Ridgeway Clocks
Encyclopedia
Ridgeway Clocks is a division of Howard Miller Company, and is a producer of longcase clock
s, mantle clocks, and wall clocks. The company's facilities were located in Ridgeway, Virginia
. According to Furniture Today magazine, Howard Miller is one of only two major manufacturers of floor clocks in the U.S.
Pulaski Furniture Corporation acquired Ridgeway Clocks in 1985, as part of the Gravely Furniture Company.
Zeeland, Michigan
based Howard Miller Clock Company
, which describes itself as the world's largest manufacturer of grandfather clocks, acquired Ridgeway Clocks in November 2004 from Pulaski Furniture Corporation. Miller also owns Germany
based Kieninger, which manufactures the movements that are built into each Ridgeway clock. The clock-making work moved to Zeeland
in the spring of 2005.
The Ridgeway plant's production focus became curio cabinets and wine cabinets, product lines more vulnerable to import competition than grandfather and mantel clocks. In December 2007, Howard Miller Clock Co. closed its subsidiary Ridgeway Furniture, resulting in about 70 job losses.
A Ridgeway Grandfather Clock is presented to the winners of NASCAR Sprint Cup races at the Martinsville Speedway
.
Longcase clock
A longcase clock, also tall-case clock, floor clock, or grandfather clock, is a tall, freestanding, weight-driven pendulum clock with the pendulum held inside the tower, or waist of the case. Clocks of this style are commonly 1.8–2.4 metres tall...
s, mantle clocks, and wall clocks. The company's facilities were located in Ridgeway, Virginia
Ridgeway, Virginia
Ridgeway is a town in Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 775 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Martinsville Micropolitan Statistical Area. Ridgeway is also home to Martinsville Speedway.-HIstory:...
. According to Furniture Today magazine, Howard Miller is one of only two major manufacturers of floor clocks in the U.S.
Founding to closure
Ridgeway's promotional materials describe its origins:- Ridgeway began as The Gravely Furniture Company in 1926 and started producing grandfather clocks exclusively in 1960. This makes Ridgeway the oldest continuously produced grandfather clock brand in the United States.
Pulaski Furniture Corporation acquired Ridgeway Clocks in 1985, as part of the Gravely Furniture Company.
Zeeland, Michigan
Zeeland, Michigan
Zeeland is a city in Ottawa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 5,805 at the 2000 census. The city is located at the western edge of Zeeland Charter Township which is politically independent. Its name is derived from the Dutch province of Zeeland...
based Howard Miller Clock Company
Howard Miller Clock Company
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...
, which describes itself as the world's largest manufacturer of grandfather clocks, acquired Ridgeway Clocks in November 2004 from Pulaski Furniture Corporation. Miller also owns Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
based Kieninger, which manufactures the movements that are built into each Ridgeway clock. The clock-making work moved to Zeeland
Zeeland, Michigan
Zeeland is a city in Ottawa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 5,805 at the 2000 census. The city is located at the western edge of Zeeland Charter Township which is politically independent. Its name is derived from the Dutch province of Zeeland...
in the spring of 2005.
The Ridgeway plant's production focus became curio cabinets and wine cabinets, product lines more vulnerable to import competition than grandfather and mantel clocks. In December 2007, Howard Miller Clock Co. closed its subsidiary Ridgeway Furniture, resulting in about 70 job losses.
A Ridgeway Grandfather Clock is presented to the winners of NASCAR Sprint Cup races at the Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
.