Grandfather Clocks Overview
Grandfather clocks have been around a long time now. They evolved from
wall clocks. The astronomers need more accurate clocks, so
they made the pendulums longer and longer. Eventually, the became less specialized and the new makers put them into
into long cases so they could be placed on the floor,
and thus turned into long case clocks. Many more improvements occurred over time and refined them into the modern
clocks you see today. They still all tend to have similar characteristics and styles. Tall, wooden, usually with
ornate carvings and one of about a half dozen songs. There are
a number of places you can get them, but there are also a number of things you should think about before you do.
Classification
They are pendulum driven clocks in a tall wooden cases. These clocks stand on the floor and are six to eight feet tall. They usually has a classic architecture but over time different styles have come into and out of favor.Where did the name come from
They were first called long case clocks due to the long case they came in. Some people called them coffin clocks because the long cases looked liked coffins. For more information on the history of their name see the page on the history of their name.Who invented them
The idea for the first pendulum clock came into being in the 1500s. It was the astronomers that first came up with the idea of making the pendulums longer to improve accuracy. They needed the improvements to perform better calculations about the movements of the heavens. Many changes have occurred to their design since then to improve their ability to keep time. For more information on their history see the page on their history.Places to get them
Howard Miller and Ridgeway are two clock vendors. Howard Miller seems to be the most popular but Ridgeway and others are also well liked.Before you get one you need to think about the style you want. Are you looking for an antique or maybe a German style clock. If you are interested in getting one then see the page on where to get and repair them.
Other interesting places
Here are a couple of other places you might find interesting. Here you can find one made out of legos. Here is a basic overview on how pendulum clocks work.Back to main clocks page