Vintage and antique clocks

A mechanical clock is the only object in a house that works on its own, continuously, and can be heard doing it. That is exactly why some people hunt for one for years and others move it out of the bedroom in the first week. Here is what to know beforehand rather than after.

A longcase clock asks for more than floor space

A longcase clock stands 190-215 cm tall and needs to sit against a solid wall on a firm floor. The detail that surprises everyone: it must be set perfectly level, or the pendulum will not swing through a symmetrical arc and the clock stops within hours. You adjust it with thin wedges under the case and check it by ear — the beat should sound even, like a metronome; if one stroke is longer than the other, the case is out of true. When moving one, the weights and pendulum always come out before the case is lifted, otherwise the movement will certainly be damaged.

Tempus Fugit is not a maker

They are the Latin words for "time flies", engraved on the dials of tens of thousands of clocks made in Germany, England and America. Many people search for a "Tempus Fugit clock" believing it to be a manufacturer; it is an inscription. What actually matters on such a clock is the movement inside and its condition, not the text on the dial. The same goes for "Boulle": it is a marquetry technique in brass and tortoiseshell, named after Louis XIV’s cabinetmaker, not a clock company.

Mechanical or battery

Old movements come in two kinds: thirty-hour movements, wound every evening, and eight-day movements, wound once a week. The second is far more convenient and usually better built. A well-regulated mechanical clock keeps to within a minute or two a week — it does not compete with quartz and has no need to. If you want it for the sound, ask about the chime: some strike only the hours, others mark the quarters as well. Many clocks have a lever that silences the strike overnight; if it is going into a room where someone sleeps, it is worth knowing that in advance.

Where a clock belongs

A wall clock hangs with the centre of the dial 150-180 cm off the floor, at the eye level of someone standing. Not above a radiator or a working fireplace: dry heat and swings in temperature expand the metal of the movement and the clock starts losing time. A mantel clock needs a stable surface — a top that shakes with every footstep will stop a small pendulum. And a longcase clock, being vertical and tall in a room where the rest of the furniture is horizontal, works best on a wall you see from the far end of the room.

Frequently asked questions

What does Tempus Fugit mean on a clock?

"Time flies", in Latin. It is a decorative inscription found on tens of thousands of European and American clocks, not the name of a maker.

How often does a mechanical clock need winding?

It depends on the movement: thirty-hour movements are wound daily, eight-day movements once a week. The second type is more convenient and usually better built.

Can you hear the clock at night?

Yes — the hour strike carries clearly in a quiet house. Many clocks do have a lever that silences the strike while the clock keeps running, so it is worth asking if it is going into a bedroom.

How tall is a longcase clock?

Usually between 190 and 215 cm. It needs a solid wall, a firm floor and, without exception, to be set perfectly level, or the pendulum will stop.

Office

Living Room