During this downturn in the economy, now is a great time to be buying that grandfather clock you always wanted. You will find some great deals (and some pretty rotten ones too). In this article I will give you some steps to help you find a style you like, give you some shopping ideas, show you what to look for when doing a clock evaluation and help you recognize often overlooked signs of alterations.

So how do you pick the grandfather clock you always wanted? First you need to do some research and get to know what a grandfather clock is and is not, who made or makes the best clocks within your budget, what features are available and what package or style will fit you décor.

What kind of grandfather clock do you want?

When researching the grandfather clock, it is best to establish what your buying criteria are. What package or style do you want – American or European? What period: 1800, 1900, 2000? What height limits do you have? What color and wood are you looking for: Walnut, Cherry, Maple, and Birch? Do you want a grandfather clock with or without sound? If you want sound what type: bell, chimes, and or tubes? Finding the style you like can be overwhelming.

At the Antique Clock Price Guide (ACPG) site they have more than 673 color photographs of Longcase/Grandfather clocks to help you with style selection. You might join the ACPG for a month to get details on the current prices, availability and the last known bids on this style of clock.

Armed with this information, start by looking through shops on the Internet, the ACPG site, craigslist, and EBay. Call around your local shops.  If you have a distinct style or type of grandfather clock in mind this will help you narrow your search.  Do not get discouraged or frustrated.  Most likely it will take time to find that special clock for the family. I cannot place enough emphasis on this; you or someone that you trust must look at the clock in person.  

Until you can see and touch the clock in person you may be able to get the owner to video the clock inside and out under bright light. When you have found that special grandfather clock, do not let your emotions overwhelm you.  This is where most people make mistakes. It may be the greatest clock you have ever seen and you can hear it calling your name (in which case you might want to consider medication).

Maybe so, but what do we know about this grandfather clock?  What is its history?  Is it mechanically sound? Are there hidden and potentially expensive repairs ahead? You have time now before you buy to learn what if any problems may exist. Taking a closer look at this new beauty may save you from buying into a money pit or a grandfather clock that has a sound that will drive you nuts. Now if you are buying this as an antique or investment, you will need some guides or standards to keep in mind. If the grandfather clock was damaged, is repairing it acceptable, or does it devalue the grandfather clock?

Has the movement been replaced or altered from the original? All of these questions are important if this is an investment; otherwise, you may not care. If you consider reselling it, knowing this information will help you in the future. Some owners keep a log of the history of their grandfather clock; who owned the clock, repairs, replacements, changes. 

The history of this grandfather clock will add depth, color, and character to any clock at resale time. And in the process you may be able to tell the story or fill in the blanks when someone asks, "if this grandfather clock could speak what stories it could tell?"

The grandfather case tells all.

So what do you look for beside the grandfather clock history?  Let's start with the case or exterior. Does it show any signs of damage, missing moldings, veneers, or decorations? Has the finish changed color or is it damaged? Does it have a bullet hole? Most finishes before 1800 were wax and oil. Around 1800, shellac was the dominant finish. You can identify this finish with a water test on a hidden area; does the finish turn white under a drop of water? If it does, it is shellac. Shellac was used until the 1920s and 1930s when it was replaced with lacquer.

Signs of wear on the case are often acceptable, and in some cases expected. But unusual or severe damage   to the case could be signs of a clock that was dropped or a sign of other damage that could affect the performance or value of the grandfather clock. Make sure to look inside the casing. 

Do you see any signs of repair or modification? Look for cracks that are visible inside the case.  If the crack goes completely through the case, see if it is in a structural section of the case (here we are worried about what effects moving the grandfather clock to your home will have and, if it will affect the sound or tone of the grandfather clock.

While we are looking at the inside of the grandfather clock, look for smooth planed wood that is not visible from the outside of the case. This could be an indication that section of wood was replaced. The reason the wood should look unplaned is that cases made before the turn of century were planed by hand, so to reduce expense, it was common to plane just one side of the wood. Another area is screws.  

Are there any new, polished, or Phillips head screws anywhere inside or outside of the case?  The Phillips head screw was not patented until 1936, so it is unlikely you would find this type of screw in a grandfather clock built before 1936. Most if not all the wood screws of period were a slot head screw, although hex heads were available.

Do not overlook signs of alteration inside of the case.

Next we want to look at the actual grandfather clock movement. Inside, check for unfilled screw holes, discoloration or ghosting near the movement, this may indicate that the movement was replaced or a part of the clock was replaced with a newer piece. Ghosting could also indicate that an upgrade was performed. If so, the less expensive movement was replaced with the components of a more expensive movement.

This could have been done because the owner wanted to upgrade the clock or someone was trying to pass this grandfather clock off as a more expensive model. Check for an original label – it does add value. Then check the dial for a signature and make note of this information. Check if the dial is paper, brass, silver enamel, painted wood, or painted metal. Check the hands are they the right size? Does the minute hand reach to the outside of the numbers? Does the hour hand reach to the inside of the numbers?

Check the Clock Movement.

Check the movement.  Is it dirty, rusty, or corroded? If so, this will most likely signify needed repairs. Does the movement keep time accurately? Does the movement just keep time or does it strike? Is it a 30-hour, 8-day or 31-day movement? Is the movement made of wood, brass, or steel? What type of escapement – pendulum, balanced wheel, or verge? Check the gong, chime rods or bells.  Are they present?  Are the hammers all present and working?  If the movement uses chimes, make sure all the chimes are present and make a reasonable tone.

Check the Glass and Mirrors.

Glass and mirrors from 1800-1900 were not as polished, smooth and as flawless as today's glass. It was common to find imperfection in the glass such as small bubbles or discoloration near the edges (and it is often more valuable). Check the mirror backing for signs of restoration or replacement with a newer mirror. Check any painting to see if it is newly refinished or restored.

Now you are ready to buy.

If the grandfather clock meets your overall qualifications, then you're almost ready to buy. Repairs would be common for a clock that is nearly 200 years old. If you are satisfied with the repair work and it is not excessive, everything should be fine. Just remember:  the fewer repairs or restoration needed, the more valuable the clock will be.

I hope this helps you find the clock of a lifetime! Next before you buy or sell a grandfather wall clock you will need to read this article on "How To Buy Or Sell A GrandFather Wall Clock".

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Tags: 31-day movement, 8-day, antique clock, antique grandfather clock, Clockmakers, Clocks, Ghosting, grandfather clock, longcase clock, pendulum