Your Ultimate Guide to Battery-Operated Amish Clock Movements

Have you ever wondered what makes an Amish clock tick?

Today we’ll explore the world of battery-operated Amish clock movements. What features do they offer and how do they work? Check out our other article for more information on mechanical windup movements.

What are Battery-Operated Amish Clock Movements?

A clock movement is the mechanism inside the clock cabinet that controls the time keeping part of the clock.

An Amish clock consists of two main parts: the cabinet and the movement. We are clock cabinet manufacturers. We do not manufacture clock movements. However, we have access to a sizable selection of battery operated and windup movements built by big names such as Hermle, Keininger, Seico, and more.

Battery movements are powered by (you guessed it!) batteries. Battery movements run continuously for the life of the batteries and do not need weekly “winding up.” 

Amish clock battery movements have certain advantages and disadvantages when compared to windup movements.

Pros: 

• Battery movements are significantly less expensive when compared to windup movements.
• Battery movements do not need to be wound up weekly to keep them running since the energy to run the clock comes from the batteries. 
• Battery movements typically come with more features when compared to windup movements. Battery movements often have a larger chime tune selection, volume control, auto-night silencer, and more. 
• Apart from changing the batteries, battery movements require very little maintenance. 

Cons: 

• The sound coming from a battery movement is produced electronically, rather than from hammers striking chime rods as in a windup movement. This can affect the quality of the sound. 
• Batteries need to be replaced, making battery movements less environmentally friendly.
• There is no striking mechanism to watch if your clock has side glass.

Battery Movements and Features

Here are the battery movements that are most readily available and typically used in Amish made clocks.

Seiko Dual Chime Pendulum Movement

The Seiko Dual Chime is one of the most compact and versatile movements used in Amish clocks. This movement is also available without a pendulum for use in mantle clocks.

Seiko Dual Chime Features

• 4×4 Westminster chime, 4×4 Whittington chime
• Removable speaker for installation versatility
• Automatic night silence
• Volume control
• Runs on (1) C battery
• 3-1/4″ W x 4-1/2″ H x 1-5/8″ D

Seiko Dual Chime Audio

True Sounds Pendulum Movement

The True Sounds battery-operated Amish clock movement is a high quality movement that sounds like a real grandfather clock. This movement is well-suited for grandfather clocks and larger wall and mantel clocks.

True Sounds Chime Features

• Runs on (2) C batteries
• 4 x 4 Westminster chime that sounds like a Grandfather clock, 4 x 4 Bell Westminster Chime, Ave Maria Chime, Gong Chime that sounds like a Grandfather clock, and (4) Christmas song chimes (We Wish You a Merry Christmas, Jingle Bells, It’s the Season, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer)
• Automatic Chime Silencer 11pm-6:00am
• Volume control
• Option to chime every quarter hour or only on the hour
• Pendulum capable
• 20” Speaker Wire
• Size 4-3/4” x 4-3/8” x 1-3/8”
• Available in several different handshaft lengths

True Sounds Chime Audio

Rhythm 10 Melody Pendulum Movement

The Rhythm 10 melody Amish clock movement features high quality sound with a large selection of chime tunes to play on the hour.

Rhythm 10 Melody Chime Features

• Quartz 10 Melody Movement
• Runs on (2) C batteries
• Movement has 4 chime modes to choose from.
  • 4×4 Westminster, followed by
    hourly striking.
  • Hourly Westminster, followed by hourly striking.
  • Three Christmas Melodies:
    Silent Night, Joy To The World,
    We Wish You A Merry Christmas
  • Six Classic Song Melodies: La Primavera (Spring), Morning Mood
    (Peer Gynt), Traumerei, Voices of Spring, Le Cygne (The Swan), Tales
    From the Vienna Woods
• Automatic Chime Silencer (11pm—5:45am)
• Volume Control
• Handshaft Length 22mm or 7/8”, Shaft made of all brass. Mounting
  thickness up to 13mm or 1/2”
• Pendulum Capable
• Size: 4-5/8”W x 4-1/2”H x 3”D

Rhythm 10 Melody Chime Audio

Quad 2 Pendulum Movement

This movement is very similar to the Rhythm 10 melody movement (shown above) with a slightly different chime selection.

Quad 2 Chime Features

• Quartz 4 Melody Movement
• Runs on (2) C batteries
• Movement has 5 chime modes to choose from.
  • 4×4 Westminster, followed by
    hourly striking.
  • Hourly Westminster, followed by hourly striking.
  • 4×4 Ava Maria, followed by hourly striking
  • Bim Bam
  • Strike
• Automatic Chime Silencer (11pm—5:45am)
• Volume Control
• Pendulum Capable
• Size: 4-5/8”W x 4-1/2”H x 3”D

Quad 2 Chime Audio

Musical Movement

The Musical movement is a versatile movement that plays beautifully recorded Gospel themed music on the hour.

Musical Movement Features

• Plays Gospel melodies on the hour
• Choose from dozens of songs with the purchase of additional chips
• Automatic night silence
• Volume control
• Runs on (4) AA batteries

Musical Movement Audio

The following audio clips are only a sampling of the dozens of songs available.

Here are more songs available for the musical movement. Additional chips can be purchased separately.

Please note that the sound clips featured on this page are for illustrative purposes only. The actual sound of your clock may vary from the recording on this page.

Browse our clocks to find the perfect clock with a battery-operated movement.