Hammond made some really beautiful clocks in addition to musical instruments -those Hammond organs. Their main clock products were based on an electrical movement that required the user to manually start the clock. The phrase "spin to start", printed on the back of every Hammond (and on many others since Hammond OEM'd movements for a number of smaller manufacturers) will always be associated with them (at least in circles where people know their clocks). The rational behind the spin to start was that an owner, on seeing his clock stopped would reasonably know that there had been a power outtage; if the clock just restarted, he wouldn't realize that it wasn't displaying the proper time. Henry Warren got around this at Telechron with his ingenious little red dot. In essence this was a small metal disk that was held up by electromagnetism while the clock was running, then if the power failed it would drop down and show red. Even if the power came on and restarted the clock the red disk would be displayed, only by resetting the clock would the red disk disappear.

Hammond made a lot of clocks out of various stone types such as Onyx and Marble. I think they're pretty much alone in that camp as far as american manufacturers are concerned (at least in terms of sheer volume and variety). I don't have any examples of these since I prefer Catalyn to Marble or Onyx but I do have a few of their very popular bakelite and plastic clocks, and of course my favorite clock, a lovely machine age OEM from the Best Lamp Company that used Hammond movements with a beautiful font based around triangles (Hammond used wonderful fonts on their clock faces). Enjoy.

The Hammond junior was a very popular, highly Art Deco styled small electric clock. It's not an alarm clock but it has a very beautiful set of lines and intersecting at 90 degree angles and a pronounced "bubble" type of crystal. Unfortunately this one lived with a heavy smoker for a fair amount of time as you can tell by the general yellowish stain. I toyed with the idea of replacing the dial face but eventually decided to keep it original.


This is a Hammond "Fantasy". It's an alarm clock and contains a time wheel on the back that one turns to set it. I've seen several varations on this particular model, all with different names including one I saw labeled "war alarm" (undoubtedly produced to help get those riveter's to their jobs on time). I love the stubby hour hand.


This is a Hammond "Paris". It's an alarm clock with a simple chocolate brown bakelite case, brass bezel and feet. All three of these contain almost identical movement, internals and back plate. The difference obviously being in the case, dial face and choice of hand generally. This case seems very low budget and rather less art deco than most of their clocks; like they were running low on ideas at the time... At any rate it still has a pleasing appearance.


My favorite clock is this beautiful machine age, die casting from the Best Lamp Company of Chicago. It uses a very early Hammond spin start movement (the movement is bigger than any I've seen). It includes an internal light that could be switched on, and is an alarm version that like the previous clock, has a setting mechanism in the rear. The alarm is a very loud and annoying buzzer. This clock is from the 1920's, still works, still keeps time and looks beautiful. Notice the unique "triangle" font and indicator markings around the ring, very stylish I think, I only wish they'd been a bit more inventive and come up with something aside from those plain old spade hands.


A side angle to show the ribbing across the top, unlike a lot of clocks this one is asthetically pleasing from just about every angle.