27,488 photographs of antique clocks

Descriptions and prices of 19,287 antique clocks

Identification guide for antique wooden clocks with pictures

Database of 10,175 watchmakers

“Grand-Father’s Clock” was first published in 1876.

“My Grandfather’s Clock” is a song written in 1876 by Henry Clay Work, author of “Marching Through Georgia”. It is a standard of British marching and colliery bands and is also popular in bluegrass music. The Oxford English Dictionary says the song is the origin of the term “grandfather clock” for a grandfather clock.[1] In 1905, the earliest known recording of this song was performed by Harry Macdonough and the Haydn Quartet (then known as the “Edison Quartet”).

plot [ edit ]

It was at this Piercebridge hotel that the author encountered a remarkable clock that inspired the song.

The song, told from a grandchild’s point of view, is about her grandfather’s watch.

The watch is bought on the morning of grandfather’s birth and has worked flawlessly for 90 years, only needing to be wound at the end of each week.

Yet the clock seems to know the good and bad events of Grandfather’s life in an eerie way – when it chimes 24 hours when Grandfather brings his bride into his house, and just before his death sounds an eerie alarm which the family takes as the means grandfather is near death and is gathering at his bedside. After the grandfather died, the clock suddenly stopped and never worked again.

Continuation[edit]

Work released a sequel to the song two years later, and again the grandson serves as narrator. The grandson laments the fate of the broken grandfather clock – it was sold to a scrap dealer who sold its parts for scrap and its case for kindling. In the grandfather’s house, the clock was replaced by a wall clock, which the grandson despises (“the vain, pinned-up thing on the wall” in English).[2] However, the sequel never achieved the popularity of the original.[3]

The song has been covered and translated many times, versions in other languages ​​may vary. For example, in the Czech version, sung by the country band Taxmeni, the song continues with an additional, joyful verse that narrates other events in the grandson’s life: the birth of his son and the purchase of a new watch on the same day, to uphold the family tradition.[4]

Covers and inspirations[ edit ]

“My Grandfather’s Clock” was widely played on Children’s Favorites in the UK and was recorded by the Radio Revellers during this period [when?]. In the United States, a version without the final verse of the lyrics was on a 45 rpm extended play record on the Peter Pan label (the other song on that side was “The Syncopated Clock”, and the reverse had ” The Arkansas Traveler” and “Red River Valley”). Evelyn Knight recorded the song for Decca Records in 1945. Johnny Cash covered the song on his 1959 album Songs of Our Soil, as did Ernie Ford from Tennessee on Gather’ Round in the same year. Also in 1959, it was included on The Four Lads’ album Swing Along. Other versions became popular in other countries; It is known to many generations in Japan, with a cover by singer Ken Hirai becoming enormously popular in 2002.

In March 1961, Sam Cooke did a rendition of the song on his album Swing Low.

Bing Crosby included the song in a medley on his album 101 Gang Songs (1961).

The song was the inspiration for the 1963 Twilight Zone episode “Ninety Years Without Slumbering”.

The Big 3 included the song on their 1964 album Live at the Recording Studio

A popular toy clock marketed by Fisher-Price from 1962 to 1968 had a dial which, when rotated, caused the jukebox mechanism in the toy to play the song along with clock-like ticking and moving hands on the dial the clock. Since 1994, an updated version of the toy (which is made entirely of plastic and features other activities such as a plastic clicking mouse on the side) has been manufactured by Fisher-Price. There are imitations of the toy made by different companies and sold in different countries worldwide.

Jon Pertwee recorded a version for the 1966 children’s album Children’s Favorites on the Music for Pleasure record label.

John Fahey recorded a solo guitar version on his 1967 album Days Have Gone By.

Joan Morris included it on Who Shall Rule This American Nation (Nonesuch), an album of Work songs, in 1975.

In 1983, Fred Penner, a Canadian children’s entertainer, covered “My Grandfather’s Clock” on the LP album Special Delivery, later re-released on CD in 1994 as Ebenezer Sneezer.

A version of the song was included by Red Grammer on his 1994 family music recording, Down The Do Re Mi.

It was parodied by Kenneth Williams character Rambling Syd Rumpo on the BBC radio show Round the Horne as “My Grandfather’s Grunge”.[6]

It was among the popular folk songs parodied by Allan Sherman in his medley song “Shticks and Stones (Shticks of One, Half a Dozen of the Other)”.

Garrison Keillor and the cast of the radio show A Prairie Home Companion recorded a parody entitled “My Grandmother’s Cat,” which tells the story of an old woman who overfed her cat until it was big enough to knock it over and try to to eat them.

The tune was used in the track “I’m Not Edible” from the soundtrack of the 2000 game American McGee’s Alice, composed by Nine Inch Nails drummer Chris Vrenna.

“My Grandfather’s Clock” is a playable song in the 2008 video game Wii Music.

This song was also used in the Scott Cawthon game Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, released on November 10, 2014. The song’s chorus is played whenever a music box is wound up to keep an animatronic character away. while the other antagonists are unaffected.

The song serves as a leitmotif in the 2019 Korean TV series Hotel del Luna. [citation needed]

It was also sung by Maple and Cinnamon in the third volume of the Nekopara visual novel series.

The song is included in most Casio electronic keyboards.

Original text[edit]

The City Green in Union Park of Middletown, Connecticut contains this bust of the author near his birthplace.

My grandfather’s clock was too big for the shelf

So it stood on the ground for ninety years;

It was taller than the old man himself by half,

Although it no longer weighed a pennyweight.

It was bought in the morning of the day he was born,

And was always his treasure and pride;

But it stopped short – never to go again –

When the old man died

Ninety years without a slumber

(tick, tick, tick, tick), his life seconds numbering,

(tick, tick, tick, tick), It briefly stopped – never to go again – When the old man died.

As I watch his pendulum swing back and forth,

He had spent many hours as a boy.

And in childhood and in manhood the clock seemed to know

And to share both his sorrow and his joy.

For twenty-four struck as he entered the door,

With a blooming and fair bride;

But it stopped short – never to go again –

When the old man died

Ninety years without a slumber

(tick, tick, tick, tick), his life seconds numbering,

(tick, tick, tick, tick), It briefly stopped – never to go again – When the old man died.

My grandfather said that from those he could hire,

He found no servant so faithful;

Because it wasted no time and had only one wish –

To be wound up at the end of each week.

And it stayed in place – no frown on his face,

And his hands never hung by his side.

But it stopped short – never to go again –

When the old man died

Ninety years without a slumber

(tick, tick, tick, tick), his life seconds numbering,

(tick, tick, tick, tick), It briefly stopped – never to go again – When the old man died.

The alarm went off in the middle of the night

An alarm that had been silent for years;

And we knew his spirit was ready for flight –

That his hour of departure had come.

Yet the clock kept time, with a soft and muted chime,

As we stood silently by his side;

But it stopped short – never to go again –

When the old man died

Ninety years without a slumber

(tick, tick, tick, tick), his life seconds numbering,

(tick, tick, tick, tick), it stopped briefly – never to leave again – when the old man died.[7][8]

References[edit]

The advantages of a grandfather clock

Grandfather clocks can be a great investment as long as they are carefully maintained and restored. A quality, working antique grandfather clock rarely costs less than $3,000. The rarest grandfather clocks, such as those made during the aforementioned Golden Age, can be worth as much as $100,000.

Most people who are interested in buying a grandfather clock simply enjoy having a clock in their home. While an antique clock will never be as accurate as a modern digital clock, your grandfather clock should show good time each week, within maybe a few minutes.

Because buying or restoring a watch requires careful research, collecting watches can be an excellent way to learn more about history. Most grandfather clocks can be dated 10 or 15 years by their design alone. Each decade of watchmaking has been influenced by the design styles and tastes of the era.

Due to their majestic appearance, grandfather clocks also make excellent centerpieces for your room’s interior design. Finally, many homeowners enjoy the musical chimes that announce each hour, while for others the soft ticking is enough to breathe life into an otherwise silent room.

Grandfather clock price

As you browse online Dallas watch store listings, you may be surprised by the dramatic price differences between one watch and the next. Like other antiques, grandfather clocks are valued by age, condition, and rarity.

Almost all antique clocks have been altered in some way. By the late 19th century, grandfather clocks were no longer considered the treasured heirlooms they once were, and those who inherited them felt free to swap out the inner workings or repaint the dials.

When a watch is sold with parts replaced, it is called a “marriage”. This type of clock might be great for your home decor, but not as an investment. Collectors see a marriage as a “collection of parts” rather than a valuable antique. For this reason, it’s important to do your research before heading to a Dallas auction house or watch shop. Research can help you ask the right questions and avoid watches that are an unwise investment.

When a watch stops working, it’s either due to neglect, damage caused during moving, or poor repairs with ill-fitting parts. If you buy a “project” watch cheaply to have it repaired, be prepared for the possibility that repairs may cost more than the watch itself is worth.

through

If you own a grandfather clock, chances are it was passed down to you from previous generations as a treasured family heirloom. In such a case, it is only natural that you would want the antique clock to remain intact and in good condition for generations to come in the family. However, if you have to move, you face an enormous challenge: How do you safely transport a grandfather clock? How can you transport it to your new home without damaging the fine ornaments, delicate workmanship and intricate mechanism of your precious watch?

To ensure the safety of your grandfather clock – whether it’s an actual family heirloom or just a treasured addition to your home decor – you need to treat it with great care throughout the moving process and follow a few important guidelines that will help you along the way prepare your valuable timepiece properly for the move.

The important things first:

1) Never lift or carry a grandfather clock without first disassembling it. The clock weights and pendulum must be removed before the clock is transported even a short distance. Otherwise you risk not only damaging the movement, but also breaking the suspended pendulum or swinging the weights inside the case, causing irreversible damage;

2) Do not touch the delicate components of a grandfather clock with bare hands. Use a soft cloth or wear cotton gloves to prevent the oils naturally present on human skin from tarnishing the fine brass or glass elements of the watch;

3) Hire specialized moving companies who have extensive experience, appropriate packaging material and professional know-how to safely handle and transport your valuable watch.

If professional movers are not an option for one reason or another, follow the instructions below strictly on how to transport a grandfather clock yourself. you should do well

How to disassemble a grandfather clock for moving

Preparing a grandfather clock for relocation requires the utmost care and attention on your part. The first thing you need to do is open the front of the watch case. Then follow these steps:

STEP 1 – Remove the pendulum

Gently hold the pendulum as it swings. Hold it in the middle and slowly lift it to get away from the suspension spring that holds the pendulum in place. Do not use force – the pendulum should unhook easily.

Wrap some newspaper around the pendulum guide to keep it from moving during transport. The pendulum itself should be wrapped in bubble wrap or foam sheeting and packed in a well-padded, tightly sealed shipping box.

STEP 2 – Remove the weights

If your watch is chain driven, pull the chains until the weights are about halfway up. Tie the chains together with thin wire (or zip ties) exactly where they protrude from under the movement to keep them from coming loose from their sprockets during shipping;

If your clock has a cable-driven movement, place blocks of rigid foam (about 2″ square) or rolls of newspaper (about 2″ in diameter) over each of the pulleys between the cables. Wind the weights one at a time until they come to a stop, so that the paper rolls (or the foam blocks) are clamped tightly over the rolls. This keeps the cables under tension and prevents them from getting tangled when you remove the weights.

Unhook the weights from the pulleys and remove them from the clock. Make sure you mark the weights (“L” – left, “C” – center, and “R” – right) to know where to place them when reassembling. This is very important as the weights are not identical – the heaviest is usually on the right hand side and operates the hammer mechanism.

Wrap the weights in a soft protective material to prevent damage to the brass case and pack them securely in a well-padded, sturdy shipping box.

STEP 3 – Secure cables and chains

After removing the pendulum and weights, you need to ensure that the cables and/or chains do not become tangled or snap back into the movement. To achieve this, it is recommended to bundle the chains from top to bottom and wrap them with newspaper or bubble wrap. Secure the bundle with a rubber band or cable ties. This will prevent the chains and cables from tangling or banging against the sides of the case and damaging the finish.

Alternatively you can put a piece of cardboard behind the cables or chains and tape them to it – this will successfully prevent them from crossing over, migrating up into the movement or being misaligned.

It’s also a good idea to secure the hammers for the chimes and striking mechanism. All you have to do is bend the appropriate levers to prevent the hammers from swinging freely in the case and getting damaged. Then stuff some bubble wrap or cardboard between the hammers and the bells and secure with tape.

If your watch has striking bars, you should also put some bubble wrap or foam padding between the bars to keep them from moving and banging together during shipping. Remember that the sound bars are very fragile and difficult to replace.

STEP 4 – Pay attention to the movement

Your next step is to check the movement. If it is not firmly attached, but simply placed on two sideboards inside the suitcase, you should remove it and pack it separately. It is a good idea to pack the movement and dial on end in a sturdy, well-padded box – this will protect the face of the dial and watch hands and prevent the crutch on the back of the movement from bending and damaging it.

If your watch has a tube movement, you should remove the tubes.

STEP 5 – Remove glass shelves and decorative elements

Remove any shelves from inside the grandfather clock and wrap them individually in soft packing paper and bubble wrap to prevent breakage.

Also, if possible, remove any decorative ornaments from the clock (most of these are simple dowels and should pop out quite easily). If the decorative elements are firmly attached, make sure to put extra padding around them when packing the clock.

Consider stuffing a soft blanket, crumpled paper, or peanuts into the case for extra support.

STEP 6 – Secure the access panels

When the grandfather clock is completely disassembled, reattach and secure (latch or tape) the access panels. Don’t forget to lock or tape any windows or doors on your watch to prevent them from opening and becoming damaged.

How to pack a grandfather clock for the move

Packing a grandfather clock for moving is easy enough once it’s been properly disassembled (as detailed above). You are recommended:

Place a piece of cardboard over the glass front;

Wrap the entire case in several layers of bubble wrap for maximum protection;

Wrap a furniture blanket around the clock and secure with packing tape. Wrap two full circles near the top of the clock, another in the middle, and one near the base;

If your grandfather clock is an antique or has a very high ideal or monetary value, we strongly recommend that you pack it in a custom-made wooden box – this way your valuable timepiece is optimally protected. Be sure to fill the remaining space in the crate with packing peanuts to prevent shifting during transportation.

Pack all removed watch parts separately – ensure you use the safest and most appropriate packing method for each individual part (as outlined above);

Label all boxes containing your grandfather clock parts “FRAGILE” and “HANDLE WITH CARE”. The box or crate containing the watch case should be marked “THIS SIDE UP” so that it is not laid down or turned over during the move.

How to change a grandfather clock yourself

If you are transporting your grandfather clock by yourself, use a trolley to get the carefully packaged clock out of your house and to the moving vehicle. Tilt the crate as little as possible when loading it onto the truck. Secure the watch case with straps to prevent it from slipping, sliding or falling during transport.

If you are not sure how to transport a grandfather clock, it is better to keep it upright during transport. Newer grandfather clocks can be moved lying down, but this puts unnecessary pressure on the panes and glass elements and increases the risk of breakage. Older watches must be moved upright due to the weight of the movement and the way it is attached to the case.

SEE ALSO: How to move antique furniture

After the move

When you arrive at your new home, set the clock carefully:

Install your delicate clock on a flat stable floor – a grandfather clock may not function properly if it is not well balanced, so you will need to make any necessary adjustments to ensure the base of the clock is perfectly level;

Carefully remove the packaging and replace any parts removed – ensure all components are properly assembled and in their proper places;

Allow the clock to reach room temperature before servicing;

Start the clock and ensure accurate timing. Reset all the moon dials and make sure the chimes are ringing accurately.

Packing and transporting a grandfather clock is quite a challenge – consider having your precious timepiece serviced by qualified staff after the move to ensure it is in perfect condition.

Diana Grunburg

Rob Deal doesn’t waste time when asked about his biggest challenge repairing grandfather clocks.

“If someone who has no experience comes in and tinkers with it,” he says.

Indeed, behind the pretty cabinet, the carvings and the glass is a complex machine.

Deal, self-taught, is an authorized repairer for the few remaining watchmakers, including Ridgeway, Howard Miller and Sligh (now Bulova). Like other repairmen in the area, he has found his skills are still needed. Despite the economic downturn and attempts to modernize them with quartz movements and other upgrades, the original timepiece design remains a timeless, coveted classic.

“Grandfather clocks are classics – not fads,” says Kerstin Chelius, president of Sandmark House on Beach Boulevard. “They’ve been around for hundreds of years and there will be hundreds more.”

Photo gallery: Grandfather clock repair

And because of their endurance, it’s inevitable that they’ll eventually need repairs. That’s where Deal and places like Sandmark come in. Grandfather clocks are large – sometimes 7 to 9 feet tall and weighing hundreds of pounds – so home visits are often made. Sandmark does about 25 to 30 clock repairs a month, averaging between $300 and $400, while Deal, who runs Rob’s Clock Repair from his Orange Park home, does two to three a week.

Deal said he started working on watches about 12 years ago as a favor. His wife, like her father, collected watches and was frustrated that they could not find anyone to fix them. Deal had a mechanical bent; He had built go-karts as a child and repaired cars and trucks as an adult. He began to work on his wife’s watches.

A turning point was the successful restoration of his father-in-law’s antique clock. From then on he was addicted, he says. He began collecting books on repairs and antiques, learning through reading and repairing.

That makes Deal kind of an anomaly. Chelius said that most watchmakers go to school for years to learn their craft and earn the “master watchmaker” designation, which means they can “take apart and put back together an entire movement”. She has three repairmen on her staff, including one who works on grandfather clocks, also known as grandfather clocks.

From the looks of it, they’ll all be busy for the foreseeable future.

“There are a surprising number of grandfather clocks,” Deal said. “They are timepieces and furniture, but also family heirlooms. And they are still status symbols.”

Cheli agrees.

“For some families, a grandfather clock is an achievement, something they’ve wanted for a long time.”

It tells the story of a 90-year-old woman who ran into the store out of breath.

“She said, ‘I want to buy a grandfather clock. My husband died last week and he would never give me one.’ ”

A lifetime dream

Longcase clock ownership was also a lifelong dream for Amelia Island’s Stacy Simmons and Fleming Island’s Christine Benenati.

Simmons is an antiques buff who was struck by an 18th-century English standing trunk with its green-painted front and dark oak cabinet. For Benenati, her Howard Miller conjures up memories of summers in South Florida with her aunt and uncle who had a grandfather clock to greet them in the morning. The watch, a gift from her late mother, “makes me feel at home,” she says.

Chelius has 24 models in their store ranging from $1,000 to $3,500. She says sales are steady, about one or two a week, but she’s selling more of the cheaper ones, which she attributes to the slower economy.

Repairs can be challenging because there are so many types of watches, Deal says. A home visit is usually for maintenance.

“It is really important to clean the mechanism. Dust gets into the oil and causes it to become grainy like sandpaper. The gears turn every hour, every minute every day, so it’s important every two to four years to wipe off the old oil on the gears and replace it with fresh oil.”

When a watch stops working, Deal may need to overhaul the movement and replace missing or worn parts. It is particularly difficult with antiques, as parts are no longer available. Sometimes Deal needs to make a gear or sprocket, or get an off-the-shelf part from a manufacturer and adapt it.

He remembers a customer’s unique one-hand watch from 1750 with “250 years of signs of wear”. Weights were hung from ropes in the 17th century instead of the chains used today. To keep the watch original, Deal had to order a new rope from England.

Antique watches, if serviced, will increase in value over time, Deal says.

New or old, it’s hard to resist the high cost of a grandfather clock. But then there’s always the do-it-yourself kind. Deal said he’s seen people who wanted a grandfather clock but didn’t want to pay the price buying a kit from companies like Emperor Clock or Klockit. They usually look at the instructions and pause.

“A guy bought a kit, opened it up and said, ‘I don’t think so.’ His son then looked at it and closed the box. I told them I would do it – it took two to three days of solid work.”

Chelius saw it too.

“I would estimate that for every 10 kits sold, four will be built. But once someone tries to build a grandfather clock, they really appreciate what goes into making one.”

And maybe fix one.

Does your mantel clock have an “anniversary” hallmark? If so, it was made after 1901 according to the Antique Watch Price Guide. Gilding was not introduced until 1836. And if your clock is made of plywood, it was made after 1905, the first year plywood was used for mantel clocks. If it’s made of the molded plastic known as Bakelite, there’s a good chance it dates to the 1930s or 1940s, the peak of Bakelite’s popularity. The Antique Watch Price Guide states that watches imported into the United States after 1896 had to be marked with the country of origin. Look inside the watch for the watchmaker’s name. The Parisian Henry Marc was one of the most famous watchmakers of the 19th century. French mantel clocks were often ornately decorated, with later Art Deco era clocks being made of marble or granite.

Posted 9 years ago

Found a nice watch again today, but not much else in the last few days. It bears a striking resemblance (pun intended) to my other D and A Regulator watch I found last month. I’m pretty sure it’s Korean or Chinese as there are no names on the face or clockwork other than “no jewels”. Both have that sinuous gong chime that counts the hour and strikes the half hour. This one is a little softer at 32″ and is a lot taller and slimmer. The case is really nice. It’s a satin mahogany finish with ebony finials. The columnar flutes have black accents and acanthus leaves. Pretty stylish. It’s a bit finicky running. They have left the pendulum on and it runs for an hour and stays put although i have oiled it and tried to set the clock, it was fully wound so maybe just need a bit of maintenance to keep it going until things settle down loosen it up. It’s probably been sitting for quite a while.

Courtesy of all experts:

The R A on the pendulum stands for: retard/advance. It is a common pendulum weight used by many manufacturers worldwide. As a rule of thumb, the adjusting nut threads are designed so that one full turn changes the clock about 2 minutes per week.

This watch was probably made in Korea. They were made in both eight-day and thirty-one-day configurations, but they share a lot in common. They all have a so-called self-regulating impact mechanism. This means that once hung on the wall or placed on a shelf and properly started, the clock will find its own “good center” where the tick and tock is even enough for the clock to keep running. They are all designed so that the hit is self-correcting; This means that the hour struck is automatically corrected after the clock is turned back.

What is the difference between a grandmother clock and a grandfather clock?

Both grandmother and grandfather clocks are long case pendulum clocks, but grandfather clocks are generally larger than grandmother clocks, measuring between 6 and 7 feet, while grandmother clocks typically measure between 5 and 6 feet. The pendulum clock was invented in 1656 by Christiaan Huygens, a Dutch physicist and inventor. Huygens realized that time could be tracked with a pendulum long enough to track a single second with each swing. It was originally thought that only pendulums of a certain length could accurately record a second, leading to tall, towering clock shapes. The grandfather clock takes its name from an 1876 song by songwriter Henry Clay Work entitled “Grandfather Clock”. The song was inspired by a trip Work made to the George Hotel in North Yorkshire, where Work was informed by the owner that the pendulum clock in the lobby was inhabited by a ghostly grandfather spirit. Grandmother watches rightly derived their name from grandfather’s nickname.

Leading photo by Katie Charlotte

Home > About Howard Miller

The Grandfather Clock Company is proud to be an authorized dealer for quality Howard Miller grandfather and grandfather clocks.

Howard Miller is the world’s largest manufacturer of grandfather clocks and grandfather clocks. The company was founded in 1926 by Howard C. Miller at the age of 21. From this young age, Howard Miller was creating products imbued with quality and value. He aspired to nothing less than the best. And it was only under these strict conditions that he allowed his name to grace every watch made at his massive factory in Zeeland, Michigan.

Howard Miller was taught fine watchmaking by his father, Herman, in the Black Forest, Germany. Howard became a visionary whose keen sense of innovation established an uncompromising tradition of excellence spanning three generations.

While Howard Miller focused on wall and mantel clocks with chimes, he also produced avant-garde clocks that now stand in collector’s galleries. Howard Miller joined forces with Ford Motor Co. to manufacture anti-aircraft covers during World War II. In the 1960s, the company turned its attention to grandfather clocks, eventually earning the company the title of ‘World’s Largest Grandfather Clock Manufacturer’.

Beginning in 1989, Howard Miller created collectors’ cases with the watchmaker’s attention to detail and craftsmanship. Crafted from hardwood and glass, the cabinets are ideal for displaying heirlooms, plates and other collectibles.

In its ongoing quest to provide the very best in handcrafted products, Howard Miller recently acquired three companies: The Hekman Furniture Company manufactures carefully sculpted hardwood pieces ranging from 18th and 19th century reproductions to contemporary products featuring precious metals and exotic Wooden enough. The Woodmark Company manufactures fine upholstered furniture. And the exquisite movements in many of the watches Howard Miller offers are made by Old World craftsmen employed by the Kieninger Company of Germany.

Once primarily intended as gifts for weddings, anniversaries and retirements, Howard Miller’s expanded range is attracting a growing number of buyers who want quality timepieces and furniture for their home and business – without any occasion.

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Longcase clock, also called grandfather clock, tall pendulum clock (see animation) enclosed in a wooden case that stands on the floor and is typically 1.8 to 2.3 meters (6 to 7.5 ft) high. The name grandfather clock was adopted after the song “Grandfather’s Clock” written by Henry Clay Work in 1876 became popular. The first grandfather clocks had a classic architectural appearance, but over the years different styles have gained popularity. One form of early pendulum clocks was wall mounted, but probably difficult to fix due to their heavy lead weights. It is believed that the grandfather clock was developed to support these heavier movements.

Grandfather clock in the Arts and Crafts style. © Rago Arts/Shutterstock.com

The face of my watch says “Tempus Fugit”:

Tempus Fugit is Latin for “time flies” and is embossed on many grandfather clock faces. The inscription Tempus Fugit on the dial is not an indication of the brand, model, quality or value of a watch. It’s as generic as the numbers on the dial.

This is not a reference to the brand or model name of any watch.

Most manufacturers in the 70’s and 80’s printed their dials like this. There is no way to identify a watch by having Tempus Fugit printed on the dial.

We have no way of identifying older watches.

A very cheap grandfather clock is not always a good value. The three popular quality brands are Howard Miller, Hermle and Ridgeway, with Howard Miller being the largest and one of the three that all build their own watches. If you’ve seen a recent clock with Tempus Fugit on the dial, particularly grandfather clocks online without much other brand identification or a name you’ve never heard of, it’s probably a small, inexpensive made in China grandfather clock, typically found on auction sites being sold from home based auction sellers. These watches typically retail for over $500.00 but should actually sell for around $200.00 or less. We bought one of these watches to evaluate and they look like the pictures we’ve seen online but a lot smaller as the bases are really small. If you walk across regular ground anywhere near one of these clocks, the clock will rock back and forth. You should use a wall strap as a child could easily pull it over. These watches only weigh about 43 pounds and are very top heavy. These are 31 day key wind watches that use an inexpensive movement with no access to the movement. The back is stapled shut so the only access is to take the cabinet apart. The bells are very bad and the bells stopped working for us after about a month. The weights in the floor only weigh a few grams and are only for decoration. When you open the door upwards, we had to put our other hand on the cabinet to not pull forward. It would have been much better to include a simple battery movement instead of a mechanical movement for reliability. If you are considering one of these clocks as a gift or family heirloom, you might want to consider a real grandfather clock. Real grandfather clocks cost more initially, but you will get much more enjoyment over the years and have a real heirloom that can be passed down through the generations. Visit our full showroom for quality grandfather clocks at the lowest manufacturer allowed prices by clicking here.

Together with our customers, we look for optimal solutions and are happy to go the extra mile for them. In our production for external customers, we use our extensive experience in the manufacture of watch components. Conversely, in the area of ​​watch movements, we benefit from our know-how in the manufacture of turned parts, since we can manufacture all the individual parts for the watch movement in our own turning shop.

We employ a total of 180 people in our three business areas (clocks, clockworks and turned parts). Our production site is in Reichenbach am Heuberg. We love our region and are proud of our high level of vertical integration. Hermle offers an absolute “Made in Germany” guarantee.