Considering Mantel Clocks

Traditional mantel clocks are beautifully designed clocks small enough to place above fireplaces, mantels (which is a suggestion as to where they got their names), or just shelves. Highly decorated with ornate figures and designing, they are almost frequently built with any combination of the following; porcelain, wood and ormolu.

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.

During the end of the 1700′s, Simon Willard, the famous clock maker, created a design that would change mantel clocks all around the world. With the support of his family, he created the Simon Willard Clock, and he created a distinctive model of clock that was different from those that had come before. His patent went a long way towards changing the way that clocks were created.

One of the interesting things about mantel clocks is that they have an impressively unique form of mechanisms. The big difference is that while wall clocks have their mechanisms attached to the backboard, while mantel clocks are supported by their seat board.

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.

Two other companies that produce modern designs of the antique mantel clock include Seiko Clocks and Rhythm Small World Clocks. These clocks were manufactured with metal and with other technological advancements, though old world materials are often used to give them that lovely traditional touch. Instead of being driven by weight, they are now run on standard batteries and they can play upwards of 15 different variations on the classic clock melodies. The chimes can be activated by light, so that they won’t sound in the dark and they also come with volume controls.

When you are looking for something that will look great in your home as well as symbolize America’s creativity, look for a mantel clock; you won’t regret it!