Kohler Grandfather discovered

by David Willard
(Sevierville, Tennessee)

Photo of Kohler grandfather

Photo of Kohler grandfather

As an avid antique clock collector, I have been looking for a fine antique grandfather clock for a long time.


I have always been impressed (as has millions of others!) with the German models.

A few weeks ago I found just what I was looking for.
It is a Kohler model #104014, PL, PS60. It has a lot of pressed detailed brass motifs on the face and weights.

I can not find much information on Kohler (other than all the faucets and toilets!).

It runs great, I think it must date from the 30's, but that is just a guess.. any information would be helpful.

Thank you!

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Sep 26, 2016
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starstarstarstarstar 		Kohler Grangfather Clock
by: Bill

I have one that strike on the hour and half.
On the back of the movement there is a circle with wing.
Oct 28, 2015
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starstarstarstarstar 		Kohler research continues
by: Anonymous

Hello everyone. As I started this posting several years ago, I thought I would once again thank everyone who has commented on my quest to learn more about my Kohler grandfather, and hopefully help all of you as well. I'm not sure if Richard is still reading these posts, but if he can provide the photos he was discussing that would be wonderful. I am still interested in learning more on Kohler company, as very little has been published. Also, it would be interesting to be able to identify various models (and numerous decorative style of carvings), and of course production dates. If any of you have found out more about the company, I'm sure all of us would like to learn from your research. My Kohler continues to run perfectly, and makes itself known every hour with its deep melodic tone.
All the best,
David
Oct 28, 2015
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starstarstarstarstar 		Grandfather discovered
by: Anonymous


Hi there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it's truly informative. I am going to watch out for brussels. I will be grateful if you continue this in future. Lots of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!


Abraham
Sep 30, 2015
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by: Anonymous


Simply desire to say your article is as astounding. The clarity in your post is just cool and i can assume you are an expert on this subject. Fine with your permission allow me to grab your RSS feed to keep up to date with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please carry on the enjoyable work.

liza

Mar 26, 2012
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starstarstarstarstar 		Another 3 Kohler Gandfathers discovered!
by: David Willard

Richard,
Nice to read your post... and thank you. It has been a long time since I have had a response on my Kohler Grandfather. Yes.. if you could manage picture(s) that would be great! Sounds as though you have a fairly good idea of the date (early 1900s), and that would be much earlier than mine. However with your personal knowledge through your relatives, maybe it is far more accurate than what I was guessing on mine (circa 1930s). I am continued to be surprised that there is not more detailed information on the clockmaker.
Look forward to seeing your photos!
David
Mar 25, 2012
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starstarstarstar 		another three (3) Kohler G'pa clocks
by: Richard Madden

My maternal grandfather purchased three (3) Kohler while in Germany with his family. I have one and my late brother had one and one of my cousins has the other. Mine still has a metal tag (bronze color) with the Kohler logo on it. I think they all date from about 1914 to 1916 (best guess as to when my mother as a teenager was there with her family). My mother told me they were considering another trip there but the specter of the first world war was looming. Will post pictures when I get some better ones. My clock still runs and chimes quite nicely.
Jun 13, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		Adding pictures
by: Dale

Best way to ad pics for me is using Photobucket. Download your pics into your Photobucket files and then when you click on the pic you want select the HTML code link and it will copy to your clipboard. Then when you type your responses at the end right click and copy the HTML from the clipboard....
Jun 12, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		Photos of Kohler
by: David

Bill,
Appreciate your response and offer to send pictures when you get your clock back. I would suggest you try to get some technical assistance, and then send the images to this blog. That way everyone will get a chance to see (and comment!) on them.
Thanks again.
Jun 11, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		picture
by: bill

David ,I will try to get someone to show me how to send picture when I get my clock back from being repaired. I have a picture that i will mail to you but will need your mailing address,I suggest you use a po box. thanks Bill
Jun 10, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		Kohler grandfather history
by: David

Bill,
If you could please post a picture of your newly purchased Kohler grandfather. I started this conversation by posting a picture of my Kohler (search history of these posts) and your description (less ornate), sounds more like mine than Dale's.
Welcome to the quest in helping us find out more history on our Kohler grandfathers!
Thanks. David
Jun 09, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		kohler pl116
by: bill

I purched a kohler grandfather clock to day it is very similar to the picture you have posted,but not nearly as pretty. The case is just like yours but doesn't have any of the carvings. It is being cleaned by a excellent clocksmith who has repaired several clock for me. Yours is the prettiest that I have seen to date.Bill Norton
Jun 02, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		Post pics of your Kohler
by: Dale

Janna, Please post pics of your Kohler. We now know of 3 in existance! If anyone else has one please post pics for us to see. Thanks David for your reply. I was looking for you on Facebook to see if you had found out anything else out about yours. It really boggles me that there is so little out there on these beautiful clocks....
Jun 02, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		I have a clock similar to dales
by: Anonymous

Dale,

Please email me and let me know how much you paid for your Kohler, I have a Kohler very similar to it in storage that I am needing to sell. Knowing how much a similar clock sold for would help. Thank you so much.

JovialJanna@msn.com

Janna
Jun 01, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		Kohler grandfather history mystery
by: David

Dale,
I appreciate you responding to my posting. What a beautiful grandfather you have! It is so much more ornate than my example, and nice to know there is another Kohler out there.
I really have not learned or heard more about the origins of the Kohler grandfather history since posting it. I have done quite a bit if research, but to no avail. They did manufacture some mantels, but no reference to any grandfather production.
As I looked at other makers of the period, I have noticed there are similar faces and motifs which appear alike in both style and characters (number fonts), ie: Kieninger to the Kohler. Can one assume there was another manufacturer who supplied these to various clockmakers?
I wonder if anyone out there has done research on the makers of these beautiful embossed brass clock faces. Perhaps we could find out through that process which clockmakers they supplied. Perhaps they (clockmakers) made them themselves which seems unlikely.
Jun 01, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		Another Kohler
by: Dale

David, I too purchased a antique granfather with the Kohler name. It is much different than yours but I noticed some simularities in the weights and face. I too have scoured the internet and found little info...Let me know if you have found out any more on these clocks...Thanks, Dale

Photobucket
May 31, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		Grandfather clocks
by: Anonymous

Just wondering if the German word for grandfather clock is stand uhr or standuhr?
Feb 06, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		Thanks for the info on this German Grandfather Clock
by: Jeen

Thanks David,
I will certainly keep my eyes open for the source of this wonderful clock.
By the way, if you want to do some more research yourself on the web: "Standuhr" is the german word for grandfather clock.
If you have any pictures of the markings on the clock, you can send them the same way that you submitted your story.

Thanks for your great clock story.
Jeen
Feb 05, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		Kohler grandfather information and identification
by: David Willard (clock owner)

Jeen,
I have not found any markings saying "Greif". There is nothing on the case. On the back of the movement are the serial numbers and the Kohler logo which is a "K"in the center of a circle, surrounded by numbers (like a clock face). I have seen small mantel size clocks made by Kohler on ebay, etc. They were very art deco in appearance, giving me the impression they were from the 30s. I also have noticed that the case for this particular Kohler clock is a similiar shape and face to some Kieninger models I have seen. The detail in the carving is very good, brass clock face and weights are beautifully embossed and detailed with geometric pattern and flowers. I have never seen a Kohler grandfather, hence my interest in putting up on your blog. Hoping some of your grandfather experts and reseachers may have reference to the company and this model.
Feb 05, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		Fascinating story
by: Jeen

Hi David, maybe I can help.
Can give some more details, f.e. can you see the word Greif somewhere on the clock?
This brand was registered in 1925 for a Karl Kohler.

I am looking forward to hear more.
Jeen

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