Whether you call your grandfather clock a Floor Clock, or refer to grandfather clocks as long case clocks or tall case clocks has a lot to do with which side of the Atlantic you were raised, or possibly what century in time one happened to be born into.  In the USA and Canada, grandfather clocks have been known as well, grandfather clocks, for well over a hundred years, after the well known Grandfather Clocks Song, which not only swept the nation, but also the North American vernacular.

Historically, in England and Western Europe in general, grandfather clocks were and still are referred to more frequently as Tallcase clocks or Longcase clocks.  The Floor Clock vocabulary has been used on both sides of the Atlantic, and has been reinforced over the years by the major makers of grandfather clocks, including Hermle Clocks, the Howard Miller Grandfather Clock company, Ridgeway Floor Clocks, the Bulova Grandfather Clocks Collection, and Kieninger Floor Clocks.

The grandfather clock and floor clock words are used relatively interchangeably today, even by many grandfather clock shoppers today at 1-800-4CLOCKS.

Grandmother Clocks is another term which is frequently asked about, with the only major difference being the height of the clock. Other than the height, in most instances, the two terms can be used reasonably interchangably.

Oh, and grandfather clocks are sometimes referred to as granfather clocks or grandfathers clocks, or even grand father clocks.  These are just simple common misconceptions of what the correct words and terminology are.

Granddaughter Clocks are smaller, and Grandson Clocks™, actually introduced by 1-800-4CLOCKS much earlier this year, are even smaller.  Keep an eye out for them at a retailer near you.

Some atomic time grandfather clocks by what we would consider to be medium to low quality makers have begun to appear in the marketplace.  All have quartz driven non-mechanical atomic movements, and clocks cases that are not very impressive.

We see two niches just waiting to be filled by the right higher-end clock manufacturers.  Most exciting would be mechanical grandfather clocks, with the usual assortment of best and most popular designs, where the internal mechanical movement would adjust the time on the clock daily based on the US atomic time clock and receiving its signal.  This would allow for a marriage of the best of the old and the best of the new.  Mechanical clocks with high-end movements offer by far the best sound quality for chiming purposes.  These could truly be heirloom quality clocks that would be treasured for generations.  Interior decorators and home designers should take note.

The other niche would be non-mechanical quart driven atomic clocks in the nicest of solid wood cases. The best mahagony, assortment of oak clocks, solid cherry would clocks and more that would be outfitted with battery driven movements that could and would sync regularly with the radio controlled atomic time of the USA’s Atomic Clock.  The only two real downsides here are that these movements do not tend to last as long as mechanical clocks, and their chime sound quality tends to be OK, but not horrible.  The real risk or variable is to ensure these clocks are housed in the proper cases, or they risk being real junk from a furniture standpoint.  Also, buying an established brand basically assures that replacement parts will be available for generations to come, whereas replacing a part of a no-name clock could be an exercise in futility.  Battery driven clocks movements tend to have a much shorter life-span than those of mechanical clocks, when looking at and comparing the better and best ones by the major manufacturers out there today.

We encourage the development of Howard Miller Grandfather Clocks along these lines, Bulova Grandfather Clocks, Hermle Floor Clocks, and Ridgeway Grandfather Clock Collection, among others.

1-800-4CLOCKS believes consumers would benefit from these added choices, and to a great extent preempt the introduction by some low quality brands out there that are beginning to think about clock and timepiece introductions along these time lines.

On shipping a boxed grandfather clock with a freight common carrier, from our experience, the biggest 3 potential problems to prevent are (a) the box-container falling, or (b) pressure-weight being put on-to the box-container from any side, especially above, or (c) the clock not being in an upright position, or on its “back” as a less good secondary alternative (but potential benefits too – see below).

From a positioning standpoint, the best practice in to make certain that the grandfather clocks stands upright during the entire trip, and doesn’t move OR have any pressure applied from any side. If it can’t be shipped standing up, then it can be shipped with the clock’s back facing down (any other than these 2 positions – upright, or on its “back” – would very likely damage the clock). If the clock is on its back, they need to again be careful not to apply weight on top of it or to its side’s, or to let it move around.

For added safety, you-they could always crate it, recognizing that is not inexpensive. They-you might also want to put it on a pallet (using one of 2 positions mentioned above – upright or on its back – ONLY), but that also would add cost.

While 1-800-4CLOCKS is pleased to provide this type of potentially useful advice, PLEASE USE THIS ADVICE AT YOUR OWN RISK.  When packing or shipping individual grandfather clocks, there is always some risk.  We welcome feedback and wil gladly add any additional comments that are helpful or constructive.
They should also have experience in this area, as well as the Shipper they use, so we would also make certain to follow their guidelines and rules and suggestions, and to the extent they might conflict, feel free to ask us our opinion so you can decide what’s best.

Feel free to forward this information to your shipping company if you think it would be helpful. Let us know if they do not agree and or have any additional suggestions on how to most safely ship a grandfather clock.

One of the choices facing Grandfather Clocks shoppers is whether to go with one of the many mainstream grandfather clocks, the very large majority of which have hammers which strike on chime rods, or some kind of alternative.

A great alternative to consider, especially those who have both large homes and want to be able to hear the chimes loud and clear in much of the house, is grandfather clocks with Tubular Chimes. Tubular chime grandfather clocks generally come with either 5 tubes or 9 tubes. The five tube variety is almost always built to play the Westminster Chime, with a choice frequently of only gonging on the hours for the number of hours. The nine tube chime in newer clocks will almost always offer a choice of chimes, such as the Westminster, Whittington or Saint Michaels Chimes. One at a time; never all three together. Antique Grandfather tubular chime clocks are worth a special look as well, and carry their own advantages and disadvantages.

Aside from the tubular chime grandfather clock clock selection currently offered by Howard Miller Clocks, Hermle Clocks, and Kieninger Clocks, Bulova will now be offering many of its clocks with a tubular chime option.

Get ready to see some gorgeous new choices in tubular chime grandfather clocks. Bulova Grandfather Clocks with this option will soon be seen on the 1-800-4CLOCKS website, and perhaps in its Store in Grand Central Station as well.

Howard Miller J. H. Miller II Grandfather Clock Model 611-031 Limited Edition

Now you are in the market for one of those really tall standalone (against a wall) clocks, which has a pendulum swinging back and forth every second, and we even have one or more choices of chimes in addition to the hourly gong which strikes on the hour for the number of hours.  OK, so do you want a grandfather clock, a tallcase or tall case clock, or a longcase or long case clock?  The answer, to a large degree, may depend upon the Continent upon which you were raised on.

Natives of the United Kingdom and Continental Europe by and large will still refer to what Americans call a grandfather clock as a tallcase clock or longcase clock.  To put this in some historical perspective, such clocks were known the world over as longcase clocks or tallcase clocks.

It was not until sometime after 1876 when Henry Work Clay wrote the song “My Grandfather’s Clock” that grandfather clocks started to be known by that name.  The song became so popular,  particularly in the USA, to a point where nowadays a grandfather clock is the term of choice.  In merry old England and the rest of the United Kingdom, not to mention the rest of Europe, as is true with many things, tradition trumps change.   One will still hear of tall case clocks and long case clocks most of the time, frequently with the addition of the grandfather clock terminology only to appeal to a broader audience.

Interestingly, in the experience of 1-800-4CLOCKS,  many people refer to large wall clocks as grandfather clocks or grandmother clocks.  A clock really truly does need to be a Floor Clock, yet another term used to describe Grandfather Clocks, to qualify as a Grandfather Clock.  Less interesting but also noteworthy is that many people refer to grandfather clocks as granfather clocks, or sometime granfathers clocks.  We assume this must be because that is how they heard these clocks described most of the time.

1-800-4CLOCKS will in early 2008 be adding several lines of new wristwatches to its already existing assortment of timepieces, which currently include grandfather clocks, wall clocks, matel clocks, atomic clocks and many more by makers including Howard Miller Clocks, Hermle Clocks, Bulova Clocks and watches, Ridgeway, Kieninger, Movado and many more.

Antique grandfather clocks, as well as new ones by Howard Miller, Hermle, Ridgeway and others have been a staple of the offerings by 1-800-4CLOCKS.com.  On eBay, and on the web, the Company has also sold many antique clocks including grandfather, wall and mantle clocks.  Antique pocket watches have also been a consistent source of offerings, from the many American brands such as Waltham, Elgin, Hamilton to the European including Vacheron, Patek, Audemars, Movado and many others.  Repeaters have been one of many timepiece specialties, including clocks and watches.

Slowly but surely, new brands of wristwatches and pocket watches will be added to offerings.

Visit early and often to see the progress achieved over time.

When wading one’s way through a grandfather clock purchase, especially if it is for the one and only for one’s home or office decor, many savvy and thoughtful buyers of clocks are torn between antique grandfather clocks and new grandfather clocks by companies such as Howard Miller Clocks, Kieninger Clocks, Ridgeway Clocks, Bulova Grandfather Clocks, and more.

It is not an obvious choice, even for those interior decorators and individuals looking to make the so-called correct choice. Antique Grandfather Clocks have obvious appeal because of their potential rich history, generally solid construction, potential fascinating features, usually costing a lot more, which make the clock stand out (e.g. a mercury pendulum, or automata on a antique grandfather clock).

Many clocks experts would also say, and we would agree generally, that if one shops very carefully for an antique grandfather clock, and finds one that is or has the relatively easy potential to be in good working order, has provenance, ideally, and one purchased at a good price, an antique clock will likely, in our opinion, be a better long-term investment.

There are, however, 2 key facts which 1-800-4CLOCKS would advise customers to also consider – and remember we sell both new and antique clocks. The first, and by far most obvious and talked or written about, is that a new grandfather clock, such as a Howard Miller Grandfather Clock or Kieninger Grandfather Clock, will generally arrive with no problems, and relatively speaking, much lower maintenance costs in the years ahead. There is also the much decreased risk that one my be buying a lemon antique grandfather clock which becomes a bottomless pit for restoration and repair. In this regard, buying an antique grandfather clock is not that much different from buying a used car or vehicle. One should have an expert by their side, or at least weigh in based on a solid facts foundation.

The 2nd fact which we see as an ever-increasing change in the years ahead is that more and more so-called antique grandfather clocks one finds for sale will actually be counterfeit reproductions. While this trend has yet to truly reach the mass market, at least with grandfather clocks, we expect it will, and will grow stronger and more powerful, in the next one to five years.

So whatever you do when you are shopping for a grandfather clock, be sure to do your homework, and hopefully as or with a skilled expert by your side.

A fascinating trend in time that 1-800-4CLOCKS had not observed before is the role that grandfather clocks, many frequently just given as Christmas presents, as well as ones that have been around decorating the home for years, are used as a centerpiece on New Years Eve.

At the same time that many have their televisions tuned in to watch the ball come down in Times Square, some of those same people, and many others, use or also include their own grandfather clock as a or the major time marker for counting down the hours and bringing in the New Year.

No single brand seems to lend itself more than any other toward ringing in the New Year, whether Howard Miller Clocks, Hermle Grandfather Clocks, the Ridgeway Grandfather Clock Collection, or Kieninger Grandfather Clocks. The only specific related trend we have observed is to also have an atomic clock to bring in the New Year with near-perfect timing accuracy.

Any special plans for a New Years party seated around a grandfather clock nearing midnight? Write us with any stories you think may be worth sharing!

And Happy New Year and a Healthy and prosperous 2008 to anyone who is reading this post.

The last post in this blog addressed many of the newer features in high-end grandfather clocks, such as auto night shut-off, the introduction of more chimes, and lit dials.  See the post just below for more on this.

We are very interested in any feedback that our readers may choose to either post or email to us, as to what other new features might make for either better grandfather clocks choices and shopping, or make you and people you know more likely to buy a grandfather clock.

Some examples of features we have thought about and heard include:

1. Atomic Grandfather Clocks, using Atomic Clock Radio Controlled technology, for most accurate keeping of time

2. Ability to make mechanical chimes louder and softer.

3. Ability to order a specific clock with the chime or combination of chimes of your choice.

4. Ability to record your own personalized chime.

5. Choice of “same” model but in different wood choices, such as cherry, oak, maple for otherwise same models.

6. Choice of same grandfather clock model and choice of coordinating color of pendulum, weights, bezel, and even cable wiring for cable driven grandfather clocks – such as in nickel or chrome instead of brass.

7. Importance of price in your purchasing decision.  If drastically lower prices are offered for grandfather clocks, would more of the same types of grandfather clock shoppers be open to purchasing them even if they were not branded with the clock brands they know most well.

Feedback on these points would be valuable to everyone in the industry, shoppers and manufacturers and retailers alike.  Please share your thoughts when you have the time.

More and more often 1-800-4CLOCKS is seeing customers purchasing grandfather clocks as heirloom gifts, being given by parents to children, grown children to parents, between spouses, with many as surprises for Christmas or Hanukkah, special birthdays, and as gifts for retirement.

Shoppers are noting that the choices of grandfather clocks are widening, with more quartz grandfather clocks joining the line-up of chain driven grandfather clocks, and even waterfall grandfather clocks joining an increasing selection tubular chime grandfather clock selection.  More brands, including the Bulova Grandfather Clock collection, the Kieninger Grandfather Clocks, and the Ridgeway Grandfather Clock assortment.  Hermle Grandfather Clocks also remain an outstanding alternative.

Features such as lit dials, lighted cabinets, auto night shut-off, volume control, more chimes choices, and more styles, among many other features like tubular chimes, make clock shopping  knowledge and homework more important than ever.  We hope this blog helps in this regard.

Among increasing grandfather clock choices, bargain shoppers and discount hunters are all the time looking for the best deals.  Consumers are fortunate to have more choices than ever to give as gifts now and then to pass from generation to generation.