The one thing that determines the value of an antique clock is the timber that the casing is made of. This does not apply to bracket clocks, however, since only their walls are made of wood.

There are a number of further parameters such as shape, color, and sizes. Other value-determining factors for longcase clocks are the patina and overall condition of the clock.

Let's look at one of these factors to get to know what decides the value of an antique longcase clock. For example, the kind of timber used to make the clock makes a difference. A grandfather clock can be made of oak, yew, mahogany, fruitwood, walnut, rosewood, pine or a combination of any of these. However, you'll find most clocks are made from either mahogany, pine, or walnut.

We will only concern ourselves with the wood that is visible; you will find other types of wood hidden in the casing. For example, inferior quality woods might be used for glue blocks even though the casing is made of solid oak. These pieces are often made of pine and can be leftover from other constructions. However, these types of wood blocks do not affect the clock's value.

Next we come to the clocks backboard, these are often (even in more valuable clocks) made of pine or oak.

Oak is preferred since it is far less susceptible to woodworm as compared to pine.

Where you almost always find oak backboards is in London clocks, as in a Lancashire clocks.
Pine backboards are what you'll find most often, though. Sometimes chestnut or elm can be found. But again, the clock's value isn't affected much by the type of wood used in the backboard. More important is the condition of the wood, wherever it may be in the clock.

Low price and abundant availability made pine the common choice for clock building. The only exception was Norway pine as this had to be imported. You might come across a clock made from 'deal', which we now refer to as pine as well.

You will often find furniture in the stores made of pine. If the grain is visible through the polish, wax or paint, this is known as waxed pine, stripped pine, or white pine.

To see whether the timber is pine, find a place on the furniture that is not easily visible, the put the nail of your thumb on the wood and press. Only pine is soft enough for your thumbnail to leave a mark in the wood.

In the 17th through to the 19th century you could buy a pine clock for roughly half the price of an oak clock. This cost was for the case only, however. The price for the clock itself depended on whether was a 36 hour or an 8 day clock. The 8-day clocks cost about twice as much as a 36-hour clock.

Pine used to be a cheap alternative, but today old pine grandfather clocks can be quite rare, as there are not so many around anymore. Most were destroyed due to woodworm holes, which they were susceptible to.

This means that well kept pine longcase clocks can be quite rare and therefore not exactly cheap. But remember, the overall condition of the clock is still a determining factor in value.