Where Grandfather Clocks Come From?

By Author: Rudy Silva
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Even though modern quartz watches, and cheap ones at that, keep better time than grandfather clocks, these clocks provide an elegant view when properly placed in your home.

It is thought that the first mechanical clocks were invented or created by monks during the 13 century. But since they had no clock faces and hands to show time, you could not tell time by looking at them.

During the Later 15th century, small domestic clocks began to have an extra hour hand. This clock was called a lantern clock, which was a weight-driven time piece. Because of the cost to make it, it made its way only to upper class homes of that time.

In 1582, Galileo discovered that a pendulum has a fixed period and could be used for timing. However, he didn't actually build a pendulum based clock. It was the smart clock makers that used this concept to adapt it to clock timing.

This task was performed by Christiaan Huygens in 1656. His design was a significant improvement over the earlier mechanical clocks, because it had an error margin of 3 min or so per day.

The pendulums of early grandfathers were short. This limited ...
... the accuracy of their timing compared to other clocks of the time. Movements were made of cast iron and the clocks were mounted on the wall.

Around 1660, watches with longer pendulums were introduced by English watchmaker. In another decade, the pendulum mechanism was perfected by William Clement. Robert Hook created a 39.1 inch pendulum. Together these developments led to the creation of the first grandfather clocks. Robert's clock stood 7 feet high.

During that time these long clocks had a different name. They were call long case clocks or were called floor clocks. The name grandfather clocks were not popular until the 1880s, and this was after Henry Work wrote the song, "Grandfather's Clock".

Finally the grandfather started to change. It was improved when a 1 minute hand was included in its design. It could now keep time more accurately then before. The wood designs became more elaborately carved wooden casings. The clock makers made use of glass to highlight the dial and pendulum. With these changes the grandfather clock took on a more attractive look.

In the early days, these clocks took a long to time to produce. It was the royalty and nobility that could afford these clocks. As production techniques improved and their cost came down, this clock became more affordable to the masses.

During the 1680's America started to create and produce these grandfathers. Within two years, new changes and designs were made to these clocks. The result was that England no longer dominated this market. The American clocks that were produced in New England, Virginia, and Pennsylvania were now cheaper because of the bass movements.

Grandfather clocks will not disappear sometime soon. These clocks are adored by many that place them in the homes as a reminder of some time passed of their own history. They represent a thread of history that runs through all of us. That is why these clocks bring out a desire to buy them and display them even within modern décor.

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