How to Identify an Antique Clock and Its Maker

Look at the movement first

The case can be replaced; the movement rarely is. Open the back and look for a stamped or engraved name, a trademark, a serial number and a country of origin on the backplate. German movements often carry a maker's logo plus a number indicating pendulum length.

Reading the clues

'Made in Germany' generally indicates post-1891 export marking. 'West Germany' places it between 1949 and 1990. Paper labels inside American shelf clocks often name the maker and city outright. Hand-cut wheel teeth and irregular screw threads suggest pre-industrial manufacture.

Case and hardware evidence

Hand-cut dovetails, saw marks, shrinkage cracks running with the grain, and hand-forged nails all point to age. Uniform machine screws, plywood backing and perfectly even veneer indicate twentieth-century production or a later repair.

Getting a professional opinion

Identification matters most when you are deciding whether to restore, insure or sell. We provide written assessments that cover the maker where identifiable, approximate date, mechanical condition and a realistic restoration estimate.