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 A grandfather or floor clock is a sign of wealth and
prosperity. The traditional grandfather clock lends a weight of character to
any common area of the home and is clearly so much more than just a timepiece. Grandfather
clock is not a mere interior decoration piece, but a family heirloom. It looks
good anywhere in your house - in the living room and or in the bedroom, in the office,
and even in the kitchen or hall. The very concept of floor clock suggests that
this is an attribute of luxury lifestyle, or at least something very close.
First mentions of floor clocks are recorded in Britain in
the late 1600-s. At that time, floor clocks were made of hardwood with
precious
metals or decorated with exquisite carvings. Long before the warm wooden
case
of the grandfather clock there were large mechanical behemoths that
graced city
squares and church towers. These enormous clocks spurred the thinking of
many
clockmakers. It would still take more than 100 years for the large gears
of the
church clocks to morph into a timepiece that could be used in the home,
but its
hourly chime was a welcome comfort to many communities. In Russia, floor
clocks
were introduced by the forward-thinking Tsar Peter I who brought one
such clock
from Holland as a gift to his secret cabinet secretary Alexei Makarov.
Luxury Clocks
Leading luxury clock manufacturers offer pieces that are in
no way inferior to antique clocks in high quality and beauty. Some
brands follow
traditions, while others find the most unexpected innovative solutions.
Luxury
grandfather clock, in addition to its main functions, serves a number of
purposes.
For example, floor clocks with a mechanism showing moon phases are
rather
common, and some pieces can double as a showcase for a collection of
porcelain
figurines and vintage wines. Owners can set their own time for chiming
in
manual or automatic mode, and select the most suitable time interval
(every
fifteen minutes, half an hour or an hour). Most often, Westminster,
Whittington
or St. Michael chimes are used in grandfather clocks. Chime can be
turned off
for the nighttime and your clock will be silent till morning.
Luxury clocks predominantly include cable driven movement
clocks, with Erwin Sattler and Matthias Naeschke pieces being on the
high end
of the price range. Exclusive design, unique mechanisms and sometimes
unbelievable technical parameters, of course, are worth thousands
dollars. However,
the demand is higher for the clocks by Hermle, Howard Miller, Ridgeway
and
other manufacturers who offer clocks priced at $5,000 to $15,000.
Hermle
Hermle is one of the oldest and most prestigious manufacturers
of clocks in the world. The company was founded in 1922 by Franz Hermle
and is
still a family business, with facilities in both Germany and the United
States.
Today, Hermle clocks are now exported to an estimated 100 countries
around the
world. Hermle clocks have always been known for their precise mechanical
clock
movements.
Today, the company is still an industry leader in
computerized and automated parts as well as precision quartz movement.
Most of the grandfather clocks in their range
come in a traditional design; however, the company manufactures one
striking
modern floor clock. The contemporary grandfather clock has a
«bullet-proof»
glass front, with a light but solid beechwood frame, an elevated
stainless
steel dial, a chrome pendulum and a precision quartz movement which
provides
the company's trademark accurate timekeeping.
In addition to the precise clock mechanism, Hermle
grandfather clocks feature other stylish features and decorative
elements.
Clocks are beautifully finished in one of several wood finishes,
including oak,
maple and cherry wood. Finishing touches include polished brass dials,
locking
cabinet doors, polished brass lyre pendulums and weight shells and
decorative
beveled glass.
Many Hermle clocks offer a choice of the three most popular
chimes - Westminster, St. Michael or Whittington - and many of them also
offer
the convenience of an eight day key wind movement feature. And pleasant
as the
chimes are, you don't want to be woken up by them - most Hermle
grandfather
clocks include an automatic night shut off feature, which silences the
clock
from 11pm to 7am.
Howard Miller
Howard Miller is one of the most well known and prestigious
clock companies in the world. The company has been manufacturing clocks
since
1921; today they are known just as much for their quality as for their
variety.
During WWII, the company played its part in the war effort by teaming up
with
Ford in the manufacture of anti-aircraft covers. Today, the company
manufactures a range of over 70 grandfather clocks to suit every taste
and
budget, including clocks featuring traditional and contemporary designs,
as
well as more expensive limited edition clocks.
Howard Miller clocks are still made much the same way as
they always have been. The wood used is still carefully checked for
quality,
and although technology plays an important part, the clocks are still
essentially hand-made, with every step of the production process
checked.
The clocks are still made at the company's factory in
Zeeland, Michigan - just as they have been for over 80 years. The time
keeping
mechanism is, of course, one of the most important components of any
clock. And
the company is still proud of the fact that it owns the mechanism of the
clocks
- Kieninger mechanisms - which are still hand made in Germany and which
many
consider to be the finest clock mechanisms in the world.
Howard Miller grandfather clocks feature a wealth of detail
and extra features. Many of them include a locking door, beveled glass,
decorative molding or an illuminated case. On some models, one of the
most
important parts of any clock - the pendulum - features such extra
touches as
banded weight shells, a center disk which matches the dial, or a finish
of
brushed satin.
Their most expensive grandfather clock costs around $15,000
although you can find many models that cost less. Regardless of the
price you
pay for your clock, you can be assured of owning one of the finest
grandfather
clocks anywhere.
Ridgeway
The Ridgeway grandfather clock story is one many decades in
the making. The start of this clock making business dates back to 1920's
America. The company that started making these renowned clocks was The
Gravely
Furniture Company. While the country saw growth in wages and life
expectancy
over the next four decades The Gravely Furniture Company put men and
women to
work defining a quality that became the Hallmark of the Ridgeway
grandfather
clock. It was during the 1960's that The Gravely Furniture Company
focused
exclusively on their Ridgeway clocks.
In 1985 the Pulaski Furniture Corporation purchased Gravely
and added the Ridgeway grandfather clock to their growing line of home
furnishings. The first year of combined sales saw annual revenues in
excess of
$90 million. Pulaski was able to offer the Ridgeway clocks with curios
and
other furnishings that would match and enhance the visual experience of
owning
one of America's premier grandfather clocks.
Dwindling sales in the 1990's and early 2000's saw Pulaski
focusing on home furnishings that were consumer driven. Sadly, the
Ridgeway
clock was not a prime seller during that time and new management at
Pulaski
worked to find a buyer for Ridgeway. That buyer was Howard Miller Clock
Company
headquartered in Michigan. With commitment to the tradition of Ridgeway
and the
connection with German craftsmanship Howard Miller allowed Ridgeway to
flourish
under its own name and with solid American tradition. Ridgeway
grandfather
clocks continue to provide Old World charm while continuing its steady
advance
to its 100-year birthday.
Present-day floor clocks do not require special care, it's sufficient
to wind them once a week, while cleaning and greasing is recommended
every five
to seven years.
With the advent of quartz and electronic clocks we may have
finally solved the question of a more precise timepiece, but in our
technological gain is it possible we have lost the artistic appreciation
of
heirloom quality? Dedicated clockmakers the world over are working every
day to
ensure the joy of grandfather clocks remains something that isn't simply
thought of in relation to history past.
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