Howard Miller

A Modern American Icon Founded in the Roaring 20’s

The Howard Miller Clock Company was founded in 1926 in Zeeland, Michigan, under a name that was both familiar and, at the time, entirely intentional: the Herman Miller Clock Company. This original entity operated as a division of Herman Miller Furniture Company, which itself had only just adopted that name in 1923, when acting president Dirk Jan De Pree—with the financial backing of his father-in-law, Herman Miller—purchased the majority stake in the former Michigan Star Furniture Company.

While Herman Miller Furniture would soon become one of the most influential forces in modern American furniture design, the clock division pursued a parallel but distinct path. Howard Miller focused on domestic timekeeping, drawing from West Michigan’s woodworking traditions and the growing national appetite for well-made household clocks.

In 1937, the clock division formally separated from the furniture company and became the independent Howard Miller Clock Company. Despite this corporate split, the two firms remained physically and historically linked; their headquarters stood directly across the street from one another in Zeeland for decades, a proximity that endured until Howard Miller’s final years.

George Nelson and the Reinvention of the American Clock

For its first twenty years, Howard Miller produced largely traditional mantel and wall clocks, remaining a respected but relatively modest manufacturer. That position changed decisively after World War II, with the involvement of George Nelson, a figure whose influence on American design extended far beyond furniture.

In 1947, Nelson was hired by Herman Miller as Director of Design, despite having no formal background in furniture design. His contract granted him extraordinary independence, allowing him to operate through his own firm, George Nelson Associates. This studio produced designs not only for Herman Miller furniture, but also for Howard Miller clocks.

Beginning in the late 1940s, George Nelson Associates introduced a radically new approach to clock design. These clocks rejected traditional case forms in favor of abstract geometry, expressive color, and sculptural presence. Rather than disguising the clock as furniture, Nelson treated it as a graphic object—an embodiment of postwar American modernism.

Museum and archival records confirm that iconic designs such as the Ball Clock were designed beginning in 1947, with production carried out by Howard Miller from the late 1940s through the 1960s. These designs brought Howard Miller international recognition and permanently tied the company’s name to the mid-century modern movement.

From Modernism to the American Grandfather Clock

Although modern wall clocks brought prestige, Howard Miller’s most commercially defining chapter began later, during the 1960s, when the company entered the grandfather (floor) clock market. This period coincided with a resurgence of interest in traditional furnishings, as longcase clocks reemerged as symbolic centerpieces of the American home.

Howard Miller distinguished itself by combining:

• American-made cabinetry

• Carefully proportioned cases

• High-quality mechanical movements sourced from Germany

This commitment was formalized in 1993, when Howard Miller acquired Kieninger, securing direct control over one of the most respected German movement manufacturers.

As its floor clock business expanded, Howard Miller also grew through acquisition. In 2004, the company purchased Ridgeway Clocks, a Virginia-based manufacturer long associated with American-made grandfather clocks. Ridgeway’s designs and brand identity were folded into Howard Miller’s longcase offerings, further consolidating the company’s dominance in the American floor clock market.

These clocks became associated with life milestones—weddings, retirements, anniversaries—and for many American households, the name Howard Miller became nearly synonymous with the grandfather clock itself.

Expansion, Diversification, and Market Pressures

Over the late 20th and early 21st centuries, Howard Miller expanded beyond clocks into:

• Curio cabinets

• Bar and wine cabinets

• Contemporary home furnishings

• Limited-edition and commemorative clocks

While this diversification extended the company’s lifespan, it also tied its fortunes closely to the housing and furniture markets, leaving it increasingly vulnerable to economic downturns and changing consumer preferences.

The Final Years and Closure

In 2024–2025, Howard Miller announced it would cease production, citing prolonged weakness in the housing market, rising costs, and sustained economic pressure on domestic manufacturing. Reporting confirmed that the company was unable to secure a buyer for its operations and would wind down entirely.

By 2026, the company confirmed it would fully liquidate inventory and close its doors, bringing an end to nearly 100 years of American clock manufacturing.

An American Legacy Measured in Time

Howard Miller’s place in American horological history is singular. It bridged the worlds of modernist design and traditional craftsmanship, surviving longer than nearly all of its domestic peers. From George Nelson’s postwar wall clocks to its dominance of the grandfather clock market, the company defined American timekeeping across multiple generations.

Today, Howard Miller clocks remain in homes across the country, still chiming and marking the hours—quiet reminders of one of the last great American clock manufacturers.

Further Reading & Sources

1. Howard Miller – Company History
   Official overview of the company’s founding, product evolution, acquisitions, and closure.

2. Herman Miller – George Nelson
   Authoritative biography outlining Nelson’s role and design philosophy.

3. Vitra Magazine – “The Original Is by Vitra: Wall Clocks”
   Contextualizes George Nelson’s clock designs and their historical significance.

4. Philadelphia Museum of Art – George Nelson Wall Clock Object Record
   Museum documentation confirming design dates and manufacturing attribution.

5. Furniture Today – Howard Miller Closure
   Industry reporting on the company’s closure and contributing factors.