Antique Clocks Guide: Understand The Different Types of Antique And Vintage Clocks
Antique clocks are much sought after pieces. Collectors the world over look to find antique clocks in good condition to add to their collections.
There are passionate collectors the world over. For anybody looking to buy an antique clock it is essential that they learn how to recognise the different types of antique and vintage clocks. This article will provide a basic overview of the types of antique clocks you are likely to find on the market today.
The art of clock making goes back centuries when it was considered to be a highly desirable skill. Many antique clocks built in those days were very built with intricate and precise machinery that still compares favourably even against clocks today that have been made with the latest technology.
While many of the very oldest clocks are only available to view in a museum there are still a number of antique clocks on the market that come in all kinds of different shapes, styles and designs. Listed below are the different type of antique clocks you’re likley to still see today.
Antique Lantern clocks
This is the oldest form of collectible clock you can find. Its name was taken from the word latten, meaning brass which became the lantern clock’s standard material.
Antique Lantern clocks are the oldest of all collectible clocks you are likely to find. They were called Lantern clocks as they resembled the candle lamps used in the 16th Century. The clocks were first made in the 1500 but didn’t become popular until the 16th century.
The earliest Lantern clocks were weight driven. They would usually run for 12 hours before they had to be rewound. It was common for these clocks to need to lose or gain 10-15 minutes to the clock on a daily basis.
The Lantern clocks were all made in much the same way until 1660. In this year the Dutch astronomer and physicist Christiaan Huygens invented the pendulum which helped the clocks stay in time more and was subsequently adopted by the rest of Europe. The Lantern clocks become obsolete in the 1800’s but they are still highly regarded as collectible antique clocks today.
Antique Mantel clocks
Antique Mantel clocks are very popular collectible clocks. They are often small and decorative and as the name suggests are intended for a shelf or mantle.
The French made decorative ornamental mantle clock sets in the early 19th which are still highly sought after today. These ornamental mantle clock sets were made up of two separate ornaments that sat next to the central mantle clock.
Prior to this, the English led the way in the production of mantle clocks. Throughout the 1700’s England produced the majority of these clocks. Then in 1800’s French and German clock makers began to make mantle clocks in higher numbers. The mass production of mantel clocks is generally attributed to clockmaker Eli Terry.
The first mantle clocks were made in France around in 1750 to 1760 and were based on the Regency Bracket clocks. This is one reason why old mantel clocks bear a similarity to bracket clocks.
Antique Mantel clocks are very decorative and intricate. Their small size also makes them a desirable item for a collectors as they can easily fit inside homes.
Antique Bracket clocks
The earliest forms of bracket clocks were made around 1658 in Holland, reaching the peak of their development in England. They are so called bracket clocks because they had to be mounted on a bracket on the wall to give room for their hanging weights.
The Antique Bracket clock are a portable style of clock. They initially required a bracket on the wall to allow for their weight. The weights were later replaced by springs.
Bracket clocks drive their mechanism by relying on a coiled spring with a short pendulum instead of a long weighted one thus they are also referred to as spring clocks.
There were three main types of Antique Bracket clocks. These were, Dutch Bracket clocks (also known as Haagse), French bracket clocks (which were also known as pendules religieuses) and English Bracket clocks.
The production of the English bracket clock only stopped because of the outbreak of World War One.
Antique Longcase clocks
The Antique Longcase clock is considered to be one of the most well-known of all the antique clock styles. Longcase clocks are usually called Tall Case clocks in the USA. The Antique longcase clock is also commonly referred to as a “Grandfather clock”, “Grandmother clock” and “granddaughter clock” in some circles. The Grandfather clock is slightly larger than both the “Grandmother” and “Granddaughter clock.
These tall and elegant clocks are often passed between as heirlooms between families. They clocks are free standing and are known for their swinging pendulums and their hourly chimes.
Having the case of the grandfather clock will increase its value. This case is made up of a variety of wood including walnut, oak and mahogany. Grandfather clocks need to be rewound every 30 hours to 8-days.
Most of the Antique Longcase clocks were made in London between 1750 and 1850. There are many of these English Antique Longcase clocks on the market today due to the fact that so many build during the period.
Antique Carriage clocks
Carriage clocks are very small and were ideal for travelling. The Carriage clocks were developed in Austria and were then made by the French in 1800s until they gained popularity in England in the 19th century.
Antique clocks were originally very popular because of their size and also they were priced more modestly then other types of clocks.
While the French generally made more Antique Carriage clocks, arguably, the best quality clocks are to be found from London clockmakers.
When people refer to “Antique Clock types” they are usually referring to the type of case the clock has. Antique Carriage clock can be categorised into their respective types such as; Plain, Panelled, Engraved & Miniature.
Carriage clocks usually mark the time by playing chimes, songs or notes and chords. Some older carriage clocks are collected as they contain gemstones and other precious and intricate designs.
Rare carriage clocks still retain their value and are highly sought after by collectors.
Antique Wall clocks
As the name suggests, Antique wall clocks can be mounted onto a wall.
The first wall clocks were made in the 1700’s in England. Antique wall clocks are among the largest categories of available Antique clocks to buy. They are also among the oldest forms of clock designed to be used in the home.
The majority of the dials will be painted wood or silvered brass and will always be protected by a glass cover.
Wall clocks were once very much in demand as many people believed them to be the best quality clock available on the market. They were often handmade and that only enhanced their value.
The popularity of the wall clock means there are many different types available today.
These types include:
• Antique Cuckoo clocks
It is so named because of the sound it generates to strike the hour. Every hour, a door on the clock opens and a figurine comes out as a cuckoo sound is made which is equivalent to the time of the day.
The cuckoo clock gets its name from the sound it makes every hour. On the hour, a door with open on the clock and a small figurine appears form the doors and a cuckoo sound is made to indicate the time of day.
Antique cuckoo clocks need some maintenance as most of these clocks must be wound up on a daily basis, although there are some that can last up to 8 hours without having to be rewound.
The two main types of Antique Cuckoo clocks are the musicial and non-music clock.
There are 2 distinct types of cuckoo clocks, the musical and the non-musical cuckoo clock. The musical ones include a melody after the cuckoo and have 3 weights while the non-musical only has 2.
• Old wag-on-the-wall clocks
a popular kind of wall clock that has its weights and pendulum hanging below it.
• Old regulator wall clocks
these look very much like the Grandfather clocks but are usually more accurate with their timings.
• Old banjo clocks
the old banjo clock was patented by Aaron Simon Willard in 1802. Production of the old banjo clocks stopped around 1860 and made the 19th century original old banjo clocks highly prized by antique clock collectors.
• Old mission clocks
these are also known as also arts and crafts clocks. Antique mission clocks first appeared in the late 1900’s.
Antique Anniversary clocks
Anniversary clocks can last for a year before they need to be rewound again. The anniversary clock is the first mechanical clock that doesn’t need to wind up daily.
The vintage anniversary clocks were made as early as the 17th. In 1829 an American inventor patented a torsion pendulum. The torsion pendulum requires very little power to run and so made it possible that the clock only needed to be wound up every 400 days.
Then in 1904 the term “anniversary clock” was copyrighted by an American importer who marketed the clock as a gift idea. The clock was supposed to be wound on the date of a special anniversary such as a wedding or birthday.
Many anniversary clock are placed in a glass case that enable a person to see the inner workings of the clock. They are usually made up of glass, brass and crystal.
Antique Art Deco clocks
The 1920’s and 1930’s saw the Art Deco movement influence the design of clocks.
The leading makers of Art Deco clocks were the French and the Swiss. These versions usually featured Roman numerals on the clock face.
Antique Marine chronometer
The Antique Marine chronometers were first developed in the 18th century. They are also referred to as nautical clocks.
The first ship clock was made by John Harrison. It took him over 30 years to produce a clock ready for the sea. This was a precise instrument that could determine the distance between two places.
The Antique Marine chronometers were built to last even when they faced treacherous conditions, such as, being moved around while at sea.
Antique Skeleton clocks
The Antique Skeleton clocks first appeared in the late 18th and early 19th century.
Any clock or timepiece in which the parts have been modified to display its inner workings is referred to as a skeleton clock.
The clock is designed to make the movements easier to see. The skeleton clock is often protected by a a glass dome to stop the clock parts becoming exposed and breaking.
Antique Mystery clocks
These antique mystery clocks are very rare and valuable and are much sought after by some collectors. They have also been named “impossible clocks” as it is difficult to see how they function as there is no obvious connection between the mechanism and hands. The Antique Mystery clocks first appeared around the middle of the 19th century.
Antique Atmos clocks
A antique atmos clock can carry on working without winding thanks to changes in atmospheric pressure and temperature. This allows the clock to work for long periods without the need for a person to wind it up again
Jean-Léon Reutter first designed the atmost clock in 1928 although another inventor, Cornelis Drebbel, was the first to power clocks through temperature change in the 17th century.
An antique atmos clock is driven by a sealed capsule which contains gas and liquid ethyl chloride. As the temperature rise, the mixture builds up into an expansion chamber which then compresses a spiral spring. Every time the temperature falls, the gas condenses and the spring eases off.
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