We just had a grandfather clocks shopping customer call us last week to say he was looking for a grandfather clock as the ideal Valentines Day gift for his bride.  It was also going to be his gift for their 20th wedding anniversary, whose anniversary date was also fast approaching.

Was the grandfather clock to be a surprise gift or should he consult his spouse?  Perhaps his wife’s mother, he thought out loud.  She would know what the daughter would and wouldn’t like, at least as an excellent second opinion to his own instincts on the subject.  While this individual had tentatively picked out a grandfather clock, he was unsure of the grandfather clock makers, the differences in types of grandfather clock makers, the grandfather clocks movement types, the cases, the woods – just about every aspect.

We talked about Howard Miller grandfather clocks compared to Hermle floor clocks and them many grandfather clock models offered by Ridgeway Clocks, as well as Kieninger Clocks, and our very own Museum Clocks&#0153 Grandfather Clock collection.  We addressed cable driven clock movements vs. chain driven grandfather clocks and tubular chime grandfather clocks, as well as the least expensive quartz or battery operated grandfather clocks.

He knew he wanted  heirloom quality grandfather clock, as well as one which fit with the interior design and furniture in their living room and dining area.  He knew he wanted a gold vs silver, or brass vs nickel or chrome, set of weights and pendulum and bezel and other clock operating elements and decorations.  He wanted something that would be modern and yet classic.  Modern yet traditional if that were possible. And the very highest quality, like one of the antique E Howard Clock Company clock.

And of course he wanted it delivered and unpacked and setup and running in his living room, and for it to be a surprise to his wife as close to if not actually on Valentines Day.  He also wanted to take advantage of our using an authorized technician by at least one of the major clock manufacturers for whom we are Authorized Dealers.  And the container and fillers had to be removed and thrown out as well, with no trace of anything – the grandfather clock should simply appear magically as if it had always lived there!

This wonderful man also mentioned that he and his wife were contemplating moving in a couple of years time. He wondered about how easy or hard it might be to move a grandfather clock once it was all set up.  We pointed to a post we have on both our main 1-800-4CLOCKS website and this grandfather clock blog which explains not only what to do, but as or even more important, what not to do when moving a grandfather clock.  The biggest and most common mistake is to move the grandfather clock with the weights and or the pendulum are still attached.  This can almost immediately break the grandfather clock movement, the suspension spring holding the grandfather clock pendulum in place, and to add insult to injury, lead to breaking the glass in the grandfather clock case as well.  A grandfather clock should never even be moved a few inches this way, much less from one home to another house.

So we know that all of you discount grandfather clock shoppers out there always looking for the best discount grandfather clocks on sale want to know which clock this gentleman purchased.  We will not keep you in suspense any longer.  He purchased the very classic Howard Miller Diana Grandfather Clock model 611-082 611082

Howard Miller Diana Grandfather Clock

Model 611082 611-082

Among the many incredible features of the Howard Miller Diana Grandfather Clock, which because of its size we also classify as the Howard Miller Diana Grandmother Clock, is an illuminated grandfather clock dial, and it has Westminster Chimes and an auto-night shut-off feature option.  The cable-driven mechanical movement is made in Germany by Kieninger Clocks.

We at 1-800-4CLOCKS were more than a little surprised to learn that many people who are looking for grandmother clocks instead search for grand mother clocks.  It’s not a clocks or clock distinction that would normally come up in a retail environment or during the many years we have also dome catalog sales through our toll-free number at 1-800-4CLOCKS, which is 1-800-425-6257.

Do people also ask implicitly for Grand Father clocks when they are searching for grandfather clocks.  It would be interesting to know.  Perhaps if they are performing a search on one of the leading search engines, they might type in Howard Miller Grand Father Clock or Howard Miller Grand Mother Clock.  Until today, this thought had never even occurred to us.  Maybe we should be introducing our newest introduction of Museum Clocks™ Grandfather Clocks and Grandmother Clocks as Museum Clocks™ Grand Mother Clocks and Museum Clocks™ Grand Father Clocks ?

Should we be listing Hermle Grandfather Clocks as Hermle grand father clocks, as the Ridgeway Grandfather Clock collection instead as the Ridgeway Grand Father Clock collection?

Just how common is this what we will term alternate spelling of grandmother clocks and grandfather clocks?  We would appreciate the readers of this Grandfather Clocks Blog, or perhaps we should also call it the Grand Father Clocks Blog, to offer genuine feedback regarding this clock terminology point.

Perhaps there is some entomological source or horological source to support this alternate spelling.  Just when you thing you might know most all there is to reasonably know about the grandfather clock market and the grandmother clock market, you learn that there may also be in fact a grand mother clocks market and a grandfather clocks marketplace.  Live and learn.

Howard Miller Grandfather Clocks

Howard Miller Grandmother Clocks

or should we be saying Grand Mother Clocks by Howard Miller and Grand Father Clocks by Howard Miller

When considering the purchase of a grandfather clock, the single most important criterion for many is that it be an heirloom quality grandfather clock that can be passed along to their children and grandchildren and beyond.  This is not a far fetched goal.  As the author of this blog post sits here, he has a few feet away from him a chiming antique mantel clock that was made in England in the mid-1700s and looks as though it could have been made yesterday.  Even closer is a grandfather clock made by the Waltham Clock and Watch Company, most known for pocket watches but they also made some super high-end quality clocks, made over a hundred years ago and signed on its dial by Tiffany and Company.  This particular clock was special-ordered by none-other than the founder of Coca Cola as a wedding gift for his daughter.  She kept it for her whole life, including keeping it in the lobby of the downtown Atlanta hotel she lived in during the later part of her life.

Even today it is possible to buy grandfather clocks that with proper care and maintenance should last 100 years and possibly much longer.  While we could guarantee it, it would not be a meaningful guarantee for obvious reasons.  The sad reality is that many grandfather clocks sold today may not last more than a few years.  the good news is that all the makers and brands we carry are of the highest quality and construction, and depending upon the type, would fall into the category of the kind of clock that should truly be an heirloom quality grandfather clock that can be passed along through many many generations.

And this is not to say that you still should not seek grandfather clock discounts, and we frequently have many of these grandfather clocks on sale.  Visit one of our 1-800-4CLOCKS store locations and you may even get a better discount.

So who are the makers of these highest quality grandfather clocks?  One is a brand we introduced and will soon be featuring much more prominently on our website and known as Museum Clocks Grandfather Clocks.  Other brands include Howard Miller grandfather clocks, the Ridgeway grandfather clock collection, Hermle grandfather clocks, and Kieninger grandfather clocks. Grandfather clock makers that people still think of today but no longer, at least as we write this, produce grandfather clocks, include Seth Thomas grandfather clocks, Sligh grandfather clocks and Bulova grandfather clocks.  While these grandfather clock collections featured some clocks which were very high quality, for different reasons each of these makers exited the grandfather clocks market.  We would not be at all surprised if one or more of these brands is resurrected in the coming years once again producing grandfather clocks.

Want to know more about the different types of grandfather clock movements and grandfather clocks brands, please let us know.

Museum Grandfather Clocks™ Grandfather Clock

What if you actually gave customers a choice of ordering the very same grandfather clock model, but in either solid oak, solid cherry or solid mahogany.  And then the clock would be available for shipment 2-3 weeks later.

With our newest line of grandfather clocks, very soon to be introduced on our 1-800-4CLOCKS.com website as the newest Museum Clocks™ Grandfather Clocks Collection, which in many cases will be able to be offered in a choice of solid wood Oak, Cherry or Mahogany, or with a Black Satin finish.  In some cases, even though the large majority of our business is to individuals purchasing grandfather clocks as opposed to selling as more of a grandfather clocks wholesaler, in some cases we may require a minimum special run of 10 clocks if it is not a grandfather clock that we stock or make routinely.  We may be willing the carry the grandfather clocks inventory of 9 for ourselves in those cases, so it never hurts to ask.  Just now, we are making a very special order of 2 tubular chime grandfather clocks using the highest quality mechanical 8 Day German grandfather clock movement available, and in an amazing solid wood traditional grandfather clock case with a split pediment and wonderful inlay on the case.  We will also be offering some Museum Clocks™ Grandmother Clocks.  And do not forget about our previously introduced – and we expect a new run soon of our very own Grandson Clocks™.

We still plan on offering our selection of Howard Miller grandfather clocks, Hermle Grandfather Clocks which include their own Made in America series, Ridgeway Grandfather Clocks, as well as Kieninger Grandfather Clocks on special order.  Very astute observers will notice some similarities between our new Museum Clocks™ Grandfather Clocks, and both the old Bulova Grandfather Clock Collection and those Floor Clocks made as Sligh Grandfather Clocks, neither of which are still produced today or in recent years.

Any special wants for a grandfather clock?  A special reproduction of some amazing grandfather clock, or a rare grandfather clock you may own.  It just might end up as the newest introduction of a Museum Clocks™ Grandfather Clock.

Museum Clocks™ Grandfather Clocks from 1-800-4CLOCKS.com

1-800-4CLOCKS.com has always carried only what it considers to be the highest quality grandfather clocks, the large majority of which have high-grade German mechanical movements.  While the cases, while also of the highest quality for their price points, are sometimes not solid wood cases with the same type of wood throughout of the finish in the grandfather clock description.

We know there is an increasing desire, if at can be delivered at good grandfather clocks value price points and discounts, for solid wood clocks, which may have the highest-end German mechanical movements, but also have the cases made in North America.

Before Christmas shopping season with all the attention to grandfather clocks on sale and grandfather clock discounts, we will be introducing two new lines of the highest quality grandfather clocks with solid wood cases of the type of wood described that will be as pleasing to the eye as they are to one’s wallet or purse.

Museum Grandfather Clocks™ will be one of these new lines.  While we have sold clocks under this brand before, these designs with be all new for our label, and will have more choices of the type of solid wood, such as solid cherry, oak or mahogany, in the same exact design.  We also will be able to ship these clocks with 3-4 weeks of a confirmed order being placed, which means on average an additional 1-2 weeks for free delivery and in-home set-up across the Continental USA.   We look forward to being able to share these clocks in general and on our website in the coming days and weeks.

The other main introduction along these lines is the Hermle Grandfather Clock Made in America series, which will also feature solid wood clocks with cases made in North America and Hermle Clock’s fine German movements.  Until we have more specifics on these grandfather clocks, which should be available very soon, that is all we will share for now.

Finally, we are excited about introducing and adding the Americana™ Grandfather Clock Collection to our line.  These grandfather clocks will add another super high quality selection to consider when deciding between the above makers and the more familiar-sounding Howard Miller Grandfather Clocks and Ridgeway Grandfather Clock Collection, as well as Kieninger Grandfather Clocks.  While Bulova and Sligh Grandfather Clock models are no longer made by those respective companies, you will see that we will be offering many but not all of the more popular grandfather clock designs, with comparable quality and worksmanship, in other parts of our complete grandfather line.  That is something that a prospective customer may want to call us about at 1-800-4CLOCKS (1-800-425-6257) to pursue or better understand the grandfather clock design possibilities that may be presently available.

All in all, look for some great new grandfather clock models to be introduced and added to our line in coming weeks and in time for the Christmas Holiday shopping season.

Example of quality of Museum Grandfather Clocks

Helpful clock information about grandfather clock types, whether researching antique grandfather clocks, or trying to get on a great deal and understand which are the best deals, most reliable clock brands, and even understand the basic information of grandfather clock types and features, there are precious few reliable grandfather clock shopping and discount resources to which to look.

At 1-800-4CLOCKS.com, whether in one of our stores, or a toll-free phone call to us, we spend a lot of time talking with our customers to help them understand the types of grandfather clocks available, different grandfather clock styles, the many optional features of grandfather clocks, not to mention the difference between a Howard Miller grandfather clock and a Hermle Grandfather Clock or Ridgeway Floor Clock, or one of our own Museum Clocks™ Grandfather Clocks.

The choice between a new Ridgeway Grandfather Clock, or one of the newer Americana Grandfather Clocks, or one of the Kieninger Tubular Chime grandfather clocks, and an Antique Grandfather Clock, can be quite daunting.  To whom do you turn?  What are the pros and cons of each type of grandfather clocks?  What about the grandfather clock styles? The quality?  The mechanical grandfather clock movements and the differences between them.  The differences between a grandfather clock and a grandmother clock. The different grandfather clock chimes?  the differences between mechanical grandfather clock movements and quartz-driven grandfather clocks.  It’s a long checklist of questions a smart grandfather clock shopper would be want to be sure to ponder, separate from looking for that special grandfather clock on sale or discount grandfather clocks.

Our clocks blogs are also special resources that we have put many thousands of hours into to help online grandfather clock shoppers.  We encourage you to visit each of our blogs on clocks, as well as our main website which features posts or clock articles we feel may be most likely of interest to grandfather clock shoppers and researchers, and those deciding between a new and antique grandfather clocks.

Any special subjects you might like us to cover?  A special post on Ty Pennington and Howard Miller Grandfather Clocks, or Hermle’s upcoming new line of Grandfather Clocks Made in America, or more features on our own Museum™ Grandfather Clock Collection.

We also focus on wall clocks and mantle clocks, by all the highest end makers, including Howard Miller Clocks, Ridgeway Clocks, Hermle Clocks and many more.

Let us know how we can Add Time to Your Life™.

Grandfather Clock Information and Advice

Here is a grandfather clock question which is weighing heavily on our minds as a major retailer of grandfather clocks.  We very much want the input of grandfather clock shoppers, especially those with a keen eye for grandfather clocks on sale and who are looking for grandfather clock discounts, but who still want the highest quality.

Grandfather clock shoppers, at least the ones we target, want varying combinations of the highest quality and best value grandfather clocks.  We find ourselves at an interesting crossroads in terms of the selections we may be able to offer our grandfather clock shoppers.  At a time when the global economy is obviously in stress, there is the unusual dynamic of some very high quality makers of grandfather clocks who are bringing among the very best in quality and value of grandfather clocks to market.  At the same time, the grandfather clock market is being flooded with cheap and poor quality imports, but that is a subject for other posts in our grandfather clocks blog.

OK, so you are a grandfather clocks shopper, and presumably you are reasonably comfortable shopping at our 1-800-4CLOCKS.com website or one of our stores.  But you also look at other websites.  So, what if we offered grandfather clocks which had our own brand name, which would be the Museum Clocks™ (that we have made and sold in past years, but not in large numbers) brand on the dial.  They would have high-grade well-known brand German mechanical cable driven clock movements, and would have solid wood cases made in North America.  Many of the clocks would in fact be inspired by museum quality grandfather clocks and among the most stunning antique grandfather clocks.  Grandmother clocks too!

Might you be as likely to buy a grandfather clock made with 1-800-4CLOCKS’ own Museum Clock™ grandfather clock brand name?  You would recognize the name of the German maker of the movement.  The case would be solid wood and exactly as described and pictured.  There would be a 2 year grandfather clock warranty against against manufacturing defects.

So how much of a premium, if any, might you be willing to pay for a Howard Miller grandfather clock, or one of the Ridgeway grandfather clocks or Hermle Floor Clocks, when you perhaps could get as good or better value, and different grandfather clock designs or models, by choosing one of the Museum Clocks™ Grandfather Clocks from 1-800-4CLOCKS.

Your input and feedback would be greatly valued and appreciated.  And because we are not providing specific grandfather clock comparisons here from which to choose, we fully recognize it will require just a bit of imagination and extra thought on your end.

Museum Clocks (tm) Grandfather Clocks by 1-800-4CLOCKS

The history of grandfather clocks is something we have written a lot about, both in this Blog and on our main website 1-800-4CLOCKS.com.  The grandfather clock, or back in 1650 around the time and in later years was better known as a Floor Clock or Tallcase Clock or Longcase Clock, was first made by abc, based on the principles of xyz, spread throughout Europe, generally from West to East in horological history.  The free-standing weights in a standalone grandfather clock, or Floor Clock, were another identifying feature separating grandfather clocks wall wall clocks and regulators, and mantel clocks, and what many still refer too, incorrectly by the way, as grandfather wall clocks (if the clock hangs on a wall, it is by definition not a grandfather clock or a grandmother clock, even if it still resembles one with its overall look and features).

So when grandfather clock shoppers are scouting about for new grandfather clocks discounts and trying to compare grandfather clocks by brand and features, what are the relevant parts of grandfather clocks history.

It’s really the innovations over the last 20 years that most grandfather clock shoppers, with the exception of those looking only at antique grandfather clocks, will need to understand to contrast and compare.

Here we will highlight some of the key points for focus when doing grandfather clock comparison shopping:

1. Quality – Easily the most important point a clocks shopper may get confused about is whether the grandfather clock brands they are comparing are of comparable quality and worksmanship.  This is especially true over the last decade or two as there has been an increasing tide of cheaply made imports flooding the USA and worldwide grandfather clocks marketplace.  Some of these cheap brands, which not so coincidentally have names that make them sound unusually similar to brands or established makers in general, arrive at the customer’s doorstep if not DOA – dead on arrival – either on life support or requiring much labor on the part of the purchaser to actually put the thing together.  Guess what?  Many of these same brands will have no instruction or assembly manual, and the customer has no idea with whom to follow up.  We know because we get many calls from individuals who have bought these so-called grandfather clocks and are practically begging for help.  Worse yet, many of these purchases have taken place at some of the biggest most well-known and respected department stores — and apparently in many cases, for whatever reason, these customers are not able to get help or refunds there (perhaps it’s because they have already opened the box and started working on it, or too much time has elapsed)?

2.  Buy a well respected brand – the best way by far to ensure that one is purchasing a quality grandfather clock is too stick with known brand names, and ideally also to purchase from stores that actually specialize in grandfather clocks, so that they can be there when questions inevitably arise, and can advise you on the pros and cons of different specific grandfather clock brands, specific Floor Clock models, and different types of grandfather clock movements and the many features which have proliferated in recent decades.

3.  Movements – there are essentially 4 categories of movements for grandfather clocks, in order of popularity and availability -

a. Cable driven mechanical grandfather clock movements – these grandfather clocks are the type that are wound in the dial or face, and generally wound in a circular motion with a winding crank key.  Most all of these movements are 8 days.  Most all nowadays also have three weights and a pendulum in the body of  the clock, and not coincidentally, 3 winding holes in the dial or face above, with winding in each of the holes bringing up each one of the three weights.  Generally the center weight is for time only.

b. Chain driven mechanical grandfather clock movements – while the top quality makers make fewer grandfather clock models with chain-driven grandfather clock movements, these clocks have maintained their popularity for a number of reasons.  The movements tend to be smaller, and the clocks are generally therefore in smaller grandfather clock bases, from a depth, width and even height perspective.  These clocks almost always will have a single grandfather clock chime, generally the Westminster Chime.  They will also have a chime-silence option, and that is usually about the extent of the features on chain driven grandfather clocks.  Many will have a faux (or fake) moondial, meaning it doesn’t revolve and is there purely for decorative purposes.  One of many reasons, aside from the generally lower price points of chain-driven clocks compared to cable-driven clocks, is that so many people have grown up with chain-driven clocks that sentimentality is frequently part of the buying equation.  Additionally, most grandfather clocks corporate gifts or promotional or retirement gifts are of the chain-driven grandfather clock variety.  That is simply a fact.

c.  Quartz-driven or battery operated grandfather clocks are relatively new, but many have been sold, and some are an excellent value.  There are pros and cons to a quartz grandfather clock.  The advantages can, but do not always necessarily include, a much lower price, volume control, auto-night shut-off, less depth, easy set-up, and no need to wind the grandfather clock (let the batteries do the work).  The disadvantages include a shorter movement life, less quality in the sound of any chime or chimes (because one is listening to a recording sound chip on a quartz grandfather clock instead of a real mechanical grandfather clock movement being struck with hammers with the others), and the fact that any somewhat serious clock collector would likely not view any quartz movement clock as a real and collectible clock.

d. Tubular chime grandfather clocks – we hesitate to even include this amazing type of grandfather clock, because generally only those who really know grandfather clocks and are connoisseurs of them, not to mention also having fairly deep pockets, would generally either even know what they are or be in a position to purchase one.  They are generally quite expensive, and even most clock shops do not know how to repair or necessarily even service a grandfather clock of this type.  Tubular chimes grandfather clocks have been around for well over a century, and most have either 5, or more usually 9, tubular chimes, which look like pipes, and are of varying sizes, and they hang int eh back of the case just behind the pendulum.  They usually but not always have cable-driven vs. chain-driven movements.  They usually play a choice of chimes, including Westminster, Whitington and St Michaels, and some play the Canterbury Chimes.  The BIG difference, other than price, is that these clocks have a truly rich and LOUD sound that can be heard far and wide within a house or home.  It is a deep sounding grandfather clock chime!

e.  Newer features – newer features NOT found on antique grandfather clocks, and introduced more recently and referenced in the appropriate context above, include automatic night shutoff options, illuminated grandfather clock dials, illuminated interiors of the grandfather clock when the door is glass, more chime options including the Beethoven Ave Maria grandfather clock chime and the Schubert Ode to Joy Chime, battery or quartz driven grandfather clock movements,  crystal pendulums, curio grandfather clocks, corner grandfather clocks, working moonphase or moondials on the grandfather clocks (there are some antique grandfather clocks with this feature), autowind mechanical grandfather clocks, 21st century and late 19th century contemporary case designs for grandfather clocks, atomic time or radio-controlled grandfather clocks, and other features that we are sure our grandfather clock blog readers will want to point out.

Howard Miller J. H. Miller II Grandfather Clock
List: $25,650.00

J H Miller II Howard Miller Tubular Chime Grandfather Clock 611-031  611031

When purchasing a grandfather clock or grandmother clock, especially when looking online vs. an an bricks and mortar Retail location, one faces a dizzying array of choices.  Some people start by searching on Google, Yahoo or Bing.  Others use comparison shopping websites.  And many many shoppers start their grandfather clocks discount shopping, or grandfather clocks on sale.

Is eBay a good place to look for brand new Howard Miller Grandfather Clocks or floor clocks by other makers?  It can be, but just like shopping online, one has to be extremely careful.  We ourselves at 1-800-4CLOCKS.com have an eBay Store which you can visit at  http://stores.ebay.com/Grandfather-Clocks.  We feature pretty much the entire Howard Miller Grandfather Clock Collection, including Howard Miller Presidential Grandfather Clocks and many Limited Edition grandfather clocks, including tubular chimes grandfather clocks, cable driven triple chime and Westminster chime mechanical clocks, and several chain-driven grandfather clocks.  Quartz, or battery-driven grandfather clocks, are also available, and are almost all at lower discounted price points.

One has a choice of many grandfather clock features, including auto-night shut-off, chime-silence option, volume control (on quartz grandfather clocks only), working rotating moon dials, subsidiary seconds dials, single, almost always Westminster, vs. triple chime grandfather clocks.  A few even have the choice of the Schubert Ave Maria and Beethoven Ode to Joy chimes.  Very few, but some, mechanical grandfather clocks, offer that option.

There are clear risks of buying on eBay, of which one must be keenly aware.  Many of our customers either call us up or shop on our main website after they first find out about us on eBay.  As one of Howard Miller Clocks largest Authorized Dealers, with a Better Business Bureau Rating to date of A, and with much positive feedback on eBay already.  Many sellers of new grandfather clocks are not authorized as dealers for the clocks they sell, such as Howard miller, or Hermle Grandfather Clocks or the Ridgeway grandfather clock collection.  If one buys a grandfather clock from a dealer who is not authorized, any warranty is automatically null and void.  Many shady operators sell well below the most competitive pricing available from Authorized dealers, and may not be dealing in legitimate merchandise, and the seller may be a fraud altogether.

Another risk is that many Authorized Dealers will sell floor models and pass them off as 100% brand new.  So you may end up getting a grandfather clock that has been sitting in a grandfather clock showroom for 2-4 years, having been touched by hundreds or thousands of people, have multiple years of wear and tear on the grandfather clock movement, and finally, may no longer be covered under manufacturer’s warranty (many decent clock dealers are completely unaware of this.

Pre-owned or used grandfather clocks carry with them the risk of developing a “money pit”, poring good money after bad to get, with the potential for many used grandfather clocks.  Many of the same risks exist for antique grandfather clocks, but that is really a wholly different clock purchase proposition.

Finally, while eBay can be a good and safe place to purchase clocks, if you are dealing with a reputable company, like us at 1-800-4CLOCKS, you may be able to get the best deal by visiting one of our stores or simply calling.  We are also very happy to educate the customer about the different types of grandfather clocks, including brands, movements, features, chimes and much more.  Shipping grandfather clocks overseas also creates special challenges.

Howard Miller Tubular Chime Grandfather Clock J H Miller II 611-030 611030

Should a prospective grandfather clocks shopper who is considering purchasing either a new grandfather clocks or perhaps a special antique grandfather clock spotted at a local antique clock or general antiquities store treat them as equivalent purchases.  Not at all.  An antique grandfather clock can have certain advantages, including perhaps a rich provenance, a likely much louder gong or strike sound on the hour or half-hour, perhaps greater investment potential, and maybe even some unique design, or less likely special grandfather clock feature, which would make it especially endearing to a floor clocks shopper.

At the same time, when one is buying an antique grandfather clock, the first phrase that comes to the mind of this experienced grandfather clock shopper is caveat emptor.  Two of the biggest and very real risks are, first, and perhaps most likely, that one will end up purchasing a grandfather clock that ends up becoming a project clock, and at the same time a money pit, and may not ever work as well as the way a brand new grandfather clock would work.  In these circumstances, it can not only be harder and much more expensive to find a qualified repair person to fix the clock, but then the risk of parts not being available, or need to be custom-made at some real expense and likely time delay, starts to come into play.

The second biggest risk when considering the purchase of an antique grandfather clock is that the clock may in horological terminology be known as what is called a marriage.  Now while in our civil society “a marriage” is generally considered a good thing adding value to society-at-large, in serious clock collecting and investing nomenclature, a “clock marriage” is a “dirty term”.  It means that the case and the movement, and/or perhaps other parts as well, were not together when the clock was first made, but were put together at some point more recently.  While there can be many good reasons to do this, such as if a clock is in a fire and is rebuilt in a new grandfather clock case or fitted to an older one, it will not be considered a “genuine clock” by serious collectors, and any investment value may essentially be lost.  While many marriages can be skillfully hidden, most real expert clockmakers will be able to spot a marriage if they take apart the clock and look inside.

Antique grandfather clocks will also likely not have the same great chime selection, the vast majority being time and strike only, not will the have what we refer to as the “bells and whistles” that many of the new clocks have, such as automatic nightime shutoff, chime-silent option, lower volumes overall, more of a choice or perhaps any actual chimes, and working right out of the container, just to name some of the highlights.

New clocks, such as those made by Howard Miller grandfather clocks and Hermle Clocks, and Ridgeway Grandfather Clocks, Bulova Grandfather Clocks,  the Kieninger grandfather clock collection, and the soon-to-be-unveiled Americana Grandfather clock collection (which we are very excited about).  Most all of the mechanical grandfather clocks have German 8 day movements, and are highly reliable, and have solid wood cases.  What you pay for is what you get, and a grandfather clock customer knows what he or she is getting.  Other options can include illuminated dials, chimes including in addition to the most popular westminster chime, also the Ave Maria and Ode to Joy chimes, which were only even introduced on grandfather clocks in recent years.

When purchasing a new clock, there is also the possibility of purchasing a Limited Edition Grandfather Clocks, many of which are quite spectacular, and even Howard Miller’s Limited Edition Tubular Chime Clock known as the JH Miller II Grandfather Clock.  The Howard Miller Presidential Grandfather Clock Series and the Ambassador Collection made by Howard Miller also offer the highest-end grandfather clocks they make available, and are probably the most highly sought after brand of grandfather clock today.

The reasonably recent introduction of grandfather clocks, wall clocks, and mantel clocks designed by Ty Pennington for Howard Miller as certainly added to the cache of the brand.

New grandfather clock vs. antique grandfather clocks – it’s a combination of personal preferences and a role of the dice.   In any event, first do your grandfather clock research, ideally with the help of an experienced professional.

Below is a picture of a Hershcede Antique grandfather clock in a Gothic style that stood in a large Church in New York City for probably at least the last 80+ years.  We will soon be putting this clock up for sale, but here is a sneak preview:

Hershcede Antique Grandfather Clock Gothic from NYC Church Westminster Chimes

Howard Miller Reagan Presidential Grandfather Clock