I see your point
But the Howard Miller clocks are not even to be considered reproductions. They are not true in their dimensions and/or material quality. This is NOT equivalent to small changes made to products over time. This is a product lower in quality than the original, with dimensions changes probably only for legal reasons. Most of the time the changes in production that you speak of happens based on manufacturing contraints and changes in technology. Therefore I don't view these changes to be similar.
This is a rare occurance of a knockoff being created by the original manufacturer. Like I said, I own one. But, I know what it is and I'm fine with it. I just wanted a damn clock that looks good for less than a hundred bucks. While it's no Vitra, it's not bad. But it isn't "the same."
whitespike
I agree with...
whitespike
I agree with almost every thing you say
but I don't know any thing about these clocks being somewhat inferior , . and some what of a knock off I use the word somewhat on purpose, I just can't see Howard miller, which it self is a Icon and not some chinese knock off clock maker doing one thing that would dismiss or diminish the integrity of the Nelson clock, Barry made excellent points and basically said who cares and that is the truth, but we all care or we would not be wasting our time writing,
I told you i measured a Howard miller ball clock that i have in my daughters room to a original orange ball from 1956 Barry said they had to change things around cause of electric C battery to quartz, and I believe that to be true, and when they did the configurations changed, and yes it is a little larger but not cheaper metal, if anything it is better than 1956 ball clock that i paid 650.00 8 years ago, and does not work at all, and i would not dare cut the cord and put a 5 dollar quartz movement in and have in running in 10 minutes, That one deserves to be preserved and that is what i did and have a beautiful icon now worth more than likely a 1000 bucks and can not keep a seconds worth of time,
I have said for a long time in my home I have original designers and I have been lucky and blessed to have them, for a long time,
In my office and wharehouse I have several knock offs from Alpha ville I have measured these things till I have felt like a Idiot on my knees with a tape measure just cause i want to know, and I want to know what makes them fakey,
Once again Barry who deserves to be sighted here has stated for the record, what the difference is, but dimensions on clocks is just bull shit, who cares, Is Vitra going to be worth more in 40 years from now at a Wright auction? I say hell
no!!!
Vitra They are a great company but that is what they are a company... Jacquelin Nelson approached them to make up Georges Clocks 10 years ago when Howard miller had no interest, no difference than Eames Demintros asking the same company to make Grandpas 2000 dollar elephant both could have gone to Mr Mayogi in china
and asked to make the stuff up over there.....
Something to think about.
LRF & Whitespike
I'm in contact with Leslie Pina at Shiffer...I'm trying to interest her (him?) in a George Nelson Associates book that features all the junk he (they) did companies OTHER than Herman Miller, including:
All known clocks from Howard Miller and Meridian (God, there's always something that pops up on eBay that NOBODY's ever seen before....)
The Florence line for Prolon (I believe that Nelson had nothing to do with this line...it was Irving Harper)
The jax bookends (were they or were they not Nelson??)
The Kite Lamp (I have one and saw someone selling one on eBauy claiming it to be Nelson....)
The wrought fireplace set
I believe that GNA also was involved in flatware and other junk. (Isn't there a "Helmet" lamp??)
It would be swell for her to also, once and for all, provide bios on alll the important people at GNA and give credit where credit's due.
When I discovered that Irving Harper did the Marshmellow Sofa and that Nelson didn't want his associates' name on the stuff, it was a bit of a turnoff.
Donald Plie (or is it Pile) also designed some specific items too.
God, it would be so cool to use the clocks as a lead-off and do his whole non-Herman Miller legacy. Most of this stuff is either mislabeled as Nelson or is obscure.
Anyhow, I would jump at the chance to get a book with ALL known Nelson clocks...wouldn't you?
Glossary
Oh yea, I have trying to get the owners of this website put together what might be a definitive GLOSSARY of terms regarding MCM. If they went ahead and created such a gloaary, I believe it might spread around the dealers' and collectors' world and might straighten out some of terminology.
Knock offs vs. repros, etc.
It would be great to fin...
It would be great to find out all we could on George Nelson. I have all the books on him and read a lot but there is still a lot out there that we do not know about, like how the bookends got started and the fireplace holders, He was a fascinating man, and picked at a time when Herman Miller was in dire need of
a director after the untimely death of Gibert Rhode, Nelson was a accomplished artist, and a philosopher and architect who really never developed any projects,
I think he really had a good thing going with the GNA office and the ability to somewhat take advantage of young talent looking for a break. Norman Churner George Mulhauser, Irvin Harper just to name three and you know there are others out there,
Of all the designers he is my favorite and i own most of his great pieces, from the marshmellow, lots of his clocks ,slated bench, tables, cabinets, and Coconut chair, He truly was the best even if he really did not design all of the stuff but knew how to get associated with it, a lucky fellow yes,
2 Rare table models
I was looking through my pix and rediscovered these two photographs.
The "Shadow Clock" my late friend use to have, so I 'lived' with it for about a year. It was big and beautiful.
The second table clock I've never ever seen.
Aren't they grand...and rare as houndsteeth?
barry
would have been ...
barry
would have been great if your friend would have put your name on one of those for you , they are so cool, I wish i had one of the table models but at this time i do not,
BUT I AM GOING TO THE MODERNISM SHOW IN PALM SPRINGS ON THE 13 OF FEBRUARY THROUGH THE 16 any body thinking of going????
, I have heard that it is a great show, and Palm Springs is really a cool place I have not been in that town since Dec of 1969 with my mom and dad so i am sure it has changed, but the part that we all would like to see more than likely is the same as the last time i saw it, any one familiar with Palm Springs?, from what i see in the magazines, they have lots of modern shops, cool MCM modern homes, golf and the late Sunny Bono any thing else they are known for or worth seeing? . i know i have plenty of time to make a list but i did make reservations at the Zoso Hotel near the convention center,
LRF...never had a chance...
My late friend, John Rothermel (who got me interested in quality design stuff) had quite a collection of Nelson clocks (not to mention the Girard living room furniture and a pair of Frankel lamps.
He sold the clocks long before he got sick. I got a number of things upon his death, but, heck, the clocks were long gone by that time!
He also had a large black wall clock. I think it was referred to as the "Hubcap" clock.
the Girard living room...
the Girard living room furniture and a pair of Frankel lamps.
sorry for your loss, sounds like your friend was plugged in early on the cool MCM stuff,
When I got my lafonda table two weeks ago today.
i visited with the guy who dismantled the Braniff offices conference room, an call center , he won the bid for all the Girard furniture, 18 years ago and piece mealed out, if only he knew and we knew, That is the number 1 seller at auctions. and brings the biggest dollar of all cuase there is not much of it out there,
nelson kite clock
i was going to order a kite clock from White on white
more than likely it is a knock off and against my grain but I could not pass it up for 125.00 butttttttttt,
the kicker the dude told me 87 dollars to ship to Oklahoma from NYC sounds like China at that rate, add that in over 200.00 bucks
I looked at all the website and every one sells a black and white kite from Vitra for 265.00 shipping free,
If that is the case i might as well say the hell with white on white I would not be the first one, and just pay 265.00 what would you do, at 125.00 and 25 to ship it is a nice deal but at 89 extra what a rip
Tell me the Nelson estate is not getting a fat royalty off these clocks if white on white can make a great looking clock and sell it for 125. no reason Vitra cant sell it for 185 i will never understand this,
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