North Coast Imports, Inc.

This is a very special clock case - elegant, classic. The arches and fluted columns recall Romanesque architecture. The clocks are large, but not overbearing - definitely for the person of refined taste. When you have a case style this good, and a workshop with the technological expertise of Kieninger, you want to show off your broad range of options. The Palladio case is a great showpiece of what Kieninger has to offer. There are now 13 (!) different versions of the Palladio available, and they are all indexed here: www.NorthCoastImports.com/wr There are three wood finishes available (Walnut, Mahogany, Antique Natural Cherry) as well as a beautiful black lacquer finish. The RWS and PS caliber mechanisms are with Westminster chime or Time and Strike complications respectively AND, we now offer the NEW  ZSR01 caliber with a One Month Power Reserve! This movement is really exceptional. It's finally an affordable Month Runner movement, with the added feature of an hour an...

Please have patience. There was a major fire at our UPS facility and shipments have been rerouted. http://www.wkyc.com/story/news/local/cuyahoga-county/2014/11/21/ups-fire/19375003/

Lots of exciting news from North Coast Imports this month, including these NEW models that just came out:

Do you know the artist Jean Kazes ? Every connoisseur of horology should. His works are beyond impressive... Did you know that North Coast Imports has one of his creations in the USA available for purchase? Ask your favorite clock dealer about it. You can find more info here: Here's a translation from his website : Born in 1930 , he trained as a precision mechanic and a teaching degree technique. He exercises for many years the profession of machine builder then acquire a degree in mechanical engineering . The trigger occurs when a friend asked if he can repair his Morbier , virus and watch the attrapât and never leave again. He decides to use the mechanics of these clocks that have crossed centuries to create timeless works of art . It is so invested in this passion that his whole soul spring in its work to find her real style that transforms a simple clock mechanical sculpture of unique beauty . His training as a mechanical engineer allows him to control t...

We are very pleased to offer the entire modern line of the storied and legendary clockmaker  L’Epée 1839! These clocks are truly inspiring to any lover of horology or connoisseur of mechanical art. Perhaps best known for their beautifully finished traditional carriage clocks,  L’Epée 1839 is pushing the envelope to develop truly creative and inventive horological fantasy.  L’Epée 1839   relives the fascination of a swashbuckling historical romance with the magic of a double animation duel with swords. The new animation shows both the power reserve and double retrograde seconds.  Closely respecting longtime tradition, each part of a  L’Epée 1839   clock is made by hand, by experienced clockmakers. Only superior materials are used, with exquisite finishes. The beauty of  L’Epée 1839   clocks is enhanced by highly polished cases and dials, lacquer adornments and glass sides. Each clock is protected by a varnish over...

We've updated a few webpages on some favorite cuckoo clocks. There are better pictures now, and movies... Check them out:

These little beauties just came in! They have a fantastic "no-fingerprint" finish, great bold colors! Collect them all!

If you're buying a German cuckoo clock, make sure that the clock is legally imported. If you are thinking about buying from a German website, ask them first how much Import Duty you will have to pay upon delivery. Some German websites won't tell you that you'll have to pay an extra $100 or so when the clock is delivered to your door. Or, they'll try to circumvent the cost for you by misrepresentation on the Customs form - that, of course, is a felony. You don't have that problem with North Coast Imports products. Of course, all  of our German clocks are imported legally, and we already paid the proper Duty. So, you won't have any surprises from us or our dealers! Not only that, but we fully warranty all of our clocks for two years and take care of any problems in our own shop in Ohio. You won't have to send any clocks back to Germany when you buy a North Coast Imports clock!

 The artists at work! You can see the creators at Romba and Christophe's creations!

Here's a nice article by Gary Brown of the CantonRep . It features my Uncle Schleutermann's clock, but with some interesting background...

We're very pleased to introduce two more NEW fine clocks to our lineup. The Jugend This is a timeless design built with absolute quality. This clock has an entirely solid walnut case, made in the U.S.A. The dial is heavy, solid brass with a brushed finish. The Hummel Another classic design, this clock is entirely made in Germany. It features marquetry around the dial and a wonderful natural cherry finish.

We're excited to introduce these new models to our collection! Please take a moment to follow the links to learn more about these great clocks! The Tristan This one is really fantastic, and we spent a long time in development. It features a German enamel dial and a CAST-BRASS bezel. This clock is leaps and bounds over similar clocks with spun metal dials. It's available in oak or cherry finish. The Verdi The Verdi combines the elegant Brahms wooden case with the high quality enamel and brass dial and bezel. Bavarian Chalet This is a beautifully made clock with lots of eye-candy - and at a Great Price! Quartz Chalet A great cuckoo at a great price! Beer Drinker Animated chalet. One-day musical. ...and there's still more to come! Stay tuned to see what we have coming.

We have just set the date to celebrate our 60th anniversary! Be sure to join us for the fun this summer at CLOCK toberfest! Saturday, August 10 2013 It will be fun for all ages.  We're planning food, drink, live music, and lots of other surprises.  Be sure to watch this space as details develop!

We are making quicker updates on Twitter that don't make it to our regular blog. Please make sure you are following our Twitter feed too. There are lots of cool updates, like pictures of NEW models being designed in our workshop...   You can see this feed at www.twitter.com/ncimports and the RSS feed for that is:  http://api.twitter.com/1/statuses/user_timeline.rss?screen_name=ncimports ...And Facebook too! We've got pictures and info and updates on Facebook. Like us at www.Facebook.com/northcoastimports Our Twitter and Facebook updates are also posted to the right on this blog page ->

We're busy working on designing and building exciting new clockwork dreams! So much work done and so much still to do. I can hardly take a moment to put out this blog post, but you will be very pleased with the new horological pieces we will be introducing with our new 2012 collection. As usual, stay tuned, watch this space and check out our website, Twitter feed, and Facebook.

We can hardly keep up with what the cuckoo wizards come up with! There are so many new models - it's hard to say enough about each delightful new creation. As a matter of fact, this clock was a complete surprise. It's brand new and loosely based off of our popular " Crow and Fox " model. Introducing the " Birds and Grapes :" Here are also two new beautifully carved pieces from master carver Christophe : ...and finally two inexpensive MUSICAL creations, perfect for the gift-giving season:

We're slowly adding to our online Museum! This is a photo, video, and descriptive website dedicated to the history of Horology and significant mechanical devices. Some of the clocks are part of the North Coast Imports collection and are available for sale, and some of the pieces are owned by our friends. We just wanted to take an opportunity to make the pictures and information on these fine clocks and watches available to the general public. Check back often, and you'll see the online virtual collection grow all of the time! Check it out at www.NorthCoastImports.com/museum

I thought it might be interesting to draw up a timeline for the developments in horology and time. I've mined some of the better information from Wikipedia to put together this snapshot of horological inventions and discoveries. 12,000 - 30,000 BCE (BC) - Artifacts from the Paleolithic that suggest measurements of the moon's motion. From Wikipedia : Lunar calendars were among the first to appear, with all years having twelve lunar months (approximately 354 days). Without intercalation to add days or months to some years, seasons quickly drift in a calendar based solely on twelve lunar months. Lunisolar calendars have a thirteenth month added to some years to make up for the difference between a full year (now known to be about 365.24 days) and a year of just twelve lunar months. The numbers twelve and thirteen came to feature prominently in many cultures, at least partly due to this relationship of months to years. 2600 - 2400 BCE - Stonehenge 3 II From Wikipedia : The timbe...