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.

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.

How long has it been since you have been shopping for a grandfather clock, or even seriously thinking about the many choices available to a grandfather clocks shopper.

Choices and features for buyers of grandfather clocks are increasing all the time, and there is every reason to expect this trend to continue. Here are just some of the features that have either been introduced only in the last few years or are finally gaining in popularity:

1. Automatic night shut-off.

2. Increased choice of chimes, including Westminster, Whittington, St. Michaels, Ave Maria, Ode to Joy and Bim Bam Chimes.

3. Automatic winding mechanical clocks - benefits of a mechanical movement but one never has to wind it.

4. Illuminated dials.

5. Lit insides of the center of the grandfather clock

6. Much more of a selection of less expensive quartz or battery operated grandfather clocks.

7. More of a selection of smaller or shorter grandfather clocks, also known as grandmother clocks, with more designs which act as great home decor accent pieces.

8. Much more of a stark contrast between the mass market cheaply made imports from China and other countries, along with generally decreasing prices for even the nicest clocks as domestic makers feel both price pressure and take advantages of sources for lower cost components.

While clocks might appear to be a somewhat staid market, the same pressures for technological innovation, international competition, and price pressures are at work in this market. The grandfather clock market is changing all the time.

With Election season really beginning to heat up, it would appear to be a good time to highlight the AMAZING line of Howard Miller Presidential Series Grandfather Clocks.  These Clocks, such as the Howard Miller Eisenhower Grandfather Clock pictured below, are generally grander and more ornate than most of the other collections by Howard Miller.  Also especially worthy of note and time looking into is the Howard Miller Ambassador Collection of Grandfather Clocks.  Finally, the Limited Edition Howard Miller Clocks are a site to behold as well, some of which cut across these other of these categories.

The five grandfather clock chimes, including Westminster Chimes, Whittington, Saint Michael’s, Shubert’s Ave Maria and Beethoven’s Ode to Joy are now ALL (finally) available on the 1-800-4CLOCKS website for the clocks that play them.

While looking at Howard Miller, there are many other fine makers to explore as well, including Hermle Grandfather Clocks, Kieninger Grandfather Clock Collection, Ridgeway Grandfather Clock Series, and Bulova Grandfather Clocks.

Look at and enjoy these great timepieces which make absolutely wonderful heirloom gifts which will last for many generations.

Howard Miller Eisenhower Grandfather Clock from Presidential Series Model Number 611-066

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.

When comparing the thousands of choices of new grandfather clocks available, it is well worth contemplating how today’s clock time offerings offer a much wider variety of Grandfather Clocks, including Contemporary Clocks designs, Furniture Trend Designs, Mission Style Grandfather Clocks, and even the recently  introduced Waterfall Grandfather Clocks.

To be sure, one can find a grandfather clock that is likely to be very similar to the clocks owned by your ancestors, or by the friends or relatives of houses nearby that you got your first real experience with a grandfather clock.

A new day has dawned in clock design, and now it is reasonable to say there is almost something for everyone (whether it is affordable or not for some-many-most is still open to question).  New designs include chrome and silver plated nickel. Non-traditional shapes and sizes, many of which are true feats of design, offer a smorgasborg of options from which to choose.

Grandmother Clocks have also experienced a renaissance, with many many more styles available from which to choose.

And the chimes ….. Most grandfather clocks used to be only time and strike, with Many Westminster Chime clock chimes as well being out there.  Nowadays, clock chime choices include but are not limited to the  Westminster Chimes, Whittington Chimes, St Michaels Chimes, the Schubert Ave Maria Chimes, and Beethoven’s famous Ode to Joy.  Listen and be amazed!

     Howard Miller Model 615-052 Oasis Water Fountain Clock