How does one define the difference between a vintage grandfather clock and an antique grandfather clock? Many people will refer to clocks that are 20 years old as antiques, and as someone who is considerably older than 20, I find that rather frightening. Having said that, when it comes to cars, our understanding is that automobiles are legally defined as antiques when they are 30 years or older, and even can then qualify for special license plates which include the antique designation for those autos. When growing up, the author of this bog post always thought of antiques as being items that are 100 years or older, and that is the definition we use for whether a clock is an antique clock or not. If the clock, whether it’s a grandfather clock or mantel clock or wall clock, if it is less than 100 years old, but more than say 10-20 years old, we would consider those to be vintage grandfather clocks, vintage wall clocks, or vintage mantle clocks.
Whether a clock is a vintage grandfather clock or an antique grandfather clock is a question we get frequently, especially from people who want to sell their grandfather clocks or grandmother clocks to us. In general, 1-800-4CLOCKS.com will only consider buying antique clocks, meaning ones 100 years or older, although we frequently buy newer and vintage wristwatches and pocket watches, as well as antique pocket watches, especially watch collections and pocket watch collections, and whether the timepieces are working or not. In general, unless an older but not antique clock is highly unusual, because of its rarity or the clock’s functionality or special features, we would not be interested in purchasing it. Some examples of clocks we have purchased which are not antique clocks and fit into this category include Atmos Clock by LeCoultre, and the Dent Inclined Plane Clock, and some mechanical clocks with unusual automata, including congreve clocks, astrolabiums, an orrery or orreries, a tellerium, the occasional astroregulator, and perhaps some unusual Art Deco clocks as well. We always keep an open mind, so we always encourage people to ask. Timepieces of many kinds may be of interest.
The worth of a vintage grandfather clock or mantel or wall clock is another area where we get many inquiries daily. It is not infrequent that someone calls inquiring about whether we have the xyz clock in stock, and when we tell them no, they then offer that they actually own xyz clock and want to know how much it is worth. We will usually suggest they either look at completed auctions on eBay or at the website AntiqueClocksPriceGuide dot com, which charges a we believe modest and sliding subscription fee, based on the length of time access, for various time intervals. How much is my Howard Miller grandfather clock or my Ridgeway grandfather clock worth are 2 other of the many frequent questions we get. Another is do we buy them (no, but we generally would suggest either selling them on eBay or listing them on Craigslist, and in that case also being very careful for your personal safety. Great pictures and descriptions, as well as having the Buyer be responsible for pick-up and/or shipping, would be smart moves for any seller. The Howard Miller website has a link which gives the MSRP (Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price) for all of the grandfather clocks they have sold over their history. One simply has to input the howard miller grandfather clock model number. Vintage Ridgeway Grandfather Clocks owners are not as fortunate that way, as the records of all of the serail numbers, and even many of the old clock catalogs, have as we understand it been lost in either a flood or fire for records regarding grandfather clocks and mantle clcoks and wall clocks that are over ten years old. Hermle clocks and Kieninger Clocks, as well as Americana Clocks including grandfather clocks do not historically have any serial numbers.
Wristwatch brands that we are always on the lookout to purchase include but are not limited to Omega, Rolex, Movado, IWC, Vacheron Constantin, Patek Phillippe, Breitling, Audemars, Hamilton, Tiffany, Cartier and many others. Pocket watches, even including non-working watches and parts and even old tools, include Waltham, Elgin, Hamilton, Cartier, Tiffany, IWC, Vacheron Constantin, Patek and many others, including older European pocket watches whether working or not.
We hope this post helps owners of vintage clocks, including vintage floor clock owners, vintage wall clock or regulator owners or people acting on behalf of owners, or vinatge mantel clocks or table clocks or desk clocks. Vintage alarm clocks too.
Vintage Clocks