Those who are experts in the field of antique clocks will perhaps refer to a specific type of clock by different name if it is in a different area and people may sometimes be bamboozled by this. For instance in the UK something that would be familiar to people as a 'bracket clock' might be known as a 'mantle clock' by an antique dealer in the United States.

The family of antique clocks can be looked as a collection of specific groups of clocks. You can break it down into several groups, or families. Take beehive clocks, which can either be gothic beehives or ripple beehives. Conversely, the term "drop trunk" clock is actually an umbrella term that comprises schoolhouse clocks, act of parliament clocks, wall regulators, tavern clocks, short drop clocks, octagon clocks, and so on.

Advertising clocks is the collective term for clocks used for promotional purposes that display advertising somewhere on the clock dial or case. The clock might also be used as part of the advertising, as when a clock is incorporated into a larger sign. Most commonly found as wall clocks or shelf clocks; more rarely as Long-case or 'Grandfather' clocks. These are great antique wall clocks.

Mankind has long recognized the passage of time and tried to take its measure and record the passage. The simple alarm clock on the nightstand owes its presence to more than six thousand years of pondering time and working with devices that will mark its passage accurately.

Historians believe that the first mechanical clocks were invented by monks in central Europe in the late thirteenth century. These early clocks, which could be found inside the churches of the monks who had developed them, did not have dials or hands like modern clocks. They did, however, have bells that tolled to mark each hour.

These mechanical devices were probably placed in the church belfry in order to make use of the existing church bell. It was over 100 years before visible dials and hands were added. These early clocks were very large and were made of heavy iron frames and gears forged by the local blacksmiths. By the first part of the fifteenth century, small domestic clocks started to appear. They were probably made by the local gunsmiths or locksmiths. These antique clocks are very expensive.

The Antique Clocks Shoppe features a wide variety of antique clocks, Mantle clocks, antique wall clocks, and other vintage clocks. Be sure to check out our antique clock blog and antique clock videos!