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Your Ultimate Guide to Battery-Operated Amish Clock Movements
Table of Contents
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.
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
Westminster BellWestminsterGongIt’s the SeasonJingle BellsWe Wish You A Merry ChristmasRudolph the Red-Nosed ReindeerAva Maria
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
WestminsterTune 1Tune 2Tune 3Tune 4Tune 5Tune 6Silent NightJoy to the WorldWe Wish You a Merry Christmas
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
WestminsterAva MariaBim BamStrike
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.
Lamp Lighting in the Valley 1Lamp Lighting in the Valley 2Lamp Lighting in the Valley 3Wedding 1Wedding 2Musical 3
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.
