Antique Mantle Clocks as Collectibles
One of the most interesting and exciting collectibles is the antique mantle clock.
Mantle clocks have been made since the 1750s and many of them are among the most beautiful timepieces ever created. They sit on the shelf over the fireplace which is known as the mantel or mantle and are usually a small mechanical clock with metal workings and a metal face. Traditional American ones have a wooden case and a very distinctive look. Many antique French mantle clocks are very ornate.
Most of the ones manufactured in the United States contained chimes that sounded on the hour or half hour. Like most mechanical movements antique ones do have to be wound on a regular basis.
Many American families have ones that have been passed down for generations. They were a popular home furnishing in the 19th and 20th centuries. Its easy to locate them in antique stores and on online auction sites such as eBay.
A number of famous companies manufactured these timepieces in the United States including Seth Thomas. They are still made in the US today by Howard Miller and a few other countries.
When you purchase an antique mantle clock you should be careful as to whether it really is an antique or not. Modern ones that look like antiques are still being made and are sometimes passed off as authentic.
A good way to tell if a mantle clock is an antique is to check online. There are many websites that list the names of manufacturers and other information such as serial numbers and plaques that are placed on the clocks themselves.
They will be worth more if they are working. If you have an antique mantle clock that no longer works you can get it repaired by going to a clockmaker, a professional clock repair person. There are clockmakers in most major cities and some clockmakers do advertise on line.
The clockmaker can tell you if the clock can be repaired and how much it will cost to repair it. Many clockmakers buy old clocks and rebuild or repair them so you might be able to sell an old clock that doesn't work.
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