How do you find a good grandfather clock? This is one of the most frequently asked questions I encounter. First you will need to ask yourself the following three questions: Are you buying it as addition to match your furniture? Are you someone who loves precision timepieces? Or, are you buying it for an investment? If you are the latter, then see my article on buying antique grandfather clocks.

Look for style.

If you are buying a grandfather clock as an addition to your décor, great! You will be able to choose from many styles and types that will fit almost any décor you have in mind. First, you will need to decide on the style; old world, contemporary, or modern. The style that best fits and works with your décor will be obvious when looking through the vast selection of grandfather clocks available.

The major manufactures are; Bulova, Sligh, German Hermle, Ridgeway, Kieninger and Howard Miller. Howard Miller is a good product but they are mass produced so you must inspect and pick carefully. The color and finish will be the next important decision.

Most grandfather clocks that are in production today will use veneers of the wood style you like over a solid cherry, ash or oak; rare or special solid woods are rarely available in production today. If you want a solid wood like black walnut, mahogany, or one of the rare hardwoods you will have to look into antique grandfather clocks or consider having one custom made.

Look for high quality.

Always remember: as a buyer, you must examine the individual cabinets as closely as you would other pieces of furniture, always looking for the highest quality in fit and finish. Do not overlook the clock’s long-term value; this purchase will outlast most of your décor (and a good one will outlive you).

So always up for the higher quality grandfather clock even when the price tag is 30-40% more. Never allow yourself to be sold a cabinet that has any MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) in the cabinet and do not let anyone tell you MDF is OK. It is not.

If MDF is used, it will be on the inside of the cabinet, the cabinet sides and/or the bottom to save money. This is the material that is used in cheap furniture and you know how it looks after a few years (and especially after a few moves). Some of the manufacturers build just the furniture cabinets and install a ready-made clock movement much like an add-on accessory. This is fine for a standard run of the mill clock, but don’t mistake it for a precision timepiece. It’s not!

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Grandfather clocks are precision timepieces

If you are in the market for a precision timepiece there are three major manufacturers of movements, Kieninger, Hermle, and Urgos, all German. If you are a first-time clock buyer, I recommend you ask for a Kieninger mechanism with chimes mounted on the back of the mechanism (rather than chimes mounted on the side) and cable driven (rather than chain driven) with three weights. If they only use Hermle movements then ask that if it can be fitted with a model 1171-850 movement, which is as good as any Kieninger mechanism.

Where to look for a grandfather clock.

When selecting a grandfather clock it is best to choose your timepiece from a store that only deals in clocks. Moreover, try to buy from someone who carries multiple manufacturers so you can see the differences and compare the fit, finish and quality. Do not buy the clock unseen.

When at a county fair the other day, a dealer had three manufacturers on display. It was easy to see the grandfather clocks that were hand-assembled with quality in mind and which were just assembly line products. Even so, he is not someone I would buy a grandfather clock from. Not because he wasn’t a nice, knowledgeable, man (he was), but mostly because he has no store front. Without a store, service will be left up to a local repair business.

Here are some additional tips to consider when buying the grandfather clock.

Do not buy the less expensive model; you most always get what you pay for. If you select a clock with a Kieninger mechanism, you will probably get a really nice and durable clock.

Inspect the clock in the store.

While you are at the store, you want to make sure to look for dents or scratches on the surfaces of the weights and pendulum and have such problems fixed before you buy.

Next look the cabinet over, look for discoloration, bad-fitting joints, screws that are disfigured or mangled. Then look at the door: does it close easily or does the lock hold it closed? If the door must be locked to stay closed, the door is warped – do not buy it. It will only be a hassle to get fixed later.

Then check all the seams with a strong flashlight. You are looking for misfitted joints or joints that don’t mate with the other wood. These too could be indicators of future warpage of the wood.

Which clock did you buy?

Do not, “take one like it from the factory” or any other such nonsense. Remember, a grandfather clock is a precision timepiece and after inspecting it, make sure it is the clock you sign for. If the grandfather clock is handmade, no two will be the same.

One manufacturer, Bulova, I am told, assigns a single person to assemble, test and certify the grandfather clock is of the highest quality before it is shipped. You can see that differences will occur from craftsman to craftsman, so it is best to rely on your inspection at the store.

Who will service the clock?

Finally, you need to find a good reputable clock repair/maintenance service. Hopefully, this will be the same place you buy your clock. But talk to people. Word of mouth is usually the best. You will need someone who will set up the clock if it is moved, someone who will service it, and to call if needed after the warranty expires. A grandfather clock is a mechanical clock and as such, it will wear over time. To keep the wear to a minimum, the clock must be oiled and checked every five years. If signs of loss of accuracy occur, you must have it looked at as soon as possible.

If a problem exists it will only get worse the longer you wait and the cost to fix it will grow. Enjoy the hunt for that perfect clock, one gentleman told me he and his wife had been looking for just the right clock for many years and had finally found the one they always wanted. So be patient.

Your grandfather clock is out there. You just have to find it. In my next article we will cover the pros and cons of doing grandfather clock repairs.

Michael

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