Grandfather Clocks: A "Timeless" Idea

by Giorgina Devereaux

Grandfather clocks stand tall, with their majestic appearance, while faithfully keeping track of time. 

Its gentle tick tock is a warm and welcoming sound, while the sweet melody it releases upon striking is pleasing to the ear. 

For some, it brings back beloved childhood memories of time spent at our grandparents’ home. 

It is a timeless piece that is elegant and can successfully grace a lonely hallway or bare corner. 

What a wonderful heirloom piece sure to be cherished by future generations.

History of the Grandfather Clock:  To fully appreciate this amazing work of art, it’s important to understand how the grandfather clock evolved. 
 

The idea behind referring to this clock as a “Grandfather clock” originated from an 1876 song written by Henry Work, entitled, “My Grandfather's Clock.” 

However, let’s travel back in time quite a bit to 1656 when Christiaan Huygens, a Dutch mathematician, astronomer, and physicist invented the pendulum clock. 

This invention represented a breakthrough in time keeping because the anchor escapement was regarded as a major step in the development of accurate watches.  The escapement is the part of the movement that controls the speed of the clock. 

The movement is comprised of a system of brass and steel wheels, and gears referred to as the train.  Normally, it is positioned between two brass plates.  An escapement drives the pendulum in a pendulum clock generally from a gear train. 
 

A gear train is powered to provide energy into the pendulum, and usually utilizes springs or weights.  With no escapement in place, the system would unwind endlessly. 

Yet the escapement makes this motion occur intermittently, controlled by the pendulum.  

The pendulum shifts the escapement back and forth, from a locked state to a drive state for a short period of time, and ends when the next tooth on the gear hits the locking surface on the escapement. 

This periodic release of energy and quick stopping is what makes a clock tick. 
 

How Grandfather Clocks Tell Time:  Even though the construction of a Grandfather clock is a lot more complicated than a single pendulum, its basic design is such that it uses a pair of weights to help power it.

As the anchor gear lowers a weight, it provides energy to turn the other gears and move the hands of the clock. 

The second weight assists in winding the clock, which allows it to run for several days before it requires to be rewound.  Lastly, the slow nudging of the pendulum by the anchor aids in overcoming friction and enables the clock to continue moving at a constant speed.  

Since 17^th century astronomers needed more accurate clocks, they made the pendulum longer and longer.  Eventually, the clocks were placed inside long cases, which enabled it to be freestanding.    
 

These clocks are very accurate and have the ability to keep time to within one minute per month. 

However, in order to keep proper time, the weights that are either suspended by chains or cables need to be adjusted periodically.   

A cable driven clock is wound by inserting a key or a crank to set the weights, while a chain driven Grandfather clock is wound by pulling the chains until the weights are in the correct position.

The winding should be done once a week.

In addition to needing to wind the clock, consider having it professionally cleaned and oiled every two to three years to ensure it functions optimally. 

Periodic dusting and general cleaning is also important in caring for your Grandfather clock.
 

Furthermore, if you are concerned about your Grandfather clock waking you up at night, it may not be an issue since most clocks have a night shut-off lever. 

This allows you to disable the sounds and movements at any moment, while still keeping accurate time.  

And speaking of sounds, the melody of chimes featured in these clocks includes the melody of the chimes in St. Michael's Church in Galveston, South Carolina; the melody of the chimes in the Clock Tower at the House of Parliament in London; the melody of the chimes of St. Mary Le Bow Church in London; and the melody of the chimes in the cathedral in Hampshire, England.

Other Parts:  Now, let’s walk through some of the other parts that make up a Grandfather clock. 

 

The “crown” is the top portion of the grandfather clock and the common crown styles include the split pediment and the bonnet, which has a full arched facade.  Other prevalent styles include arched, flat top, and federal crowns.  
 

The decorative ornament that is usually wood or brass and is featured on the top of the clock cabinet is known as the “finial.” 

It is most frequently used in between split pediment crowns.  

A moon dial is normally found at the top of the clock face and this tracks the phases of the moon through the 29 1/2 days of the lunar month.  

As the rotating moon dial travels behind the Eastern and Western Hemispheres, the phases of the moon are represented as they appear at each phase of the cycle, which includes new moon, waning crescent, half moon, and so on. 

The access doors are hinged doors or panel inserts on the upper sides of clocks and allow access to the movement.  

A “bob” is the polished round disk located at the lower end of a pendulum.  The weights, as previously described supply the motive force that drives the clock mechanism and generally have a weighted insert with a brass shell.
 

Types of Clocks Available:  There are different brands and styles of clocks to choose from.  Some of the major brands include:  Howard Miller, Ridgeway, and German Hermle. 

You can find them in a dark, medium, light, metal, or painted finish. 
 

Clocks are available in the following styles:  traditional, contemporary, and as a curio, which is perfect for displaying fine collectibles.  

You can even find a grandfather cuckoo clock that features intricate carvings. 
 

With all of this in mind, it’s no wonder why the Grandfather clock is popular. 

It’s a magnificent piece that never loses its beauty.  Make a striking statement by welcoming a Grandfather clock into your home.

LET'S SHOP for Grandfather Clocks

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