Expert: Kenneth Saunders - 3/21/2007

Question
QUESTION: I own an 81/2 ft tall carved grandfather's clock, which I was told is actually chiseled (in China?). It is a 2-weight movement with Westminster chimes, and supposedly pre-dates the 3-weight movements.
It's in beautiful shape and we love it, but would like more info on it.
It was manufactured by Colonial Mfg Co, Zeeland, Michigan.
ANSWER: Colonial is out of business but was only a furniture mfg. company who made clock cases and bought German movements to install in them.The movements might have their name stamped on them but they are of German origin. Yours was probably made between the wars say 1929-1940. You might get more company info on the internet search engines.

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QUESTION: Thanks for the prompt response.
You mean that 2-weight movements were made after 1929? I thought 3-weight movements go back farther than that.


Answer
2 weight Westminster movements are unusual but have no date range per se--they were made to save space in the cases. They were however a bad design and did not persist and become popular. The 3 weight Westminster movements were the standard design and do go back a longer way. Colonial began in business in 1929.