Hi Matthew,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

The Herschede Hall Clock Company was one of America’s premier clockmakers, best known for producing high-quality hall (grandfather) clocks from the early 20th century through the mid-1900s. Founded in 1905 in Cincinnati, Ohio by Frank Herschede, the company set out to rival the finest European makers—and largely succeeded.

The firm won a grand prize for its chime hall clocks and mantel clocks at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco, and also received a gold medal for its clock cabinets at that event. The award was given to the company and its product line as a whole rather than to a specific individual clock. After the exposition, Herschede often placed plaques or plates on its clocks citing the 1915 Grand Prize

Herschede clocks are prized for their exceptionally heavy, precision movements, many of which were German-made (often by Jauch or other top firms) and then finished, adjusted, and cased in the U.S. Their cases range from restrained Colonial Revival to elaborate Chippendale and Renaissance Revival designs, usually crafted from solid mahogany, walnut, or oak.

Regarding the serial number 76228...I am not certain this clock was made in 1925 as Herschede began assigning serial numbers on their own movements starting in 1911 and it was the mid to late 1960s when published serial-number tables reached the 60,000s (from 1962, after Walter J Herschede - son of the founder - retired, record-keeping became less dependable, and because the company moved from the factory in Cincinnati to one in Starkville, Mississippi.

Unlike clocks from mass manufacturers, Herschede movements and parts are proprietary, making repairs and replacement parts harder and more expensive to source today. This specialized nature can frustrate owners and complicate restoration.

Most colonial revival chiming tall case clocks (the term 'grandfather' clock was a 20th Century invention, in the 18th and 19th Century, such clocks were called 'tall case' or 'long case') no longer bring big sums when sold at auction but Herschede occupies a unique place in the market. Most in good working condition that come to auction these days sell for higher prices than contemporary brands, in the $1,500-2,500 range (similar clocks by Herman Miller, Seth Thomas, Waltham Clock Co and Chelsea Clock Co, among other makers typically don't exceed $1,000 at auction these days. In the as-is condition you've described, this would probably bring between $700 and $1,000 at auction.

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

A vintage Herschede Clock Co chiming tall case clock
American, probably late 1960s-early 1970s
With single domed cornice over a tombstone arched cast steel and brass dial with Arabic numeral chapter rings and moon phases dial, the glazed (glass) paneled case fitted with nine graduated tubes, weights and a pendulum, on a box base on compress bun feet.
Playing Whittington, Westminster and Canterbury chimes
Height: 78 inches; Width: 19-1/2 inches; Depth: 14-1/2 inches
CONDITION: with wear commensurate to age and use; noted to be in need of a tuning and other restorative care
PROVENANCE: Inherited
In as-is condition, $700-1,000*
In restored condition: $1,000-1,500*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia