1970s Bulova Wood Mantel Clock with Westminster Chime

$228.00
A substantial 1970s Bulova Westminster mantel clock with a warm brown wood case, domed glass front, cream Arabic-number dial, ornate black hands, and a genuine German mechanical chime movement.

The sweeping tambour, or “Napoleon hat,” case gives it that unmistakable old-school mantel-clock silhouette, while the three-train mechanical movement handles the timekeeping, traditional Westminster melody, and hour strike entirely without batteries. The clock has been tested and is ticking, keeping time, and chiming as it should.

Inside is a two-jewel German 340-020 mechanical movement, a well-known Westminster configuration used in quality mantel clocks of this period. The movement plate carries the Bulova Watch Company name along with its German manufacture markings.

📚 Historical Context

Bulova’s story starts a long way from this mantel. In 1875, Joseph Bulova opened a small jewelry shop on Maiden Lane in New York City, eventually building one of America’s most recognizable names in timekeeping. By the 20th century the company had become famous for everything from precision watches to the Accutron, and even for putting the Bulova name into some of the earliest radio and television advertising in American history.

Then we arrive in 1975.

Electronic timekeeping was marching straight through the front door, batteries were beginning to make winding a clock seem unnecessarily complicated, and somebody at Bulova apparently decided there was still room in the house for gears, springs, hammers, and five metal chime rods.

And they were right.

Rather than disguise the machinery, this clock embraces it. Three winding holes on the dial feed separate mechanical trains. One keeps time. Another plays the familiar Westminster quarters. The third counts out the hour. Behind the case sits the German 340-020 movement, a key-wound mechanism built to do its job mechanically, repeatedly, and with considerably more hardware than a modern clock requires.

The case itself reaches further back stylistically. Its low, sweeping tambour profile recalls mantel clocks from the early 20th century, exactly the sort of traditional furniture-inspired design that remained popular during the 1970s even as the technology inside homes was rapidly changing.

So what you end up with is a very 1970s contradiction: an American name famous for technological progress wrapped around a decidedly traditional German mechanical clock.

And roughly fifty years later, it is still ticking.

✨ Condition Notes

- Clock has been tested and ticks and keeps time.

- Westminster chime and hour-strike functions are working.

- Warm brown wood case shows honest vintage wear including small scratches, surface marks, and finish loss
along some edges and feet.

- There are visible scratches/marks on the side of the wooden case; please review the detailed photographs.

- Cream dial remains attractive with light age-related spotting and surface marks.

- Brass-tone bezel shows normal oxidation, patina, and finish wear consistent with age.

- Domed glass is intact and displays well.

- Rear door and internal movement are intact.

- Movement is marked Bulova Watch Comp. Inc., Two (2) Jewels, 340-020, with German manufacture markings.

- One small screw is missing from the hinge of the front glass/bezel door. The door still opens, closes, and sits properly when shut, so this does not detract from the clock’s appearance or normal operation. Because the hinge has one less securing point than originally intended, the door should simply be supported when opened and handled with care.

- Overall, this presents as a handsome, functional vintage mechanical clock with the cosmetic character expected from approximately five decades of use.

📏 Measurements

Width: 16.5 in
Height: 8.75 in
Depth: 4.25 in

🎥 Video / Audio

Etsy listing videos play without audio, so the clip is silent by default even though the clock and Westminster chime are working as they should. An audio demonstration is available upon request, just send us a message.

📦 Packaging

Clock will be professionally padded and boxed with care.
A substantial 1970s Bulova Westminster mantel clock with a warm brown wood case, domed glass front, cream Arabic-number dial, ornate black hands, and a genuine German mechanical chime movement.

The sweeping tambour, or “Napoleon hat,” case gives it that unmistakable old-school mantel-clock silhouette, while the three-train mechanical movement handles the timekeeping, traditional Westminster melody, and hour strike entirely without batteries. The clock has been tested and is ticking, keeping time, and chiming as it should.

Inside is a two-jewel German 340-020 mechanical movement, a well-known Westminster configuration used in quality mantel clocks of this period. The movement plate carries the Bulova Watch Company name along with its German manufacture markings.

📚 Historical Context

Bulova’s story starts a long way from this mantel. In 1875, Joseph Bulova opened a small jewelry shop on Maiden Lane in New York City, eventually building one of America’s most recognizable names in timekeeping. By the 20th century the company had become famous for everything from precision watches to the Accutron, and even for putting the Bulova name into some of the earliest radio and television advertising in American history.

Then we arrive in 1975.

Electronic timekeeping was marching straight through the front door, batteries were beginning to make winding a clock seem unnecessarily complicated, and somebody at Bulova apparently decided there was still room in the house for gears, springs, hammers, and five metal chime rods.

And they were right.

Rather than disguise the machinery, this clock embraces it. Three winding holes on the dial feed separate mechanical trains. One keeps time. Another plays the familiar Westminster quarters. The third counts out the hour. Behind the case sits the German 340-020 movement, a key-wound mechanism built to do its job mechanically, repeatedly, and with considerably more hardware than a modern clock requires.

The case itself reaches further back stylistically. Its low, sweeping tambour profile recalls mantel clocks from the early 20th century, exactly the sort of traditional furniture-inspired design that remained popular during the 1970s even as the technology inside homes was rapidly changing.

So what you end up with is a very 1970s contradiction: an American name famous for technological progress wrapped around a decidedly traditional German mechanical clock.

And roughly fifty years later, it is still ticking.

✨ Condition Notes

- Clock has been tested and ticks and keeps time.

- Westminster chime and hour-strike functions are working.

- Warm brown wood case shows honest vintage wear including small scratches, surface marks, and finish loss
along some edges and feet.

- There are visible scratches/marks on the side of the wooden case; please review the detailed photographs.

- Cream dial remains attractive with light age-related spotting and surface marks.

- Brass-tone bezel shows normal oxidation, patina, and finish wear consistent with age.

- Domed glass is intact and displays well.

- Rear door and internal movement are intact.

- Movement is marked Bulova Watch Comp. Inc., Two (2) Jewels, 340-020, with German manufacture markings.

- One small screw is missing from the hinge of the front glass/bezel door. The door still opens, closes, and sits properly when shut, so this does not detract from the clock’s appearance or normal operation. Because the hinge has one less securing point than originally intended, the door should simply be supported when opened and handled with care.

- Overall, this presents as a handsome, functional vintage mechanical clock with the cosmetic character expected from approximately five decades of use.

📏 Measurements

Width: 16.5 in
Height: 8.75 in
Depth: 4.25 in

🎥 Video / Audio

Etsy listing videos play without audio, so the clip is silent by default even though the clock and Westminster chime are working as they should. An audio demonstration is available upon request, just send us a message.

📦 Packaging

Clock will be professionally padded and boxed with care.