The Sun never sets on the ElectraChime Empire
"The empire on which the sun never sets" describes certain global empires that were so extensive there was always at least one part of their territory that was in daylight. It was originally used for the Spanish Empire, mainly in the 16th and 17th centuries, and for the British Empire, mainly in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The name Empire is appropriate for a line of vintage-style door chimes since long chime doorbells were first introduced in the early 1930s which coincided with the zenith of the British Empire.
Empire Doorbell on the left welcomes visitors on the East Coast of North America while the other serves on the West Coast. The ElectraChime Metro, with horizontal lines reminiscent of the International Style of Architecture, graces a wall in Sydney, Australia.
As ElectraChime door chimes have been installed on six continents, the Sun never sets on the ElectraChime Empire.
Shipped Worldwide
Can you Spot the ElectraChime Upstairs?
Photo courtesy of Covington Homes.
Talk about attention to detail. This house does.
Does Your Doorbell Match Your Floors?
On occasion, a client requests an ElectraChime to match existing architectural elements. In this installation, we executed a Metro cover in white oak and used the same stain as the refinished original 1930s floors.
Paired with three nickel-plated brass bells, this Oakland, California doorbell niche is stylishly retro-modern with a kind of "always been there" aesthetic.
Contact us about a doorbell to meet your own needs.
How high is too high?
The answer isn't entirely existential when it comes to doorbells. Still, there is no single answer. ElectraChimes are meant to be seen, and heard. As a rule of thumb, we recommend the top of the chime be hung just above eye level at about six and one half feet on a standard eight foot wall.
Here are two installations close to the the ceiling.
In the first example, a Coronet with a custom walnut cover and nickel-plated bells rests comfortably in a newly constructed home in Connecticut. The homeowner could have built the chime niche anywhere they wanted, yet chose a location near the ceiling.
The Texas installation at right is a Coronet with three brass bells at the former location of a more modest doorbell. This negated the need for the homeowner to move the wires and patch the wallpaper.
As a practical matter, playful children and pets are less likely to play with the tubular bells when they are mounted just out of reach.
A Tale of Two Metros: Custom for an Existing Townhouse and a Standard Finish for a New Custom Home
Here are two ElectraChime Metro doorbells. The top two photos show a Metro executed in rift cut white oak with Minwax Classic Gray Stain beneath three coats of satin urethane for a Philadelphia townhouse. The lower two photos show a Metro in natural walnut installed in a newly constructed home in Colorado Springs. The juxtaposition of the ultra modern Metro with the traditional Spanish arches and plaster is stunning, don't you think?
How Long Before the Dogs Catch On to the New Doorbell?
Jeff S. writes from Michigan:
The house was built in 1936 in Grosse Pointe, MI. I believe it originally had a buzzer that was located in the breakfast room/kitchen and was relocated during the kitchen remodel 30 years ago to a back hallway. The dogs have not caught on that the chime means someone is at the door….a lot less barking. I think the chimes add a classy sound and certainly look better than the old plastic chime box from the 80’s that was there.
This ElectraChime Coronet was ordered unfinished and painted to match the white trim of this entry in a Colorado Springs home. A wise choice against the intricate wallpaper. I like how the tubular bells shine.
ElectraChime Empire Customer Photo
Here is an ElectraChime Empire door chime keeping watch in a Mid-Century Pacific Northwest home. This million dollar view definitely warrants this stately doorbell.
This client chose a simple case and three nickel-plated brass bells. Look closely and you'll find the homeowner curled up with a good book.
