Did You Know?
About Grandfather Clocks – Part 1
What most people now know as a Grandfather Clock, was originally called a long-case clock, or a floor clock.
The name grandfather clock only became popular as a result of the song ‘My Grandfather’s Clock’, composed by Henry Clay Work in 1876. The lyrics start with:
My grandfather’s clock was too large for the shelf,
So it stood ninety years on the floor;
It was taller by half than the old man himself,
Though it weighed not a pennyweight more.
The Long-Case Clock
An English clockmaker, William Clement is given credit for building the first long-case clock in 1670.
It is commonly accepted that in 1658 Robert Hooke invented the so-called anchor escapement. At that time, accurate clocks were all pendulum driven. Until Hooke’s invention, pendulums needed very wide swings to operate – arcs were often up to 100 degrees. The new anchor escapement mechanism allowed the arc to be reduced to as little as 4 degrees. This in turn meant pendulums could be made much longer, with slower beats, which in turn meant less friction and much greater accuracy.
The long case of Clement’s clocks was a great space for a long pendulum to swing in! For many years, long-case clocks were regarded as the most accurate way to keep time.
Consider that in 1700, the average wage earner paid £1. 10s per year in rent. That was about the same price then being paid for a long-case clock. Clearly, only the rich could afford such a timepiece in their home.
Keep an eye out for
About Grandfather Clocks – Part 2
Coming soon
(c) Marty Langenberg 2021
*Photo Credit: Pixabay – 2773980_1920 Wolfgang Eckerta