The History of Grandfather Clocks By LaZinnia Manley

For a very long time, and possibly since the beginning of intelligent human thought, man has been using one method or another to mark the passage of time. Originally, the sun, the moon and the stars were used to achieve this. For about 5000 years, there has been some form of clock making. From the beginning, man has been obsessed with time and even now, society is based around time. Some of the most beautiful time-keeping pieces are grandfather clocks.

The origin of the grandfather clock started with Galileo Galilei in 1582 when he discovered that a pendulum could be used for keeping time. Although this discovery belongs to Galileo, the first in a very long line of grandfather clocks was a pendulum clock invented by Christiaan Huygens. Huygens was a Dutch scientist, and his prototype was imitated by many. At first, grandfather clocks were made of cast iron pieces and were mounted on the wall. Before long, they were encased in wood.

Between 1630 and 1730, grandfather clocks were really redeveloped and improved upon. They evolved from those original cast iron wall pieces to floor models that were over 7 feet tall. Their timing was improved as well, from minutes a day to a few seconds a week variance. This made them much more precise and a minute hand was also added. They went from functional time pieces to a true art and pieces of real beauty. They were also encased in glass so that the longer pendulum and weights were displayed.

They were originally made for royalty and nobles, but after some period of time the production costs came down. This meant that while they were still very expensive, families which were not royalty could place grandfather clocks in their homes. In the late 1600’s, these clocks were being produced by Americans. This practice began in New England and later spread to the rest of America. Since they were still very expensive, only wealthy families could afford them. They became a symbol of wealth and status. It is interesting to note that at this point, these clocks were known as ‘wags on the wall’ clocks, ‘long case’ clocks, or ‘floor’ clocks. The name ‘grandfather clock’ came not long after this time period.

While these types of clocks are far more affordable to families today, they are still a mark of taste, class and beauty in the home. They are more enjoyed for their history and their beauty than just their time keeping abilities. They have had a long journey from their beginnings to now, and they are a symbol of history, beauty and craftsmanship.

Posted by Author LaZinnia Manley

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The Origin Of Grandfather Clocks

Remember those big, wooden clocks with long pendulums and which gives out eerie sounds? Antique clocks can evoke feelings of nostalgia for times gone by. Hearing the clock going ding-dong could either bring a person back to the past or to a time in the future.Clocks, no matter what kind they are, have always been an important aspect of man’s life. The invention of the clock has made life easier for humans, who used to tell time by the way the sun’s rays were positioned in the sky. Our ancestors could tell it is noon when the sun is set at a certain height or level in the sky. While this system worked, it made the telling of time impossible during night time or at times when it is raining.

Mechanical clocks which sounded a bell at every hour were invented in the 1300s. However, these clocks were so primitive they did not have minute hands or faces which could easily tell the time the way the clocks do nowadays. The discovery of the coiled spring in the 1400s made possible for the existence of smaller clocks and even watches. It was in the 1600s when the pendulum clock was invented by Christiaan Huygens. However, the pendulum clock was still considered inaccurate.

Such was the British Parliament’s yearning for a clock that could accurately tell the time, that a cash reward awaited anyone who could create a clock that could be used even for navigation. Finally, the accurate clock was invented and humans were once again able to navigate and work, knowing that their clocks were telling them the right time.

One of the clocks that have become famous is the grandfather clock. This clock is known for being a work of art in itself, enclosed in a tower case and has a long pendulum. Remember that in the olden days, the longer the pendulum of the clock was, the more accurate the time. Grandfather clocks usually measured high at a minimum of six feet tall, and the tower made of hardwood and glass.

The Grandfather clock actually referred to the floor clock kept in the George Hotel in England, owned by the two brothers. The death of one of the brothers resulted to time malfunction of the floor clock. When the clock started to fail when the second brother died, the clock was never repaired. This was the same clock which inspired the song “My Grandfather’s Clock”, composed by Henry Clay Work in 1875 and written after he stayed in the George Hotel and learned of the story of the two brothers.

Most Grandfather clocks are striking clocks. Striking clocks, like the Big Ben clock in London, are clocks that make a gong sound at every hour.

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