Do you have any alarm clocks that are really really loud?  Do you have any tabletop clocks or desktop or carriage clocks that don’t make any ticking sound?  I need a REALLY loud alarm clock to wake up.  How loud is your loudest?

From ticking to chiming to alarm clocks, the vibrancy or loudness of the tick tock or tic tok or toc sound is important to many clock shoppers, whether they are looking at Howard Miller Grandfather Clocks or the Hermle Grandfather Clock Collection — or Ridgeway Clocks, Americana Clocks or Kieninger Clocks, the questions of chiming quality, volume and ability to change, tick tock tick tock volume and the ability to lower or sometimes raise, and the frequent question of whether there is such a thing as a silent wall clock, mantel clock or grandfather clock movement, or on occasion, is there a  way to make the tick tock louder, even much more loud.

LED Clocks, including are soon-to-be-introduced GiganticClocks, make no sound, and with some of them having numerals which are 3 inches and larger, as well as alarms and calendar functions for day of week and the date, these clocks are sure to meet an unmet need, both in more public areas where the large and glare-free numerals can be seen 24×7, and also by anyone with a vision issue or any stage of their lives where memory would be aided by having these other easy-to-read (compared to other clocks on the market) displays.  We also have one LCD Clock which not only has the same super-large numerals and other informational fields (e.g. calendar day of week and date of month, temperature and more), but is also an atomic clock, also known as a radio controlled clock, which is incredibly accurate, theoretically according the the USA Government Agency NIST and many scientific experts, accurate to one-Billionth of a second per year!  While not the case for our large easy-to-see black-on-white LED Atomic wall and mantel clock, which uses batteries, the LED Clocks require an electricity source, with an outlet either immediately behind it, or to be wired and plugged in to a standard electrical outlet, either covered by tubing or simply out in the open.

When one thinks of modern day quartz watches vs the still highly desired and significantly more expensive watch brands like Breitling, Omega, Rolex, Movado, Patek Phillipe, Audemars Piaget, Vacheron Contantin and on and on, there is still no shortage of admirers for the “old-fashioned” craftsmanship where people are willing to pay thousands of dollars more, sometimes tens of thousands of dollars more, when a watch that will keep time as or more accurately can be had easily for under $100. Additionally people can now see the time on their computer, or iPhone 5 or Samsung 4 or other smartphone, and more and more may still be adding iWatches or SmartWatches that are or are rumored to soon be hitting the market, and no doubt increasing in capabilities and quality over time.  It is somewhat reminiscent of the old Dick Tracy cartoon character and his then futuristic watch which allowed him to communicate.

iWatch Would Trample Dick Tracy’s 2-Way Communicator in Today’s Market

Dick Tracy’s 2-way communicator wristwatch would probably not make it to market given the capabilities that appear to already be out there and coming very soon.  Maxwell Smart’s shoe-phone, on the other hand, may still have a chance at gaining some market share if it were to be introduced today.  Call it maybe.

Following what we will term the wristwatch paradigm, we see a long-term and continuing demand for mechanical grandmother clocks, grandfather clocks, mantel clocks, cuckoo clocks, and regular and large wall clocks and gallery clocks.  Brands that continue to offer both dynamic contemporary clock designs as well as more traditional designs for these kinds of clocks true to the traditional ways of making timepieces will still find a market for people who are seeking to keep an element of the traditional as a part of their home and workplaces.

Not only are actual clock shops a dwindling yet hopefully not dying breed – we at 1-800-4CLOCKS.com were forced to close our NYC Grand Central Station Clock store location not for economic reasons but simply because of changing times and needs for existing spaces, and the lack of affordable comparable retail space available, especially with more and more competition from companies similar to ours like us who also have a web-based presence in addition to one or multiple home store locations.

A challenge has been to try attempt to bring as much of the home store shopping experience to the internet, while at the same time maintaining our retail store presence for our more local geographic market.  When a customer is considering one of several high-end Howard Miller Grandfather Clocks or a Ridgeway Grandfather Clock or one of Hermle Floor Clocks, there is a natural inclination to want to see and hear and touch the actual grandfather clock model one is considering purchasing.  At the same time, ironically, we find that a good percentage of grandfather clock shoppers, even those who are searching for grandfather clocks on sale and discount grandfather clocks are frequently the same people who are most in need of a genuine education of the different types on grandfather clocks, the major clock brands, the ones to stay away from at all costs, the differences within individual grandfather clock makers separate from traditional grandfather clocks vs contemporary grandfather clocks, and also the various features, the types of grandfather clock movements, including single chime Westminster Chimes, and Triple Chime Grandfather Clocks, which mostly include the Whittington and St Michael Chimes, but sometimes also Beethovens Ode to Joy and Schuberts Ave Maria.  There are also grandfather clock, mantle clock and wall clock movement differences including tubular chime grandfather clock movement vs cable driven movements and chain driven movements, and even quartz or battery operated movements which nowadays are used in all clock types.

So what is a grandfather clock shopper to do?  Fortunately, in some ways, with careful vetting, researching and locating the grandfather clock or mantel clock or wall clock of your dreams nay be made much easier with trusted internet sites and credible knowledgeable individuals who will be there to answer honestly both the simple and the more complex questions about any clock purchase, whether it be Howard Miller, Hermle, Kieninger, Ridgeway or another, and whether a grandfather clock, grandmother clock, mantel clock, gallery wall clock, atomic clock. novelty clock, and especially antique clocks and antique grandfather clocks, one of our specialties.

To us, as they used to say in grade school and clock school, there truly is no such thing as a stupid clock question, and it is in our DNA and everyone who works with us to attempt to be as informative and patient as possible with any and every prospective customer, whether they end up buying from us or not.  Our policy for years has been to ever work on a clock sales commission basis, and we find some flabbergasted customers when we occasionally tell them for whatever the reason that we think they are better off buying the clock we are discussing at another dealer or even from another individual person.  Of course we need to make money to stay in the clock business, yet we are also driven both by a love of clocks, and seeing that same clock love in the eyes of our customers and helping them with the clock or clocks that will most help make their space or that of a loved one more special to them.

So grandfather clocks online or bricks and mortar clock shopping, or some of both, we strive to give clock customers all the tools they need to make the best decision for them, their families and other gift recipients.  One of our favorite telephone calls to get, even if a sale or non-sale takes 2-3 months to play out, is that I think I want a grandfather clock but I do not really know anything about them.  What can you tell me?  We think even Aristotle would have enjoyed those clock discussions as much as we do.  Perhaps one of the children of the writer of this post, who both have as one of their life’s goals to build a working and reusable time machine, will enable us to test this clock theory and hypothesis.

Howard Miller J. H. Miller II Grandfather Clock

Model 611-031 611031 Limited Edition Tubular Chime Howard Miller Clock by Howard Miller Clocks

Antique clocks always present a special challenge to market in a catalog, as any experienced auction house knows.  There is almost always just one of the antique clocks or watches for sale, so listing these timepieces with a fixed price can create many headaches.  Yet at the same time, despite the currently appearing ubiquitous presence of auctions online and off, from eBay to Christies to Sothebys, many buyers and sellers prefer the old fixed price antique market model, much like one would find in a fine antique clock and watch shop.

Many readers of this blog post, the fifty and over generations, will remember to some degree the old Sears and Roebuck Catalog, that literally set the standard for the catalog direct marketing revolution that it began.  Even the Catalogs themselves became collector’s items, as did reprints of the original Sears Catalogs.

However, fast-forward one hundred years into the future, meaning today, and the web and individual websites like 1-800-4CLOCKS.com have taken over as the modern-days Catalogs of choice.  New grandfather clocks and wall clock collections can be added daily.  Grandmother Clocks on backorder can be noted as such so grandmother clocks on backorder will not disappoint customers.  Complete new lines and brands can be added in a day.  Consumer expectations about the customer shopping experience have gone through the roof, as grandfather clock shoppers and those searching for wall clocks discounts and mantel clocks on sale expect that anything they see on a website for sale is absolutely in stock.

Grandfather clock makers such as Howard Miller Clocks, Ridgeway Grandfather Clock Collection, Kieninger Clocks, and Hermle Floor Clocks are much better then ever before about providing more current inventory data.  Yet at the same time, this grandfather clock, wall clock and mantle clock data will not be real time.  And some clocks, including Kieninger Grandfather Clocks and wall clocks and mantle clocks, and some of the Hermle clock models, including Hermle Grandfather Clocks and Mantel and Wall Clocks can have a 2-4 month lead time and are generally considered prepaid custom orders.  This is hard to communicate either in an old-fashioned direct marketing catalog and even in a great website like the one we have at 1-800-4CLOCKS.

1908 Sears Roebuck Catalog Sold Grandfather Clocks and Watches

The good news is that with the advent of the internet, we are able to offer both selection and savings never before imagined even 20 years ago.  More choices, higher discounts on the best grandfather clocks, better pictures of each clock, and even the ability to hear a specific clock chime and offer supersize pictures can all really recreate the grandfather clock gallery shopping experience.  A tradeoff is that many fewer of us bricks and mortar-type stores are surviving, especially as new and competing technologies are vying for some of the same shopping dollars that were previous spent on grandfather clocks and wall clocks.  Not only can one see the current time on most any personal computer or MacBook, but also on iPhones and other mobile devices including the Samsung Galaxy.

Having said that, there is nothing that competes with the old world charm of a grandfather clock or wall clock or mantle clocks, whether a new or antique clock.  A grandfather clock is truly the heartbeat of the home.

On sale at eBay at this link:   http://www.ebay.com/itm/18K-Gold-Omega-Speedmaster-Chronograph-Moonphase-/230924339955?pt=Wristwatches&hash=item35c429caf3  – Read eBay Description for completely accurate description.

All good things must come to an end, and in this case it creates an opportunity for a new owner for this amazing wristwatch. As someone who has owned and worn Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Jaeger LeCoultre, Audemars Piguet, IWC, Rolex Watches and numerous other of the highest-end watches, this particular solid 18K Gold Omega Speedmaster with an 18K Gold and SS Bracelet, Automatic, in near-mint condition, has always been my personal favorite of all the wristwatches I have owned. As I am downsizing my timepiece collection, it feels like the time has come for someone who can make more use of it than I to enjoy it fully.

Omega’s best and most sophisticated, complicated Chronometer. Near new condition. Swiss made. Automatic mechanical movement. Waterproof (but would not recommend pushing one’s luck as watch does have some age to it). 18K solid gold case and 18K & SS buckle. Sapphire crystal. 8 hands + moondial. Day, Date, Month mechanical readout. Stopwatch function among others. Raised 18K Roman numerals. Tachometer function. 6 Scales. Marked Maison Fondee en 1848 with gold hallmarks and serial # on back of case.

OMEGA SPEEDMASTER CHRONO, somewhere between Scarce and Rare, SOLID 18K YELLOW GOLD CASE, and BRACELET WITH 18K GOLD & STAINLESS STEEL, TRIPLE DATE, MOONPHASE CHRONOGRAPH WITH FIXED TACHYMETER BEZEL. WATCH WAS MANUFACTURED IN 1991-1994, WATCH IS IN NEAR-PERFECT CONDITION. ALL FUNCTIONS WORK ACCURATELY, THIS OMEGA MASTERPIECE IS ALL ORIGINAL. THE CHRONOGRAPH STOP TIME ACCURACY IS TO THE 1/5 OF A SECOND. WATCH HAS A QUICK SET AND A HACK 45 HOUR AUTONOMY VALJOUX MOVEMENT CAL. 1150 THE MOVEMENT IS A TWO BUTTON THREE REGISTER CHRONOGRAPH. THE DAY AND MONTH ARE ON THE 12 O’CLOCK POSITION INTEGRAL TO THE CRHONOGRAPH’S 30 MINUTE REGISTER. THE DAY NUMBER OF THE MONTH IS SHOWN BY THE LONG SLENDER CENTER HAND THAT HAS A SMALL CRESCSENT MOON PROFILE AT ITS END. MOONPHASE IS SHOWN AT THE 6 O’CLOCK DIAL POSITION LOCATED INTEGRAL TO THE CHRONOGRAPH’S 12 HOUR REGISTER. RUNNING SECONDS AND THE CHRONOGRAPH’S 24 HOUR REGISTER ARE LOCATED AT THE DIALS 9 O’CLOCK POSITION. THE DIMENSIONS ARE 1.46 DIAMETER OF THE TACHYMETRE BEZEL, 1.70″ FROM LUG TO LUG, 1.61″ CASE TO TIP OF CROWN, THIS IS A HIGHLY COLLECTABLE SCARCE-RARE PIECE. ALL OUR WATCHES ARE 100% AUTHENTIC. SERIOUS BUYERS ONLY.

18K SOLID GOLD Omega Speedmaster Chronograph Moonphase Wristwatch – DIAL

18K SOLID GOLD Omega Speedmaster Chronograph Moonphase Wristwatch - showing solid gold back and 18K/SS Bracelet with Omega Clasp

Amazing Movement inside this  18K SOLID GOLD Omega Speedmaster Chronograph Moonphase Wristwatch

This watch will be shipped with one extra SS link/piece in the band, to accommodate larger wrists (about 7 inches comfortably), and as shown in the pictures of this actual watch. That and other links can easily be removed by any qualified watch repair person to be sized to your wrist or the wrist of the recipient.

This wristwatch is guaranteed 100% genuine and as described. Original box and papers are unfortunately no longer with this watch.  Some adjustments may possibly be necessary after shipping. Given the risk of counterfeits and parts being lifted, this watch is being sold as guaranteed and “as is” with no returns. Please see our feedback, and our A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, to increase your level of comfort.

On payment, Buyer and Seller must both agree and feel comfortable with any transaction payment approach (and by bidding you agree to the transaction being canceled if this standard is not mutually met). If you do not have a lot of positive feedback (e.g. 100+), payment may be required to be made by wire transfer. Having said that, the auction is open to customers worldwide. Serious bidders only please, and if any doubt or questions about anything, including payment, please email to address before making any bid or purchase.

OMEGA is the last letter of the Greek alphabet and symbolizes accomplishment and perfection – qualities that have been inherent in every OMEGA watch since the company’s foundation in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, in 1848.  The brand’s reputation for innovation and quality has led to numerous awards over the company’s 150-year history, starting as early as 1900 with the Grand Prix at the Paris World Fair and continuing with the world precision record of 97.8 points at the Kew-Teddington observatory in England in 1936.

OMEGA went on to be official timekeeper at no less than 21 Olympic Games, bringing numerous innovations to Olympic sports over the years, such as the first electronic timekeeping at the Helsinki games in 1952 – the same year in which the company was awarded the Olympic Cross of Merit for its outstanding contribution to sport.

On account of its precision and reliability, OMEGA’s Speedmaster watch was chosen by NASA as its official chronometer in 1965 and 4 years later was the first watch to be worn on the moon, when, on 21 July 1969, Neil Armstrong made his giant leap for mankind.

In more recent years, OMEGA has continued to build on its reputation for precision and innovation, presenting the world’s first self-winding wristwatch with central tourbillon (launched in 1994) and the revolutionary coaxial escapement sur developed in conjunction with renowned English master watchmaker George Daniels first offered in limited series in 1999. With this illustrious watchmaking tradition behind it, OMEGA has an ideal foundation for further pioneering achievements in the new millennium.

Some of my favorite Omega quotes:

1. “Saying that an Omega is the most trustworthy watch on earth is something of an understatement”…”The watch the astronauts have worn on every space trip since 1965 is a standard production line Omega Speedmaster..”

2. “There are moments when wearing an Omega is highly reassuring. When you are taking a walk on the Moon you need to be sure you’ve the best equipment on (and from) Earth”

3. “Only Omega could create a timepiece precise enough to time Concorde. And offer it to you as a watch”

4. “An Omega does more for you than tell you the time”

5. “When gold must do more than glitter”… picture of an Omega in “18K gold”

Historically, we have been featuring Howard Miller Grandfather Clocks, Ridgeway Grandfather Clocks, the Hermle Grandfather Clock collection and more.  We plan to be adding even more, including Howard Miller Wall Clocks and Mantel Clocks, and Ridgeway mantle clocks and wall clocks.  We expect to be adding Schneider Cuckoo Clocks very soon as well, including the 8 Day Movement mechanical cuckoo clocks, as well as the 3 day mechanical cuckoos, and the quartz driven cuckoo clocks also made by the German company Schneider.

If you look right now, as of the date of this post, you will not find much on eBay from us by way of Grandmother Clocks or Grandfather Clocks by Howard Miller or Ridgeway, but we plan for that to change within the next week.  We expect to be offering the full line of mechanical Howard Miller Clocks, mechanical Ridgeway Clocks, as well as some of the nicer wall clocks and mantle clocks by Howard Miller and Ridgeway Floor Clocks that are quartz-driven.

Regardless of whether we list our antique clocks or new clocks on eBay or on our 1-800-4clocks website, we find that many customers end up calling us, frequently because of our easy to use toll-free number as well as our long-term association and background with Catalog sales, which may seem in some ways like a throwback to the past, but many customers like to talk to a live clock specialist who can both understand their questions and give them accurate answers.  For that reason among others we do not believe in using call centers to staff our phone lines, nor have we historically put any of our grandfather clock or wall clock or mantel clock salespeople on commission, because we believe that selling the customer only the grandfather clock or other clock that they really want is good for them as well as us in the long-term in the form of repeat business from past clocks customers.

Many of our sales are from prior customers, and we work hard  both to obtain and maintain customer loyalty.

Any suggestions as to how we can make our grandfather clock or gallery clock or mantle clock or other timepiece business more user-friendly or more effective and efficient, not to mention reasonably enjoyable, please let us know.  We welcome customer feedback, and too frequently receive it only when there is a problem,  We recently wrote a post that we have never taken up an offer from a customer who has volunteered to put up a positive testimonial online if we tell them where, meaning what website, we want it to go.  WE should probably do both more formally.

Grandfather Clocks on eBay, from 1-800-4CLOCKS with eBay ID grandfatherclocks and eBay Store grandfather-clocks.

Now the focus of this floor clock post may not be entirely what you expected.  What we want to focus on here is the volume not only of the ticking of the grandfather clocks, but also the volume of grandfather clock chimes.  Our focus here is on high quality 8 Day German mechanical grandfather clocks movements that our used today by companies such as Howard Miller Clocks, Ridgeway Clocks, Kieninger Clocks and the Hermle Clock company, with the two main high-end movement manufacturers being Hermle Clock and Kienininger Clocks.  Both of these German clock makers and grandfather clock movement makers have been making movements for well over 100 years.  In more recent years, features have been added to grandfather clocks like automatic nighttime shutoff, illuminated grandfather clock dials, multiple chimes including not only the best known Westminster Chime grandfather clock, with Whittington Clock Chimes and St Michaels Clocks Chimes, but also adding Beethovens Ode to Joy chime or Schuberts Ave Maria chime.  Some people still long for the mechanical two-note bim-bam chime, found more on antique clocks and vintage clocks, but still seen on many models.

So what has happened to the grandfather clock volume over all these years.  There is the volume of the sound of the grandfather clock or floor clock ticking, there is the volume of the gong of the hour, and there is the volume of the grandfather clock chimes.  All floor clocks have one direction in which they have moved over the years, which is that the grandfather clock chime, ticking and gong volumes have been built-in so that it has effectively been turned down more and more over the years.

If one listens to an antique grandfather clock and compares it to a present day Howard Miller grandfather clock, or even a vintage 20 year old Ridgeway Grandfather Clock, one will find that the gong volume has gone down progressively over the years.  For grandfather clocks that chime, whether the Westminster Chime or even a Bim-Bam chime, in general one will also find that the grandfather clock volume has gone down over the years.

Recognizing that people used to use the clocks more as a way to keep track of time, it makes sense that grandfather clocks were built to be heard throughout a home.  Nowadays, now are there not only many other ways to tell time, e.g. on television, iPods, game systems, smartphones including the Apple iPhone 5 and the Samsung Galaxy III, and PCs themselves, but there are also many more items in the home competing for the full attention of household members.  What might happen if a grandfather clock started gonging SO LOUDLY during the Super Bowl being watched by a rowdy group congregating around a giant flat screen tv … well, we might not want to see what might happen.  While most all grandfather clocks will have a chime-silence option, it might be overlooked, or might even be an issue for some for everyday conversation, listening to music, or watching their favorite television shows.

The actual volume of the tic tock has also gone down, which most clock consumers today would probably find to be a plus.  The grandfather clock chime mechanical movements of today have also been modified to lower volumes, for much the same clock reasons as noted above.

One question we are asked often is whether it is possible to adjust the volume of a mechanical grandfather clock strike or chime.  The short answer is no, not really, for most all models.  Small adjustments to raise the volume can be made, but that might risk damaging the movement or the loss of the correct chime notes.  Lowering the grandfather clock volume has some possibilities, yet that is a question we rarely get in today’s grandfather clock marketplace.

Quartz grandfather clocks, also known as battery operated grandfather clocks, will likely have a volume control, but one has to be especially careful that they are buying a good quality floor clock with a clock movement that is built to last.  There are more and more cheap imports of this type.

Lastly, there should not be much of a difference between the volume of a chain-driven grandfather clock vs a cable driven grandfather clock.

As with everything in life, there are exceptions, such as tubular chime grandfather clock movements, but that is a subject we will address separately.

Beethoven Ode to Joy Grandfather Clock Chime - Bio website

http://www.lvbeethoven.com/Bio/BiographyLudwig.html