German COLONIAL GRANDMOTHER CLOCK  Chain Driven WESTMINSTER CHIME 3-D Bonnet Column with 3-D Dial Décor spandrels

$1,535.00          #1567-07

2003 HOWARD MILLER TOP OF THE LINE Cable Driven TRIPLE CHIME (Westminster, St. Michael’s and Whittington), Model #610-796, Moon Dial, Door/key lock, Glass Side Panels, illuminated Case with Mirrored Back, Decorative Shells and Pendulum match the dial, Crystal Cut Grooved front door glass, 84” High x 23” Wide x 13 1/2” Depth, Olive Ash Burl décor encased in Golden Oak, the 8 day Kieninger German Movement   THIS CLOCK IS BEAUTIFUL!  Lyre Pendulum, Automatic Nighttime shut-off, and on and on and on and on……..

$3,295.00        #1553-07

1976 HIGHEST QUALITY MOST DESIRABLE OF THE TUBE CHIME GRANDFATHER CLOCKS, HERSCHEDE brings this 9 Tube TRIPLE CHIME (St. Michaels, Canterbury & Westminster chimes) Cable Driven, Colored Hand Painted Moon Dial,

$9,995.00  THIS CLOCK WON’T LAST AT THIS PRICE,  HURRY !  WORTH A LOT MORE !     #806172-05

TUBULAR CHIMES

Tubular bells may have been used in France as early as the 1850s or 1860s. But in the English-speaking world, they got their start when John Harrington, of Coventry, Warwickshire, England, patented a clock-chime of tubular bells in that country in 1884. It was an immediate success, winning gold medals at Paris in 1885 and at Liverpool in 1886. Within a few years, Harrington's tubular bells were being used in England in both hall clocks and bell towers. (Different sized tubes were used for these different applications, of course.)

In 1886, Walter H. Durfee, an antiques dealer from Providence, Rhode Island, USA, met Harrington while on a business trip to England. Durfee had recently begun importing English longcase (or hall) clocks to the USA, while Harrington was a partner in Harris & Harrington, sales representatives for a London clock maker, J.J. Elliot, Ltd. Durfee and Harrington saw the possibility of using Harrington's tubes as clock bells, and soon Elliot was producing clock movements that could be used with Harrington tubular bells in longcase clocks. Durfee began importing these movements and bells to the USA and assembling them into high-quality cases which he manufactured. (Some are quite valuable today.)

In 1887, Harrington obtained the first American patent for a clock chime apparatus, and assigned it to Walter H. Durfee. (For more information about this and other patents referenced below, see the separate page on Tubular Bell Patents.) In the same year, Durfee sold his first chiming longcase clock. With the protection of this patent, Durfee had an American monopoly on clocks with tubular chimes.

An early account states that "An exhibition of Tubular Bells was given at Providence, R.I. on October fourth and fifth, 1888. It was the first exhibition of these bells ever given in the United States, and was largely attended during the two days, enlisting special attention from prominent architects, builders and churchmen." Undoubtedly this exhibition was put on by Durfee, with support from Harrington. Publicity about this exhibition may have led to a visit to Providence by the Dean of General Theological Seminary, who later that year gave the Harrington/Durfee chime which still resides in the tower of the chapel of that seminary. It is not yet known whether this exhibition was held at the Providence church where a tubular tower chime had been installed some time before the Dean's visit.

In the same year, John Harrington obtained another American patent, which was also assigned to Durfee.

An 1890 advertisement for tubular bells states that the [English] patent was held by Harrington, Latham & Co. of Coventry, "Sole Manufacturers," and that "Over 100 Sets have been now erected." It also stated that the U.S.A. patents were controlled by Walter H. Durfee.

The next milestone appears to have occurred in 1894, when James E. Treat, of Boston, Massachusetts, USA, received an American patent for a tubular bell which was reinforced by an annular ring inside and/or outside of the top edge. Treat was an organ builder, and at about this time was managing the Methuen Organ Company, so it is possible that this patent was related to the use of tubular bells in pipe organs. However, the patent was assigned to United States Tubular Bell Company (see below), of which Walter H. Durfee was the president, and which shared the building occupied by the Methuen Organ Company. So this event may also indicate that about this time Durfee stopped importing Harrington's tubular tower bells and began manufacturing his own, via the U.S. Tubular channel.

In 1900, Allen W. Harrington obtained an American patent for an improved design of tubular bell for chiming clocks. A.W.Harrington was a U.S. citizen, residing in New York City, and the patent was assigned to Harris & Harrington, of the same city. Undoubtedly this was an American office of Harris & Harrington of Coventry, England, so it appears that the Harrington firm was now bypassing Durfee to sell directly into the American market. However, it is not yet clear whether that market was for tower chimes, clock chimes, or both. It's also possible that Harris & Harrington were selling only non-longcase clocks, so as not to be competing with Durfee.

In 1901, Allen Wardner Harrington obtained another American patent related to tubular bells for chiming clocks. As in the case of his previous patent, this one was assigned to Harris & Harrington.

Perhaps spurred by the successes of Durfee and the Harringtons, others were now at work in the field. In 1900, Rowland H. Mayland of Freeport, NY obtained an American patent for a clock chime. The following year, Charles A. Jacques of New York City obtained an American patent for a clock-chime, and another for a tubular bell of different shape. All three of these patents were assigned to Bawo & Dotter, who were clockmakers in New York City, but were also described as "a corporation of New Jersey." Any or all of these patents may have formed part of the basis of a lawsuit by Durfee against Bawo in 1902, on the grounds of patent infringement. Durfee lost the lawsuit, and with it his American monopoly on tubular clock chimes. Afterward, many other American clockmakers began producing longcase clocks with tubular chimes of their own design, and Durfee's production of such clocks declined. Other patents were later issued for a variety of other improvements to clock chime mechanisms; all were assigned to various clock making companies. But none of these other clockmakers are known to have followed Durfee (and U.S. Tubular Bell Co.) into the field of tower chimes.

John C. Deagan of Chicago, Illinois, USA patented various musical instruments based on tubular resonators between 1900 and 1913, though no patent has yet been found that relates directly to the large tubes which he began using for tower chimes about 1916. But in 1920, Leonard D. Morris of Chicago patented a chime mounting in which reference is made to "the proper guiding of dampers for the mounted chimes". And in 1928, Frederick E. Little of Chicago obtained a patent for a "musical sound-producing instrument" which involves both a horizontal electric striker and a vertical electric damper above the top of a sound-producing cylindrical bar. This patent was assigned to the Deagan company, and clearly is applicable to the type of tower chimes which Deagan was already installing (though all known dampers in Deagan tower chimes were located below the tubes).

Herschede was first organized in 1885 and made cases, while importing movements and hall clocks. Their first catalog was issued about 1886 to 1890. Their first tubular chime clocks were made in the 1890’s, with either the movements or complete clocks obtained through Durfee, made by J.J. Elliot, London. In 1902, a court decision ended Durfee’s monopoly in this country on tubular chimes, and the Herschede Hall Clock Company was incorporated. In 1903, Frank Herschede sold all his clock material to the corporation. In 1904, Herschede won a silver medal at the St. Louis World’s Fair for their tubular chime clocks. In 1909, the company obtained a building for a movement factory, and in 1910 made the first 100 movements. In 1911, 180-200 hall clocks were sold, and in 1912 they bought the machinery and stock of the Derry Clock Company. The Canterbury chimes were introduced in 1913, and in 1914 the company started recording each sale. They entered all known information on previous sales in a ledger. (Note: No. 6 and No. 7 were sold to Daniel Pratt). In 1915, awards were won by their clocks at the Panama Pacific International Exposition. The company became so prosperous after this that in 1919 they paid a 20% dividend to the common stockholders. In the 20’s, as electric clocks became ever more popular, the Herschede Company decided to go into the electric clock business. In 1926, they organized the Revere Clock Company to make electric clocks, but did not publicize the connection for fear of hurting their reputation for high grade clocks. In 1927, they contracted G.E. to make a line of electric clocks for G.E. These had a red alert dot on the face to show power interruption. In 1929, Herschede announced electrically wound movements with a chime mechanism operated by an electric motor. As electric clocks became accepted, Revere was absorbed by the company and all production was in one building. In 1960, the company moved to Starkville, Mississippi.   In 1973, Herschede merged with Howard Furniture and Briarwood Lamps into Arnold Industries, Inc.

Alberts Antique Clocks sells Tubular Chime Tube chime Grandfather Clocks, Westminster 5 tube and Triple chime 9 tube pieces.   From Herschede, to Winterhalder HAWINA beauties….  The most Majestic sounding floor clock you can obtain.  You must see them and even more so HEAR them to APPRECIATE them !   Other beauties we have include Howard Miller with the awesome Kieninger movement and automatic night time shut-off. 

Albert’s Antique Clocks

The Winterhalder & Hofmeier Uhrenfabrik (Clockfactory in German) started out in the Neustadt/Schwarzenbach, Friedenweiler region of Germany.  Nickolaus Winterhalder (1710-1743) was a clockmaker-cottage industry.  Thomas Winterhalder established the factory in Friedenweiler.  Son’s Mathaus, Thomas and Karl joined the fathers enterprise.  Anton Hofmeier joined them and satellite shops between Naustadt/Schwarzenbach produced clocks of premier quality.  The entire Winterhalder family clan was involved in clocks.  Hans Winterhalder founded HAWINA, clock company, worldwide export.  England, Russia, etc. 1908 @ 800 employees.  With the crash of the New York Stock Exchange, Winterhalder enterprise lost ALL their assets.  1933 with the new regime in Germany, the religiously oriented Winterhalder’s were unable to secure credits and in 1937, the 200 years of Winterhalder Clocks ended. 

HAWINA:  Hans Winterhalder Uhrenfabrik.  Neustadt/Badenia, Black Forest, Germany.  The HAWINA tradename was registered on December 7, 1925.  They were a major manufacturer of hall, wall and mantel clocks.  Founded in April of 1925 by Hans Winterhalder.   Due to world-wide economical difficulties, HAWINA was hard pressed to survive.  Hans Winterhalder’s father, Johannes, suggested liquidation of the company and HAWINA was purchased by the Junghans Brothers.

Winterhalder-Hausuhrenfabrik K.G., Neustadt, Black Forest, Germany.  HAWINA, Hans Winterhalder registered in 1925 the tradename for clocks of all types, especially “Grandfather Clocks”.

Winterhalder, Linus Uhrenfabrik, Neustadt, Badenia, Black Forest, Germany.  Winterhalder ges.gesch.WZ. registered the ges.gesch trademark to September 28, 1925.  Hans Winterhalder emigrated tot he United States and started another clock enterprise in the Philadelphia area, but without success.  Clemens Winterhalder’s last known address in 1976 was Philadelphia.  Anton Winterhalder was manager of the Miller Clock Company, before he retired in New Zealand, Michigan.    (Howard Miller Clock Company, still in business today in Zeeland, Michigan). 

Winterhalder, Hans A.G. Uhrenfabrik, Neustadt, Black Forest, Germany registered his name as a trademark on December 15, 1928.

Winterhalder & Hofmeier joined together in Germany and registered their tradename in September of 1928 by Linus Winterhalder. 

Winterhalder, Hans A.G. Uhrenfabrik, Neustadt i.B. (Badenia), Germany.  HAWINA registered December 12, 1925 the HWN trademark used in most Tubular chimes Grandfather Clocks.

1908-1925  WINTERHALDER COMPANY HAWINA  5 TUBE WESTMINSTER CHIME TUBULAR CHIME GRANDFATHER CLOCK !   This clock is a Beauty!   Nothing like the old world class and elegance found in this piece !   The case is GORGEOUS !  Love that V-Top, very Greek looking.   The REVERB on this clock goes on and on and on…  What a MAJESTIC chime this clock carries forth.   The dial, the case, the tubes, the weights, this clock has it ALL !  I want to take this one home myself !  I already have two grandfather clocks now !  BUT THIS IS A TUBE CHIME !!!

$11,985.00              #59570-06

German F. MAUTHE DANEKER Spring Driven Grandmother Floor Clock, Ivory White Case          8 Day WESTMINSTER CHIME   This clock is precious for a condo, mobile home, apartment or staircase landing.   Smaller than the average bear !   The brass finial a top, this one is a cutie !  Fully Serviced with a one year guarantee, this is a great gift for Mom or Grandma.

$895.00          #1595-07

1970’s  EMPEROR WESTMINSTER CHIME Chain Driven Grandfather      with COLORED MOON DIAL, 3-D Corner Spandrel Décor on outside of front top door, wood grains and wood tones that are beautiful and soothing to the eyes.  Traditional bonnet with center finial, ALL ORIGINAL !

$2,895.00       #1594-07