I love old & antique clocks, including grandfather clocks. Keeping them wound is a challenge in this day and age, now that it's not a common task.

We have a beautiful rustic painted glass wall clock that my mother must've found on her antiquing forays back in the early days of my parents' marriage, more than 60 years ago. The glass door is painted with strawberries, and it hasn't been wound in ages, but my dad used to keep it wound back in the day. I can't recall if it has a chime or not.

Antique clocks remind me of the podcast series S-Town.

I don't think I'd want a grandfather clock for our small house, tho. We just don't have the floor space.

We have a family grandfather clock made by my husband's great grandfather. It's from Lititz PA.

Eric's mom sent it when we built our Austin house. It's been moved three times - bear to move, too.

We've never had it chime.

If you want to start a thread about cuckoo clocks.. we picked this up in Triberg, Black Forest Germany. We were stationed near Dusseldorf and took many trips, this being a 4-day along the Panoramastrasse.

nicole, to answer your question: No. It's a decor item we don't particularly care for. Neither my wife nor I grew up in a home with a floor standing or wall mounted wall clock and perhaps for that reason, they hold no attraction for us.

Hard pass. My former inlaws had one that chimed every 15 min. Very annoying and I can still hear it. That being said, I do have this one on my mantel and I love it. (the chimes are off)

I wouldnt take something just because its free. i would really have to like it to put it in our house. i have a mantle clock that was in my dad”s family that is dear to me. a grandfather clock is not something ive ever wanted, although i do not hate them. There are some beautiful ones shown here!

During my French summer homestay in high school, every day between the bus and the school I would pass a clock shop with a pretty Black Forest cuckoo clock in the window. Your standard cuckoo clock, but it was a soft white with pink etc flowers and birds. Finally, the last day, I bought it. It’s my favorite souvenir of that trip even though it isn’t French.

I had the bellows replaced once, and need to do it again. But I put it away when our son was a toddler because he ws pulling on the weights (and I’m pretty sure that’s how my cousins and I rendered my grandmother’s cucko clock unworkable). And it’s been a box ever since (25+ years.) Like the grandfather clock, though, it would bug DH no end.

I used to want one when I was younger, not anymore. I do like to look at them, though. I've had two cuckoo clocks from Germany, both broke. Don't want anymore but do like to look at them if I see one.

I wouldnt take something just because its free.

I phrased it that way...to mean......"If money were no object"....or "if your family passed one down"....would you want it...

I appreciate all the experiences posted. I keep thinking "How pretty!"....then I wonder if they need a lot of tuning. How long do they last....generations apparently. I do have room for one...🏠

We had a more modern one at the old house which I believed helped us from getting burgled worse than we were. He broke into a rear bedroom window and while he was rifling the bedroom the clock must've started chiming and he thought it was the doorbell so took off. That one rang every 15 minutes.

We now have an antique french grandfather clock, that belonged to FIL,which is a bear to keep going, but DH tends it gently. We also have other chimers in the house. I like them. I can tell you though that you will not hear the chimes most of the time once you get used to them. Though there are times you will hear them and it's useful to count the hours or know it's the half hour. But I've not had one waken me at night in decades.

Also, if they are free it may be because they aren't working, so if you want them to work, you may have to spend some $ with a clockmaker to get them repaired.

The GF clock we had was poorly designed in mechanism which gradually destroyed itself. The cost of replacing it was more than the clock was worth and it would just destroy itself again. So we sold it for cheap as decoration, being very clear that it would be $$ to try to repair. But it was pretty.

I do own an antique gold pocket watch, a small one for a woman. i picked it up at a flea market for $20 when I was in high school. It needs a new part that is no longer made, my shop said they'd make the part...then didn't.

I'd imagine old grandfather clocks would have problems getting parts too...?

If you are really interested, I'd find a clockmaker first and talk to him as he'd be the one doing the repairs or getting the parts or making them.

I grew up with an antique Scottish, or perhaps it was Irish, clock. It became difficult to repair at some point, and my parents took the weights out. My mother has downsized, and I’m not sure it made the cut.

Similar to this one:

then I wonder if they need a lot of tuning.

Yes you will need to clean the glass, vacuum dust and oil them as part of the maintenance. When one of them stop running over 5 years ago, I used sewing machine oil as lubricant. On one clock the access glass panel was on the side of the clock so I removed the weights and the pendulum then moved it out of the corner of the room to service it. They have been running smoothly since. The recommendation I read was to oil them every year or so. Mine are well overdue but I think the oiling interval could be longer depending on the location (less dusty, controlled humidity and temp).

What pretty clocks. I am a sucker for an antique grandfather clock.

Growing up, our house had a very large floor clock. Moon dial, played 1/4 of song + every 15 minutes (got longer as hour went on). Played full song plus chime on the hour. Was in the LR, which was far from my bedroom but it stayed wound, so must not have bothered my parents. In their next house, it was in the foyer and woke them up, so it did not run for 35yrs. My sister hows it now, and doesn't run it either. I think that's a waste. LOL I cannot find a decent photo.

ETA: Found a photo, but cropped out me and my sister in our white knee high boots. 1971. :D

I purchased an antique grandfather clock during the "day after Christmas" sale at my favorite antique store many many moons ago. +/-30. Currently in our living room (previous home in photo, below) which is close to our bedroom and it doesn't bother us. I don't even notice it most of the time when I'm in the same room. Chimes once at half hour, hour chimes on the hour.

I also have my maternal grandmother's mantel clock. She refinished it at some point. It is in the den at our current house. Also a half hour/hour chime. It is higher pitched, so I stop it if anyone is staying in the nearby bedroom.

My paternal grandmother was left a very old Black Forest wood wall clock when a friend passed. I don't recall who got it later, but I wish I had.

If I had room for one, I'd have one. Same with a piano.

I find them kind of creepy.

My parent's had one and when it came time to dismantle the house, nobody wanted it, and there were five of us.

While I do not think they are quite my style, I do think they can be beautiful. Probably even more so if they have a nostalgic family history or even just a fun story / history. The noise of ticking and especially chiming would be too much for me. (I'm quite noise sensitive.) I think my brother and sister in law have one that was her grandfather's. I do have one decorative wall clock in my living room (not too prominently placed) because my husband asked for one. It is nice to be able to check the time in the room where we spend the most time without having to check my phone. If they speak to you, go for it!

My late MIL went to the Black Forest years ago and brought us a Cukoo Clock. Loved it except one day it fell out of the blue and crashed into pieces. Sigh.

nicole it's possible, but to my eye that is not an antique - I'm guessing Howard Miller - but I am not the family expert. As for running slow, that's fixable. I adjust my clocks as needed, usually heading into and out of winter - done through the pendulum. Some clocks are more temp sensitive than others as metals and wood expand/contract.

The $75 one looks too much like the one I grew up with ... too 70s or80s to me, IDK. I think you can find nicer.

Love the old ones shown here. I was thinking of getting rid of ours but now my interest is renewed. Porkandham, yours is my fave!

Our GF and cuckoo clocks don't have heirs. It will be ideal to part with them on our terms while we're alive. Not sure who'll want them even then. Maybe us two Veterans can pawn them off on the Officers Club or VFW .. lol

We have an old tall case Grandfather clock. Australia on the face is designated as "New Holland". I have photos just not handy at the moment.

My tall case clock is probably the oldest thing in my house and I have collected mid 19h century antiques for years. The clock dates back to the early 1700s when my paternal ancestor immigrated from Switzerland. They brought it with them as a wag on the wall clock which is just the face and parts and when they arrived in Lancaster County, PA, they had a cabinet maker encase it in a curly maple frame. It was in my grandmother's attic and when my father was married, he asked for it and carried it blocks to their apartment. His brother wanted to electrify it but thankfully my father got it first. It sat in all my parents' homes and I got it in 2000 when my mother went to a nursing home. I had a clock guy keep it running but last year it stopped and I think maybe the clock fixer is dead as he was quite old. It only rings at the hour and although I grew up with it, years later when I visited I had to stop the chiming as it woke me. There are a few family antiques I want my kids to take and this is one of them but who knows?

I would not want one even if someone gave it to me.

If I liked the particular clock and I had somewhere in the house to put it, I’d love to have a long case clock. I easily tune out noises so chimes don’t bother me.

growing up i was allowed to pull the chains to keep ye old clock running ... what a memory

Prickley, I am sound sensitive too, but mine doesn't bother me. It isn't super loud ticking and the chime is mid-toned and soft. Even when we had the mantel clock in the living room at our last house, I didn't notice it all the time. It is a higher pitched chime.

The $75 looks 70s or 80s, as Mtn stated.

Your right about the $75 one. It's just a pretty decor item.

@Jilly...My GF purchased one like that. New, by Stickley. On sale. Has to be wound every day...but it is NICE! I have off and on looked to see if anyone has "IT" for sale....nothing.

@DLM2000-GW...Those 2 are GORGEOUS! The carvings are ART!

@Allison0704..

@Annie Deighnaugh..

@porkandham...

@Jen K (7b, 8a)...

@jojoco..

@barncatz..

@foodonastump..

@maddielee...

@roarah..

Grandfather clocks blend with EVERY style!

Perigold says grandfather clocks can be transitional....WOWSER! or

Wayfair has this one for $600...

Spied on my morning walk: Grandfather clock as Little Free Library. It didn't fare that well during our wet winter, but points for creativity.

It may be the same one - which only means it was mass produced. So I'll just say what's rattling around my brain - based on what I have seen of your home and your style, that clock seems out of sync. HOWEVER, as I said above, antique clocks are like art and when something speaks to you there is no need to justify why you want it in your home. This is not an antique, Even so, for the most part I would defend your attraction to it as reason enough if it really speaks to you. What I would ask though is are you really attracted to the clock and it's design or are you attracted to it because you've seen it elsewhere for more $$?? This ties in with maddielee's post on Do things become less tacky when you see the price?

I cannot see ornate furniture/clock in a lodge style home. Perhaps the craftsman style clock would work bettet? Just my thoughts.

More than 40 years ago, my husbands boss at that time had gone on a trip to Hong Kong and purchased a breakfront and a grandfather clock while he was there. When the furniture arrived at his employer’s place, my husband was enthralled by it. We decided we would like a clock for our home and set about ordering one.

This was well before the age of the internet and online purchasing. We wrote a letter to the company to see if we could buy one of their clocks. They told us how much it would cost and said “send the money and we will be commence with the fabrication”. We decided to trust them and sent them a check. After a couple months, we received notice that the clock was ready to be shipped. We had to arrange for an importer in California to receive the shipment from the boat and get it on a truck to our house in the midwest. The clock arrived safe and sound. We still have the clock and we still can‘t believe that we took a chance on ordering it back when we really didn't have extra funds for such a gamble.

The clock is teakwood with Mother of Pearl inlayed characters on the front, sides and inside.

@badgergal...That's a cool story and a very nice clock!

I ended up buying THIS Emperor Grandmother Clock. Link The link shows it in black with a white face and silver....that ones pretty too..or the aqua! Painting this one is an option...but it's walnut. Made in 1970. German movement. MIL passed & no one wanted her clock. It has a moon...a deer...and a little ship above the clock dial that moves too. We pick it up locally tomorrow.

It's very attractive, I like the nice clean lines. Hope you post a photo when you have it in place.

IT DOES keep perfect time. It's a lovely little piece of the past. I was in Junior high when THIS clock was made.

I currently have it at the top of the stairs as you enter the loft. There are MANY other spots in the house...but it can be seen from the main level as well...when looking up...

Keeping perfect time is over rated - DH has never kept time well for over 40 years! Ha!

I hope you enjoy it for many years to come.

Looks good! Since it's in your loft can you hear the chimes throughout your home? Adjusting the time is relatively easy on a pendulum clock - just raise or lower the pendulum by turning the little bolt underneath.

We have 2 case clocks and 3 more wall clocks - all vintage and I no longer bother to adjust the time unless they're really off. I just like to hear them.

Looks great there, nicole!

@maire_cate...DH and the cats may need a weekend to get used to it before I turn the chimes on. 😂 The one cat, Aspen is a hunter. He wanted to be picked up so he could see the top and look inside...you know....could be full of mice! 😍Yes, the chimes can be heard ALL over the house.....when on.

They just need a pendulum clock of their very own.

😂🐱

When I was very small living on Long Island my mother would sit me down to watch Captain Kangaroo and my most favorite part of the program was Grand Father Clock. Every day I waited for him to actually say something that made sense but he never did. I lived disappointed. I would actually like to have a nice grandfather clock. I like the sound. I had a really nice long wall clock my father-in-law bought me but my ex very much wanted it because we lost most of the things he gave us in a house fire and he had died. It needed work because of the fire, I wonder if he actually got it fixed. The town we lived in had a really good clock repair. Mine had a beautiful Westminster chime. Not too loud.

@Patriciae...Me too...Captain Kangaroo & Mr Green Jeans. I don't have any memory of a Grandfather Clock from that show. I remember my mother liked clocks. She inherited a mantel clock she cherished.

Grandfather clock would wake up at the beginning of the show, roll his eyes around and almost finish a sentence and then fall back asleep.

I looked it up. He is in the Smithsonian now.

Aaahhh.....now you mention it I DO remember! ⏰I named a pet turtle after Blinky The Clown. Another favorite.