HERSCHEDE CHIMING CLOCKS
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HERSCHEDE CHIMING CLOCKS |
A Brief History and Timeline of the Herschede Clock Company
-1857 Frank Herschede born July 30 Cincinnati, OH -1872 Apprenticed as a clock repairman as a teen -1877 Went into business for himself- jewelry, watches, diamonds, etc. -1885 Started importing clock movements and had cases made at a local cabinet shop in Cincinnati -1900 Bought out the cabinet shop as business expanded -1901 Won his first medal in an Exposition in SC - one of several he won -1902 Son Walter graduated from high school and went to work in the cabinet shop -1903 Incorporated as the Herschede Hall Clock Company at the end of 1902 and moved into larger building -1904 Won several medals at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St Louis 
-1909 Started making clock movements in the building next to the cabinet shop -1911 First movement manufactured and put in production -1913 A third melody was added to the Westminster and Whittington chimes - the Canterbury Chimes. Some accounts credit a Joseph Eisen (an American pianist) as developing the melody for Herschede, other credit a Herschede employee. -Early 1920s Branch offices were established in NYC, Chicago, and San Francisco -1922 Frank dies and son Walter named president in early 1923 -1925 Walter starts working with Henry Warren of the Telechron Clock Company on developing electric movements -1926 Introduces an Electrically Wound movement with a pendulum and spring. Lasts only a few years as the Revere all electric run clocks gain popularity -1926 Revere Clock Company comes into existence to sell electric chiming clocks -1927 Introduces a line of smaller clocks - a Grandmother and a Petite -1929 Employs just over 300 employees, but the Great Depression reduces demand for their clocks -1933 Changes it's focus and introduces an inexpensive line of electric clocks - Crown Clocks -1934 Walter's son Dick Herschede starts work with the company -During WWII Stops making clocks and manufactures instruments and opticals for the Military -After WWII Starts producing parking meters -1952 Starts using imported Junghaus movements in its non-tubular bell clocks -1960 Plant moves to Mississippi -1973 Mergers with Howard Furniture and Brianwood Lamps to become Arnold Industries, Inc. -1983 Herschede Hall Clock division restructures from a manufacturer of finished clocks to a supplier of quality tubular bell movements -1984 Last three clocks manufactured -1989-1992 Briefly resumes clockmaking producing about 20 clocks under the ownership of Howard W. Klein and Robert Eggering of St. Louis, MO. The firm was then sold to R&M Imports of Waynesville, OH, which manufacturers replacement parts for existing Herschede clocks. |
