Vtg German Herschede Jefferson Westminster Chime Cherry Wall Mantel Table Clock 19"

Description

Vintage Herschede German movement Jefferson model Westminster chime cherry wood mantel or table top clock.

The Herschede Hall Clock Company of Starkville Miss. Model No. H-812

A Brief History of the Herschede Hall Clock Company
Frank Herschede was born on July 30, 1857 in Cincinnati, Ohio. At the age of 16, he started to work as an apprentice watch and clock repairman.

In 1877, he went into business for himself and moved to Vine and 5th Street. He branched out to jewelry, watches, diamonds, ect., and in 1885, the store moved to larger quarters at the corner of Arcade and Vine. In this same year, he started to import movements and have his cases made in a cabinet shop on Front Street in Cincinnati, Ohio. The clock business expanded to the point that Frank bought out the cabinet shop in 1900.

In 1901, he exhibited in the South Carolina and West Indian Exposition at Charleston, South Carolina, where he received a gold medal for his hall clocks. This was the first of several.

Frank's son, Walter, graduated from high school in 1902, and went into the cabinet shop to work. On December 29 of this same year, steps were taken to incorporate the Herschede Hall Clock Company.

The factory moved from Front Street to 1011-1015 Plum Street in 1903. Several medals were won by Herschede in the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis in 1904; a gold medal for the best hall clock, a gold medal for the best hall clock cases, and a silver medal for tubular chimes.

In 1909, the company leased the building next door at 1007-1009 Plum Street to make clock movements. The first movement was assembled and passed final inspection on January 10, 1911. In 1913, the third melody was added to the Whittington and Westminster chimes. ""Cantebury Chimes"" was composed by Charles Eisen, ""a gifted American pianist,"" especially for Herschede.

At the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, the quality of the line again resulted in two major awards: grand prize was presented to the Herschede Hall Clock Company for chime hall clocks and mantel clocks, and a gold medal was awarded for the hall clock cabinets manufactured by the company.

By the early 1920's branch sales offices were opened, first in New York City, then in Chicago and San Francisco. Frank Herschede died on September 15, 1922, and Walter was named president in January of 1923.

In 1925, Walter started to work with Mr. Warren with the electric movement chime clocks. By April of 1926, the Revere Clock Company came into being.

On February 4, 1934, Walter's son, Dick Herschede, started full time employment with his father. Many years later, in 1959, contact was made with the North Mississippi Industrial Development Association, and the plant moved to Starkville, Mississippi in May of 1960.

In 1973, Herschede merged with Howard Furniture and Briarwood Lamps into Arnold Industries, Inc.

On September 23, 1983, Herschede implemented a plan to restructure the Herschede Hall Clock division from a manufacturer of the finished clocks to a supplier of quality tubular bell movements to the industry.

On August 21, 1984, a letter was written by: Richard L. Herschede. Jr. (President) to certify that the three clocks listed below were the last three clocks shipped form the Herschede factory in Starkville, Mississippi, and that ""The Clock"" Model #250 Serial # A642698-35 being the very last of the three shipped from the factory.

These clocks were shipped to Champ's Clock Shop - 3834 King Drive, Douglasville, Georgia on July 23, 1984.

Richard L. Herschede. Jr. visited Champ's Clock Shop on July 28, 1984 and personally signed these three clocks.

Condition

Fair condition, wear and distressing commensurate with age and use, no finial, broken pediment, unable to test, no pendulum, parts only.

Dimensions

11" x 5.75" x 19.5"h