Howard Miller Clock Company
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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The Howard Miller Company is a Zeeland, Michigan based manufacturer of longcase clocks and other home furnishings.
History
Howard Miller Clock Company was founded in 1926 as the Herman Miller Clock Company division of office furniture manufacturer Herman Miller. It was spun off in 1937 and re-named, under the leadership of Herman Miller's son Howard C. Miller. Today, there is no connection between the two companies although their headquarters are across the street from one another.
Starting in 1947, the Howard Miller Clock Company produced scores of wall clocks and table clocks designed by George Nelson Associates. (At that time, Nelson was Director of Design at Herman Miller Furniture Company.) They also produced Nelson's Bubble Lamps through the late 1960s (they have been reissued by Modernica in the 1990s and are currently available). They also produced other Nelson Associates products; spice cabinets, pull-down wall mounted vanities and desks, a vertical hanging vinyl strip system called "Ribbon Wall" (which was available in many different variations from 12" to 84" wide and 12" to 144" high), a complete line of fireplace tools, and other hanging lighting (Metalites, Net Lights, Bubbles, and Lanterns)
A number of Nelson's clocks became icons of the era, the Ball, Spike, Block, Spindle, and others were good sellers and have been reissued by Vitra, as well as most of the Zoo Timers clocks, and a select group of table models.
In the 1960s, a line of ceramic wall clocks called "Meridian" were produced using ceramic wall plates designed in Italy and using the Nelson clock hands. This line, as well as the other Nelson clocks and other pieces were distributed by Richards Morganthau, Inc. (also known as Raymor).
One of the last series of modern clocks were the "Swing Timers", a group of at least 18 inexpensive all plastic clocks produced in the late 1960s and designed by Arthur Umanoff Associates. Umanoff also designed Plexiglas floor and wall clocks, a series of wood clocks called "Natural Classics", and "Day Timers" (plastic wall clocks with day and dates). Nathan George Horwitt designed the "Museum Clock" in the 1970' (both wall and table model). The final George Nelson Associates series of clocks were the 1984 post-modern "Tempo '21 Series".
For some reason, most of the modern Nelson and Umanoff clocks were discontinued and the company has little to no interest in that period of modern design these days.
Originally the company only made mantel clocks. Grandfather clocks did not become a part of the product line until the 1960s.
The company began making curio cabinets in 1989.
The company began marketing and selling wine and spirits furniture in 2004 thanks to Robert S. LeHocky, former Vice President of Sales and Marketing, who is the currently the Executive Vice President due to Phil Millers retirement in 2008.
The company launched a line of Home Storage Solutions partnering with celebrity Ty Pennington in 2008.
The company launched a line of Furniture partnering with celebrity Ty Pennington in 2009.
Trivia
- Howard Miller Clock Company owns the Kieninger Company of Germany, which makes many of the mechanical movements in Howard Miller clocks.
- During World War II, the Company joined forces with Ford Motor Company in making anti-aircraft covers.
- Howard Miller Clocks are a frequent prize on the game show The Price Is Right.
- Howard C. Miller's father Herman financially helped D. J. DePree, Herman's son-in-law, found office furniture manufacturer Herman Miller.
