Howard Miller Clock Company

Infobox_Company
company_name = Howard Miller Company
company_
company_type = Private
slogan = Enhancing life at home.
foundation = 1926
location = Zeeland, Michigan; manufacturing facilities also in Germany
key_people = Howard "Buzz" Miller, President
industry = Clocks, Furniture
products = Longcase clocks
Curio Cabinets |Wall Clocks Mantle Clocks Wine and Spirits Furnishings
homepage = [http://www.howardmiller.com/ www.howardmiller.com]

The Howard Miller Company is a Zeeland, Michigan based manufacturer of longcase clocks.

History

Howard Miller Clock Company was founded in 1926 as the Howard Miller Clock Company. Originally a division of office furniture manufacturer Herman Miller, the company was spun off in 1937 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, they produced scores of wall clocks and table clocks designed by George Nelson Associates. They also produced Nelson's Bubble Lamps through the late 1960's (they have been reissued by Modernica in the 1990's and are currently available). They also produced other Nelson Associates products; Spice Cabinets, pull-down wall mounted vanities and Desks, a vertical hanging vinyl strips 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. The last series of modern clocks associates with Nelson were the "Swing Timers", a group of at least 18 inexpensive all plastic clocks produced in the late 1969's and designed by Arthur Umanoff.

Even though the Nelson designed modern clocks and other pieces represented a large part of Howard Miller's business from 1947 to sometime in the early 1970's, for some strange reason, Howard Miller hardly acknowledge that they were ever involved with George Nelson Associates. It's as if they want to wipe that chapter out of memory.

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 making 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 do to Phil Millers retirement in 2008.

The company launched a line of Home Storage Solutions partnering with celebrity Ty Pennington in 2008.

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.

References

*cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
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url = http://www.howardmiller.com/Info/CompanyHistory.aspx
title = Howard Miller History
work =
publisher =
accessdate = 14 April
accessyear = 2006
*cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
year =
url = http://www.classic-antique-clocks.com/Howard-Miller-clocks-info.html
title = Classic's Howard Miller Clocks
work =
publisher =
accessdate = 14 April
accessyear = 2006
*cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
year =
url = http://www.scripophily.net/hemiclcomi19.html
title = Herman Miller Clock Company signed by Herman Miller and D.J. DePree - Zeeland, Michigan 1927
work =
publisher =
accessdate = 14 April
accessyear = 2006

External links

* [http://www.howardmiller.com Howard Miller website]
* [http://www.howardmiller.com/CustomerSupport/Dealer/DealerLocator.aspx Search For Authorized Dealer]