When you are looking for beautiful clocks to grace your home, you'll find that mantel clocks, which are narrow and designed to fit on mantels or shelves, might be just the right clock for you. They may be quite plain or they may be decorated with gorgeous porcelain figures, but in many cases, they are usually made from porcelain, ormolu and wood.
The earliest form of these clocks originated in France sometime in the middle of the 18th century. Comparable in size to other chamber clocks, they can be distinguished easily from each other. A chamber clock has a carrying handle, while the mantel clock doesn't have one.
Sometime during the turn of the 19th century, Simon Willard made a famous design of his own. A notable clock maker, Willard patented a completely revolutionary mantel clock that changed future designs forever. This was the Simon Willard Clock and he built his company with the support of his family (particularly his brothers who were also adept clockmakers in Boston, Massachusetts).
Though they may have similarities to wall clocks apart from their size, they actually have totally different mechanisms. The movements of mantel clocks are basically supported by their seat board, while the wall clocks have their movements attached to the backboard.
During the 1790s, Simon Willard was still selling standard shelf clocks and they looked a great deal like tall standard clocks, though they had no body. The hood and the base were associated together to make a complete body and this design came complete with a calender dial and a second hand, though this last was something that was fairly uncommon in the clocks of the time.
These clocks were weight driven, and their extended base went on to help with the weight counterpoint, which gave this clock a running time of one week. There were also run on pinwheel escapements along with the rack and snail for the strike mechanisms. The clock face had a hole in it at the position of the 12th hour, so that adjusting the pendulum weight would not necessitate opening up the clock.
At the time they were invented, these mantel clocks weren't really as popular as the Eli Terry's Clocks that were all the rage. These days, however, the Simon Willard Clocks are referred to as the true masterpieces in American clock making, and there are many different collectors, both for private collections and for museums who search for them. The prices for a pristine specimen can go as high as 50,000 to 250,000 dollars.
Seiko Clocks and Rhythm Small World Clocks are some of the companies that produce modern designs of the mantel clock. Manufactured with metal and other technological advancements, the designs are combined with old-school materials to give it more authenticity. They come powered with standard batteries that they are able to play around 15 variations of melodies such as Whittington and Westminster tunes. Apart from the volume controls, they also feature light sensors that can detect darkness (or during nighttime) so that the clock knows when to turn off the sounds automatically.
Mantel clocks have long been considered a sign of American ingenuity, and if you are looking for a way to get in touch with the American tradition, you'll find that that this beautiful clock might belong in your home.
The earliest form of these clocks originated in France sometime in the middle of the 18th century. Comparable in size to other chamber clocks, they can be distinguished easily from each other. A chamber clock has a carrying handle, while the mantel clock doesn't have one.
Sometime during the turn of the 19th century, Simon Willard made a famous design of his own. A notable clock maker, Willard patented a completely revolutionary mantel clock that changed future designs forever. This was the Simon Willard Clock and he built his company with the support of his family (particularly his brothers who were also adept clockmakers in Boston, Massachusetts).
Though they may have similarities to wall clocks apart from their size, they actually have totally different mechanisms. The movements of mantel clocks are basically supported by their seat board, while the wall clocks have their movements attached to the backboard.
During the 1790s, Simon Willard was still selling standard shelf clocks and they looked a great deal like tall standard clocks, though they had no body. The hood and the base were associated together to make a complete body and this design came complete with a calender dial and a second hand, though this last was something that was fairly uncommon in the clocks of the time.
These clocks were weight driven, and their extended base went on to help with the weight counterpoint, which gave this clock a running time of one week. There were also run on pinwheel escapements along with the rack and snail for the strike mechanisms. The clock face had a hole in it at the position of the 12th hour, so that adjusting the pendulum weight would not necessitate opening up the clock.
At the time they were invented, these mantel clocks weren't really as popular as the Eli Terry's Clocks that were all the rage. These days, however, the Simon Willard Clocks are referred to as the true masterpieces in American clock making, and there are many different collectors, both for private collections and for museums who search for them. The prices for a pristine specimen can go as high as 50,000 to 250,000 dollars.
Seiko Clocks and Rhythm Small World Clocks are some of the companies that produce modern designs of the mantel clock. Manufactured with metal and other technological advancements, the designs are combined with old-school materials to give it more authenticity. They come powered with standard batteries that they are able to play around 15 variations of melodies such as Whittington and Westminster tunes. Apart from the volume controls, they also feature light sensors that can detect darkness (or during nighttime) so that the clock knows when to turn off the sounds automatically.
Mantel clocks have long been considered a sign of American ingenuity, and if you are looking for a way to get in touch with the American tradition, you'll find that that this beautiful clock might belong in your home.
About the Author:
Author Jerry Westfield has worked for years studying mantel clocks and their movements. Jerry is also an expert on mantel clock cases, finishes and their construction.
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