Did you know that the grandfather clock is one of the oldest timepieces in existence? This old-school piece of décor has been used to tell time for hundreds of years, and it’s still used today. In this article, we’re going to learn about the history of the grandfather clock and discover its origins. Read on to learn more about when the grandfather clock was invented, as well as its various types and subcategories.
What Is A Grandfather Clock?
The grandfather clock is one of the most sophisticated timepieces that a person can own. It also has many different clock names and is recognised as a longcase clock or a tall-case clock in different places around the world. This type of clock is usually very tall and can be hung on a wall. Alternatively, you can get grandfather clocks that will stand up securely by themselves. The pendulum is usually held in the tower or waist of the case since this is a weight-driven pendulum clock. Luxurious in design, the clock frame is usually very elaborate with detailed carving or just a simple polished oak finish that surrounds the clock face. The materials used to craft a grandfather clock will always vary, however, the majority of grandfather clocks are made out of oak and walnut. It is believed that the grandfather clock was given its name after a popular song was released in 1876 called “My Grandfathers Clock”.
When was the Grandfather clock invented?
The first grandfather clock was invented in 1656 by a man named Christian Huygens who was Dutch. Even though it may not have been identified as the grandfather clock at the time, he was the first person to create a weight-driven pendulum clock with a striking mechanism. This type of clock was first introduced in Britain as the ‘Long Case Clock’ after a clockmaker from London visited Holland to learn about the mechanism of pendulum clocks. Any clocks made before 1656 would more likely be mechanical and water-powered. Manufacturing pendulum clocks was a significant struggle for clockmakers in the first 15 years of this type of clock being invented, however by 1670, the development in clock style and manufacturing had improved massively and Britain was known internationally for leading in the world of clock-making. Traditionally, the first few British grandfather clocks were made out of authentic wood such as oak, however, gradually over the years African Mahogany also known as ‘flame mahogany’ started to be used which is sourced from a Mahogany Tree. The dials of a grandfather clock were originally made out of brass and square-shaped. A grandfather clock is one of the many famous antique timepieces so it holds a lot of value!
Why was the grandfather clock invented?
The grandfather clock was invented to be a more reliable version of the solar clock. The solar clock is an instrument that measures time based on the movement of the sun. Since the sun moves across the sky in a regular cycle, it is very accurate at telling the time. However, it is not very reliable because it can be affected by the weather, the temperature and the humidity. The movement of celestial bodies, such as the sun and the moon, gives us very good measurements of time, but it can be affected by the weather. The grandfather clock was invented to be a more reliable version of the solar clock because it was very accurate and unaffected by the weather. It used gears and a mechanism including a weight-driven pendulum to tell time. It also had a dial to tell time. Unlike the dial of a solar clock, the dial of a grandfather clock was designed so that it would not be affected by the weather.
The grandfather clock is a valuable antique that is often used as a decoration in a home or office. It is perfect for those who want a statement piece of furniture for the home, or those that just want a bigger clock in general. This is a fairly old timepiece of furniture since its invention took place during the 1600s however this doesn’t mean it has any less value or desire. An antique grandfather clock would be worth a lot of money and hold a lot of value in the modern world!
