# HOW MUCH Should I Pay For A Grandfather Clock?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-for-a-grandfather-clock/227493>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [February 4, 2004, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-for-a-grandfather-clock/227493 "2004-02-04T15:25:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\
**Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-for-a-grandfather-clock/227493/1 "2004-02-04T15:25:13Z")

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I need advice from an antiques expert here. I want to buy a long-case/grandfather clock, English or American, ca 1750-1820, with brass dial, moon phase, and hour chimes. I’ve been on EBAY, and several antiques sites-prices are all over the map! What is a realistic price for such a clock?

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**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\
**Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-for-a-grandfather-clock/227493/2 "2004-02-04T17:20:08Z")

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I am not an expert, but it may be important if you tell us if the clock is wanted as an investment or simply decorative purposes. Also would you consider a non working clock that you would then get repaired to working condition. ie does the clocks mechanism need to be authentic or just the case and dial?

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**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\
**Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-for-a-grandfather-clock/227493/3 "2004-02-04T18:50:22Z")

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I inherited my grandfather clock from my grandfather.

Scottish, mid-1800s, center post mounted second hand (very rare for the period), silver dial, engraved with the thistles of Scotland above the dial, and with the roses of England in the corners.

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**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\
**Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-for-a-grandfather-clock/227493/4 "2004-02-04T21:04:18Z")

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Moved to IMHO.

- **xash**  
General Questions Moderator