Kobold Grandfather Clock - Is it real?

Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 11:03 pm     Post subject: Kobold Grandfather Clock - Is it real?

Hi,

I have a heavily carved longcase clock that has the stamp Kobold 1954 on the back of its mechanism. It also has a metal nameplate behind the mechanism attached to the inside woodframe that says Kobold. However, I can not find any such clock company anywhere on the internet. Any information on this clock or its maker would be appreciated. If helpful, I can remove the mechanism and photograph it if necessary. I have several pictures I can post as soon as I figure out how to do so.

Thanks, Keith


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Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 8:52 pm     Post subject: Re: Kobold clock

The only current Kobold reference I found was for a Kobold Watch Co. It may well be that you have a clock made by a company that ceased making clocks many years ago.
Photos of the movement and the case might help in identifying it.

Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 12:20 am     Post subject:

I looked closer and slid the mechanism out of the top of the clock and on its brass backing it was stamped or engraved in the metal with Kobold 1954. Does that clue help? Both the mechanism and case are marked with that name and that date. Thanks.

Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 12:59 am     Post subject: Kobold clock

Unfortunately it doesn't help much. The 1954 could be a year, and it could also be a model or series number. Photos of the movement would probably help tremendously in identifying your clock.

By the way do you know any of the previous history/ownership pertaining to this clock?

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 6:00 pm     Post subject: Kobold grandfather clock

Hi,
Yes Kobold clocks are for real,I also own a Kobold grandfather clock.The people I bought it from said it has been in there family since the early 1900's and it is german.I have tried to find information on the name Kobold pertaining to clocks and have had no luck.

Regards John

Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 5:54 am     Post subject: Kobold clock

All indications point to the Kobold firm probably working in the late 1800's into the early 20th century and perhaps not past WWI. So far the only clocks that have surfaced appear to be longcase (grandfather) clocks, although there may have been other types. The style is similar to many clocks produced in that period by other German manufacturers. Dials are usually round, made of brass and have Arabic numerals. Weights are also brass and can be plain cylinders or have ornamental tops and bottoms. The cylinders can be plain or hammered brass. Decorative details may or may not be repeated in the center of the dials, on the weights and on the pendulum bob. Movements are usually 8 day, weight wound, hour/half hour strike. Cases frequently tended to be built from fumed oak and were often in the Arts and Crafts or Mission style. Flat top and dome top cases could be found as well.

Similar style clocks were offered by a number of German clockmakers and doesn't seem to have been limited to only one or two firms.

Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 4:26 am     Post subject: Kobold Grandfather Clock

I have a Kobold Grandfather clock that my parents bought 45 years ago in Germany. They said it was very old when they bought it. I too have searched for a long time actually years until now is the 1st time I have read anything that comes close. The description you all have stated is actually what my clock looks like. I really enjoy this clock. Has anyone found any pictures of it yet? Click on the link below to see a photo of mine.

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Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 12:18 am     Post subject:

Can someone, who has a Kobold grandfather clock, describe the strike assembly to me? Do you have a bim-bam? If so, how many hammers on each strike assembly? And consequently, how many rods in the chime block?

I've got one in the shop that shows evidence of an altered strike assembly, but it could have been altered by the manufacturer. I'd like to know how it was originally manufactured.

I'd really appreciate any factual input you can provide.

Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 9:50 am     Post subject: Kobold clock

I'm not 100% certain about Kobold clocks specifically, but German longcase clocks of that period with bim bam striking seem to have had a variety of options. I've seen bim bam striking on two coil gongs as well as bim bam striking on chime rods. Striking was done as 1/1 (single rod for each note), 2/2 (two rods for each), 2/4 (two high and four low... on a couple of Kienzle and Mauthe clocks) and also a 4/4 chord with four rods and hammers for each note. There was a photo of a Kobold movement using the 4/4 bim bam striking. On first seeing the chime block with eight rods I thought it was westminster chimes, but the rods were tuned for a bim bam chord.
It seems that more Kobold clocks were built than originally thought but information about the company and their output has certainly been scarce.

Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 12:43 pm     Post subject: KOLBOLD GRANDFATHER CLCOK

The chime block on my Kolbold grandfather clock has 5 rods,when it strikes two hammers hit for the bim and three hammers hit for the bam.I hope this helps you Tony.

Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 2:28 pm     Post subject:

Yes, it does help me, jones. This clock is similarly set up. I suppose the manufacturer may have had some standard parts that were adjusted to fit different scenarios. As in this case, some hammer groups may have been altered to accomodate specialized striking.

Clkwrx, how many Kobold clocks were thought to be originally made? I am curious about why you stated that it seems more were built than originally thought. I can't say that I have ever run into one before. I haven't been able to get many people to tell me that they own one or have even seen one; although, we found three here at this message board. I ask you this because you have more information about Kobold than anyone else I've spoken to. Thanks.

Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 5:50 pm     Post subject: Kobold clock

I've also seen a bim bam set up with 5 rods (2/3). In fact I may have had one at one time. It may have been a Kienzle or even an early Kieninger and was in a mission style oak case. Many of the German tallcase clocks manufactured around the late 1800's through WWI seem to be almost generic. Movements were remarkably similar and case styles seem to have been copied by every manufacturer working at that time. Sometimes there was no manufacturer's name or logo stamped on the movement at all, making me wonder if they were labelled only by the firm retailing the clock.

A search for Kobold only produced a listing for Kobold watches and nothing for a clock manufacturer by that name. Since the Kobold clocks I've heard about all seem to have Arts & Crafts or Mission style cases, they may not have survived very long as a company. It's also possible that they were absorbed by another firm. In any event there has been no information about any modern clocks built by that firm.

The first hint of the Kobold name came from 'kidso' who posted the original inquiry on this board. I keep hoping that someone else may have more information, or more importantly, some photos of their Kobold clock to see if there are similarities between theirs and the one that kidso has.

His case appears to be a cut above some others from that era and has raised carved decorations. The case is oak with a domed top. Movement has hammered brass weight cylinders. The design is repeated in the center of the dial and in the center of the pendulum bob. The 1954 mentioned must be a model/series number and not a year since the clock is much older.

Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 7:35 pm     Post subject:

Thanks, clkwrx. You've been a big help. The movements are quite substantial and high quality, very heavy plates and wheels.

I just wanted to be sure that 5 hammers were correct, and I think they are, based upon your observations and comments.

For some reason, I can't see any pictures posted or linked here. It could be my firewall, which I keep very high.

Thanks for all your help.

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 3:02 am     Post subject:

hi...newbie here..I've got a tallcase with Kobold mechanism. I was told it was old and from Germany. It keeps awesome time! It keeps right up with my atomic clock.

I'll send photos if anyone else has one so we can compare?
I can't find any other info on it either other than it is related to the goblin and I believe it!

cya
john