As the Long Labor Day Holiday weekend begins to wind down, and as floor clock and grandmother clock and grandfather clock shoppers look for the best deal, great floor clocks discounts, and grandfather clocks on sale, we hope all floor clock customers will come take a look at what we have to offer at 1-800-4CLOCKS and 1-800-4CLOCKS.com.

Just this morning, we got a call from a lady in Michigan who had been given a cheap grandfather clock by her grandson as a present, and it had been of such poor quality that a cable had literally simply fell off of and out of the clock.  The floor clock had been purchased at a well known store we had heard of.  Sadly, when she mentioned the name of the clock model, we knew she was a victim of a worthless imported clock brand that names their models after well-known models of well-known and respected clock makers, and them somehow succeeds in selling these pieces of junk to major retailers all across the country.  The customers, because they cannot get the clocks to work, then “Google” or “Bing” the name of the clock, and because we well a completely different type of clock by another maker, but of the same model name, they reach out to us for help.  This nice lady said as soon as she saw the 3 page instruction sheets she knew she was in trouble.  Not only did it not show any clockmaker or company name, but it also gave zero contact information.  The retailer who sold the floor clock to her relative refused to be of any help, at least partly because this grandfather clock gift had sat unopened in her home passed the period when they allow returns according to their stated return policy.

Had this floor clock not been a gift from a close relative, she indicated she literally was so frustrated with her grandfather clock gift she literally would have taken it out back, axed it so that it could more easily fit in a mailable container, and sent it to the CEO of the well-known retailer where this gift was purchased for her.  But she could not, easily anyway, have explained its absence in her home to the relative who gave it to her.  We informed her we could locate a a clock expert in her area, but we both already knew that spending even another $100 on this piece of grandfather clock junk would be throwing good money after bad.

So the point here is that the lowest price or the seemingly best grandfather clock or floor clocks discount may be no discount at all, if it falls apart before it works, or even if it stops working after a year or so.  Another twist on this grandmother and grandfather clock shopping theme is many find out after the clocks they ordered arrive, while they may look in the pictures or on the web like the models of higher priced clocks, they may not only require significant clock assembly, when no grandfather clock plan was called for or advertised, but also the material may be quite cheap, and most certainly they are not getting an heirloom quality grandfather clock or heirloom floor clock they can pass down to generations to come.

What is the lesson learned here.  The key one is even one going for the greatest grandfather clock discount and floor clocks savings and sales, makes sure you are purchasing a quality clock.  One of the best ways to do that is to purchase higher-end brands known for quality floor clocks, and then deal with a reputable floor clock dealer known not only for great service but also being reputable.  We would not surprisingly suggest 1-800-4CLOCKS as the single source for all your floor clocks and grandmother clocks and grandfather clock selection and savings needs.  Sticing with well-respected brands such as Howard Miller Clocks, Hermle Floor Clocks, Ridgeway Grandfather Clocks, Americana Grandfather Clocks and Floor Clocks, as well as Kieninger Grandfather Clocks, is the best way to proceed.  Furthermore, know what you are buying.  Understand the difference between models both within certain makers and between floor clock makers as well.  Only pay for the grandfather clocks chimes you really want, and the floor clock options, with automatic nighttime shutoff and illuminated dials as just two examples.  additionally, do you want a rotating moon phase grandfather clock dial.  What about the pros and cons between brands.  Solid woos cases.  German mechanical movements playing the Westminster Chimes or Schubert’s Ave Maria or Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, or the more traditional Whittington and St Michaels Chimes.  What about a quartz chiming grandfather clock vs an 8 day keywound chiming mechanical movement.  Also, is atomic time or radio controlled time important to you.  These are all factors to consider in your grandfather and grandmother and floor clock decision making and shopping.  We want you to be happy with your Floors Clocks purchases not only now but with the very same grandfather clocks and grandmother clocks for generations to come.

We are proud to be introducing for the first time on 1-800-4CLOCKS.com some Howard Miller Floor Clocks previously not added to the grandfather clocks or grandmother clocks sections of our website, whether viewing by maker such as Ridgeway Clocks or Howard Miller Clocks or by type of clock, including keyound chiming grandfather clocks or single chiming Westminster Chime Grandfather Clocks or triple chime grandfather or floor clocks, which might also include chimes such as Schubert’s Ave Maria Chime or Beeethoven’s Ode to Joy chime.

Some of these clocks have been available for some time, but we try to always offer the best balance of selection or choice, including grandfather clock value,and grandfather clock or floor clock discounts including grandmother clocks on sale.  We are now proud to expand our line to include such Howard Miller Floor Clocks, also known as Howard Miller Grandfather Clocks and Howard Miller Grandmother clocks, including the following:

Howard Miller Raymond Floor Clock 611-182 611182 model

Howard Miller Cleo Floor Clock model 611-172 611172

These two Howard Miller Grandfather Clocks or Floor Clocks will add an excellent dimension to the existing selections of Floors Clocks already available also from other makers including Kieninger Grandfather Clocks, Hermle Floor Clocks, and Ridgeway Floor clocks.

We encourage customer to ask questions so that they know the pros and cons not only between different makers of clocks but also within the product range offered by each floor clock maker, such as cable driven floor clocks vs cable driven floor clocks.

The Howard Miller Cleo Grandfather Clock is particularly interesting because it comes in a Chestnut finish, which is much more unusual than the more typical cherry floor clock and oak grandfather clock finishes seen on many other floor clocks on sale.

We encourage our customers to look at and understand all the makers of clocks, understand the movements inside each floor clock, know what chimes are on each grandfather clock, understand the different chime possibilities, and understand not only the differences between each movement maker, but also the movement chimes and other features that may be available on a floor clock, such as a rotating moonphase, a subsidiary seconds dial, automatic nighttime shut-off, chime-silence option, mechanical vs quartz floor clock movements, and even illuminated dials and lights inside the floor clock case.

Also, it is always a good idea to understand the differences between antique floor clocks vs vintage floor clocks and new grandfather clocks.

Perhaps this should not come as a surprise for grandfather clock enthusiasts, but we at 1-800-4clocks.com have found that a great way to get real and interesting news relating to pretty much all aspects of grandfather clocks, as well as some on wall clocks and mantle clocks, is to simply type into the Google or Yahoo or Bing search engines the phrase news grandfather clocks.

We have found some exciting are interesting timepiece and horological pieces just by looking at this clocks search term on a regular basis.  One also finds what might be considered some of the more fluffy grandfather clock pieces, such as videos by grandfather clock shops and retailers showing rows of clocks, or a YouTube video link to how to wind a grandfather clock or that kind of more very basic feature clock story.

In today’s news search, we saw that what would historically been considered a miniscule amount of mercury in a grandfather clock, just 2-3 ounces, spilled from the pendulum of an antique grandfather clock in the Charlestown Navy Yard near Boston, and it was treated as a HazMat incident by the local Fire Department and other authorities.  When the author of this post was a child, that amount of mercury was considered non-hazardous and was an amazingly fun element to play with (note we are not suggesting you try this at home or anywhere, as scientific knowledge has changed over time).

Some of the best antique grandfather clocks, as well as antique mantel clocks and even antique regulators and wall clocks have mercury pendulums, usually with glass vials containing the mercury, and sometimes also sealed in metal inside the pendulum.  The amazing property of mercury is that it expands and contracts depending upon changes in temperature, and in such a way that it allows for the most accurate timekeeping of pretty much all mechanical grandfather clocks and mantel and wall regulator clocks, with the possible exception of fusee bracket clocks and fusee driven grandfather clocks and grandmother clocks and the occasional fusee wall clocks one is lucky enough to come across.  Yet both antique clocks with mercury pendulums, and antique fusee movement driven clocks are among the most expensive and most collectible of the clocks out there, partly because of their fine movements and relative scarcity in addition to their amazing mechanical timekeeping abilities.

So if you are really into either clock news in general, or grandfather clock or floor clock news in particular, a search engine query along the lines described above is a great way to stay current.

Any clocks news stores you come across that seem particularly noteworthy, please let us know either in the comments section or by emailing us, and there is a good chance we will feature them if we feel our regular readers will be interested.

News Grandfather Clocks search on Google

We could not decide whether to put this post in our Grandfather Clock Blog, or in our Clocks Blog focusing more on Wall Clocks, Mantel Clocks, And Atomic Clocks of all types.   Both of these clocks blogs also focus on wristwatches and pocket watches, including digital timepieces.  So in the end we opted to show off some exciting new technology in the Grandfather Clocks Blog.

This new wrist communication and timepiece device is designed by a company called MetaWatch, and they are referring to this timepiece just below as a smart-watch.  It is supposed to eventually, if not initially, allow access to email, to give current weather and forecasts, to send and receive text messages, and to interact with various other computing features and smarthome control devices, including changing the channels on a television, if we remember correctly.

We would be very interested in hearing about consumer and business reaction to this type of device, as well as whether it could or might somehow be incorporated into a grandfather clock or perhaps a mantle clock.  One unusual use of clocks, which to date we have not sold, is to include cameras in clocks, which can be used either for virtual surveillance or recorded and replayed surveillance.  Some electronics resellers have purchased clocks from us for this use.

We are especially interested in any ideas which might somehow for with a home-based grandmother clock or grandfather clocks.  While to date most all of the digital clocks offered that we sell are Howard Miller Wall Clocks or Hermle Gallery Clocks or Ridgeway Wall Clocks, we have not given up on the concept of digital grandfather clocks and even digital street clocks.   We will soon be offering large LED table clocks and wall clocks, with large numbers and letters in different models, with some showing the day and date.  Some will also feature blue LED time lights in addition to wall clocks feather the more traditional red LED lights.  Atomic LED clocks are not far behind.

The story has been reported, coinciding roughly with the Olympics, that the Big Ben Clock Tower in London will soon be renamed Elizabeth Tower in honor of Queen Elizabeth.  We somehow doubt the Big Ben Clock name change will really sink in, as tradition and history play such a vital role in a country, and in this case, the world’s psyche.  The Big Ben Clock Tower in London’s House of Parliament is thought of by much of the globe as the world’s grandfather clock.

The clock history story and perspective and future dedication have a story that goes like this.

The iconic Clock Tower of Britain’s Parliament-home of the famous “Big Ben” will officially be renamed in honor of Queen Elizabeth II.

Shall we rename our upcoming Big Ben Grandfather Clocks collection the Elizabeth Grandfather Clock Collection.  We think we will wait and see what happens in terms of the adoption of the name in horological and the general lexicon over time, both in the UK and globally.

The 315 ft.-high structure, one of Britain’s most famous landmarks, will officially be titled “Elizabeth Tower.”  This is part of a recent effort by British lawmakers to celebrate the monarch’s 60 years on the throne.   A House of Commons Commission statement stated that official actions are being taken to ensure that the new tower name will be implemented in an appropriate manner in due course.  Construction of the tower was completed in 1858.  It houses a four-faced chiming clock and the famed 13-ton Big Ben bell.

British Prime Minister David Cameron recently announced that the new name was a “fitting tribute to the Queen and the service she has given our country.”

It was generally agreed by those within British government that the honor was a fitting recognition of Queen Elizabeth’s lifetime of dedication and tireless service.

No date or time yet as to when this Big Ben Tower Clock name change may, or we should say rather will, take place.

London’s Big Ben Clock Tower to be known as Elizabeth Tower in honor of Queen Elizabeth

Who does not love a good time or clock related riddle.  Well, we came across on at Dictionary.com the other day, and as a leader in the grandfather clock, wall clock and mantel clock industry, we feel it is especially worth sharing.

This one is also much better than the old one about throwing a clock to see time fly.

This clever question goes as follows – what is once in a minute, twice in a moment, and never in 1,000 years?  Hint – the answer is shorter than one word.

OK, have you put your thinking cap on and figured this clock and time riddle out for yourself, or do you need to keep reading?  The answer is, simply, m.

Hope this is clear to all you clock enthusiasts out there.  Now when you are sitting in your living room furnished with a Howard Miller grandfather clock, a Hermle wall clock, and a musical Rhythm Clock whether Small World or other, you will have an additional tidbit to entertain your family and friends.

Any more time riddles?  Let us know and we will be happy to share them here.  Feel free to post simply as comments, or write to us with our userid grandfatherclocks on eBay.

Hope everyone is enjoying their Summer.

Special thanks to www.Dictionary.com

Many grandfather clock buyers start out looking for wall clocks, only to realize that what they really wanted for their homes were a floor clock, more commonly known and referred to as a grandfather clock.  Some times a customer just realizes the presence and beauty and sound that can come from a traditional grandfather clock, such as a Howard Miller Grandfather Clock, and other times a customer may actually ask to see what they frequently term a grandfather wall clock.  Some of these shoppers mean a traditional or contemporary grandfather clock while others are referring to a large weight drive mechanical chiming wall clock that they nonetheless think of as a grandfather clock.  One of the basic definitions of a grandfather clock or grandmother clock is that it is free standing, and therefore not hung on a wall.  Mind you we always recommend to our customers, as with any tall, large heavy piece of furniture, to anchor it to the wall as well, so the clock could not be pulled down or fall down on unsuspecting victims, either because of childhood shenanigans or forces of Mother Nature, like an earthquake.

In the last six months we have noticed that many of what might be, or have been, considered to be among the higher end retailers, are now carrying more and more cheaply made clocks at seeming too good to be true but actually bad value prices, with many of the  clock models designed to look very much like the higher price and much better quality clocks that they had previously only sold exclusively, e.g. the higher quality mechanical grandfather clocks made by Howard Miller and Hermle Floor Clocks or Howard Miller Keywound Chiming Mantel Clocks, or Kieninger Grandfather Clocks and mantel clocks.  Ridgeway Clocks and Infinity Clocks, not to mention Black Forest German-made cuckoo clocks by the Anton Schneider Clock Company, and we are now seeing what are essentially cheap knock-offs that frequently require assembly, are made of particle board or thin woods not likely to last for very long, and with movements that do not even begin to compare with, for example, the German made mechanical winding grandfather clock movements that are in all the mechanical grandfather clocks and grandmother clocks we currently sell!

Here are some of our highest end most interesting grandfather clocks, which some might think of as grandfather wall clocks:

Kieninger Edwards Grandfather Clock <-[Links to clock on our website - amazing contemporary tubular chime grandfather clock Made in Germany]

Howard Miller J. H. Miller Grandfather Clock <- [also links to our website - another amazing tubular chime clock with German movement, traditional style, Model 611-030 611030]

Also worth a special look are the:

Howard Miller Taylor Grandfather Clock

Howard Miller Reagan Grandfather Clock

Howard Miller Eisenhower Grandfather Clock

Many grandfather clock discount shoppers will come into one of our stores, or call us, and ask to see the Big Ben grandfather clock selection we carry.  Almost invariably, they mean grandfather clocks that play the famous Westminster Chimes, which are also played by the Big Ben Clock Tower in the Parliament Building in downtown London England.  Almost everyone will recognize the Westminster Chime played by Big Ben, because aside from it being the most popular chime by far on grandfather clocks, and besides hearing it in London, it is also the chime played by most Churches in the Western World.  You might want to see www.BigBenGrandfatherClocks.com for more details.

We should probably mention that we are aware that there is a clock retailer out there which uses the very clock-friendly and seemingly instantly recognizable name of Big Ben Clocks, but we have no relationship to them whatsoever, nor do we imagine do they to the real Big Ben Clock Tower in London.

Most modern-day or contemporary grandfather clocks will either have a single chime which is the Westminster Chimes, and if the clock is a triple chime grandfather clock, meaning it effectively comes pre-loaded with a choice of three chimes that the owner can switch back and forth between – but never do while the chime is playing – and the other 2 grandfather clock chimes are likely to be the Whittington grandfather clock chime or the St Michaels floor clock chime.  A small number of high-quality grandfather clocks, which we will highlight below, offer as an alternative to the Westminster Chime the Franz Schubert Ave Maria and the Ludwig van Beethoven Ode to Joy chimes, so these 2 grandfather clocks, pictured below, would come the the choice of the Big Ben Westminster Chime, Beethoven’s Ode to Joy and Schubert’s Ave Maria chime, something rarely found on a mechanical clock.  Mechanical grandfather clocks have a much superior chime sound quality when they come from a German mechanical made grandfather clock movement, as do these two models.

Howard Miller Stewart Grandfather Clock

model 610-948 610948, plays Big Ben Westminster, Ave Maria and Ode to Joy Chimes

Howard Miller Clayton Grandfather Clock

model 610-950 610950, also plays Big Ben Westminster, Ave Maria and Ode to Joy Chimes

It is amazing to look on YouTube or Google or search around the web more generally and to see how many people are buying grandfather clocks or grandfather clock chiming sounds of the virtual variety.  There are a gazillion of widget and other file type sound downloads that not only are customizable, but also replicate the sound, for example, of the most popular grandfather clock chime of all, the Big Ben Tower Clock Westminster Chimes.

People, at least some of them, always like to mix the more traditional with the latest and greatest, whether it is in technology or something else.  Hence flash clocks and flash grandfather clocks and wall clocks and mantel clocks have made a comeback in popularity, in addition to real life, in the world of cyberspace.  There are even desktop applications where one can have the sound of mechanical movement Westminster Chimes recorded from Big Ben Clock Tower itself, or your PC or Mac or iPad can be programmed to wake you up to that any many other chiming clock choices.

Now most connoisseurs of grandfather clocks or timepieces in general will always want the real thing and find there is no substitute for a genuine Howard Miller Grandfather Clock, or one made by Hermle Clocks, or a Ridgeway Grandfather Clock, one of our Museum Clocks™ Grandfather Clocks, or a Kieninger Grandfather Clock.While many of us might like to spend time in the world of Dungeons and Dragons, all of us would ultimately rather live in the Castle equipped with a genuine contemporary grandfather clock or one of the more traditional types of grandfather clocks.

While the economy appears to continue to be strengthening, smart shoppers are always looking to purchase grandfather clocks on sale or get as much off as they can on a discount grandfather clock.  While we always try to address that need, we believe as much in top notch service, including free in-home setup by an authorized technician instead of a moving company, and we are always willing to take the time to educate any prospective grandfather clocks shopper on the difference within and between brands and makers, as well as different types of movements such as cable-driven vs chain-driven, and whether a grandfather clock kit should be considered, along with the pros and cons.  New vs. antique grandfather clocks, grandmother clocks and grandfather clocks, grandfather clock plans, Kieninger vs. Hermle movements, and clock kits and grandfather clock plans, much less cheaply made imports which may be dead on arrival, are all aspects of the purchase of grandfather clocks that we consider.

Most all grandfather clock shoppers want an heirloom quality grandfather clock or grandmother clock.  We aim to see these consumers get their moneys worth and are satisfied with their purchase not only for years but also for generations to follow.

Here are some of the grandfather clocks that have been very popular as of late:

Museum Clocks Grandfather Clock Collection

Museum Clocks™

This one is almost a magical quote, that any grandfather clock or timepiece enthusiast would appreciate.  Music to my ears.

It is, simply, “The only reason for time is so that everything doesn’t happen at once.” -Albert Einstein.

While you might not need a grandfather clock or wall clock or wristwatch or mantel clock, or even an atomic clock, if everything did in fact happen all at once, it would certainly make for some interesting moments.  Sounds like the basis for a potential great new movie!   Martin Scorseze’s Hugo, with its clocks theme, proved to be both a blockbuster and Academy Award winner.

Somehow it seems to this writer that Leonardo Dicaprio should play a/the leading.  It could be a very short timeline, or perhaps it would be a long one.  And probably no possibility of a sequel, but perhaps a prequel if that time has not yet passed.

Mantel Clocks

http://www.1-800-4clocks.com/mantel-clocks.html