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case, c. 1790, by Thomas Ross of
Kingston upon Hull.
A
longcase clock, also
tall-case clock,
grandfather clock or
floor clock, is a freestanding, weight-driven, pendulum clock with the
pendulum held inside the tower, or waist of the case. Clocks of this style are commonly around 1.8-2.4m (6-8 feet) tall. The case often features elaborately carved ornamentation on the hood, or bonnet, which surrounds and frames the dial, or
clock face. The English clockmaker
William Clement (clockmaker) is credited with the development of this form in
1670. Most longcase clocks are striking clocks, which means they sound the time on each hour or fraction of an hour.
The terms "grandfather", "grandmother", and "granddaughter" have been applied to longcase clocks. Although there is no specifically defined difference among these terms, the general perception seems to be that a clock smaller than 1.5m (5 feet) is a granddaughter; over 1.5m (5 feet) is a grandmother; and over 1.8m (6 feet) is a grandfather.
Traditionally, such clocks were made with two types of movement: eight-day movements and 30-hour movements. A clock with an eight-day movement required winding only once a week, while the generally lower-priced 30-hour clock had to be wound every day. Eight-day clocks are often driven by two weights - one driving the pendulum and the other the striking mechanism, which usually consisted of a bell or chimes. Such movements usually have two keyholes on either side of the dial to wind each one (as can be seen in the
Thomas Ross (clockmaker) clock illustrated to the right). By contrast, 30-hour clocks often had a single weight to drive both the pendulum and the chimes. Some 30-hour clocks were made with false keyholes, for customers who wished that guests to their home would think that the household was able to afford the more expensive eight-day clock. All modern chiming grandfather clocks have 8-day movements. Most grandfather clocks are cable-driven, meaning that the weights are suspended by cables that wrap around a pulley mounted to the top of each weight. Such clocks are wound by inserting a special crank (called a "key") into holes in the clock's face and turning it. Others, however, are chain-driven, meaning that the weights are suspended by chains that wrap around gears in the clock's mechanism, with the other end of the chain hanging down next to the weight. To wind a chain-driven grandfather clock, simply pull on the other end of each chain until the weights come up to just under the clock's face.
In the early 20th century, quarter-hour chime sequences were added to grandfather clocks. At the top of each hour, the full chime sequence sounds, immediately followed by the hour strike. At 15 minutes after each hour, 1/4 of the chime sequence plays, at the bottom of each hour, half of the chime sequence plays, and at 15 minutes before each hour, 3/4 of the chime sequence plays. Almost all modern mechanical grandfather clocks have at least Westminster Quarters, and many also offer the option of
Whittington chimes or St. Michael's chimes, selectable by a switch mounted on the right side of the dial, which also allows one to silence the chimes if desired. As a result of adding chime sequences, all modern mechanical grandfather clocks have three weights instead of just two. The left weight provides power for the hour strike, the middle weight provides power for the clock's pendulum and general timekeeping functions, while the right weight provides power for the quarter-hour chime sequences.
How longcase clocks came to be known as "grandfather clocks"
and weights.
During the
19th century, two brothers named Jenkins worked as managers at the George Hotel in Piercebridge,
County Durham, England. One of the brothers died and, according to the story told to Henry Clay Work in
1875, the clock (made by James Thompson (clockmaker)) began to lose time. Repair attempts were made, but failed. When the other brother died at the age of 90, the clock stopped running altogether, and was never repaired in remembrance of the brothers.
Work decided to write a song about the story of this clock, which he called
My Grandfather's Clock. The song became popular, and it is from this song that the current usage derives.
Historical manufacturers
- Richard Donisthorp (floruit 1797), of Loughborough, England
- Luman Watson Cincinnati, Ohio (1790-1834)
Current manufacturers
External links
- Charles Edwin on the evaluation of antique clocks
- Care guide for valuable antique longcase clocks
case, c. 1790, by Thomas Ross of
Kingston upon Hull.
A
longcase clock, also
tall-case clock,
grandfather clock or
floor clock, is a freestanding, weight-driven, pendulum clock with the
pendulum held inside the tower, or waist of the case. Clocks of this style are commonly around 1.8-2.4m (6-8 feet) tall. The case often features elaborately carved ornamentation on the hood, or bonnet, which surrounds and frames the dial, or clock face. The English clockmaker
William Clement (clockmaker) is credited with the development of this form in
1670. Most longcase clocks are
striking clocks, which means they sound the time on each hour or fraction of an hour.
The terms "grandfather", "grandmother", and "granddaughter" have been applied to longcase clocks. Although there is no specifically defined difference among these terms, the general perception seems to be that a clock smaller than 1.5m (5 feet) is a granddaughter; over 1.5m (5 feet) is a grandmother; and over 1.8m (6 feet) is a grandfather.
Traditionally, such clocks were made with two types of movement: eight-day movements and 30-hour movements. A clock with an eight-day movement required winding only once a week, while the generally lower-priced 30-hour clock had to be wound every day. Eight-day clocks are often driven by two weights - one driving the pendulum and the other the striking mechanism, which usually consisted of a bell or chimes. Such movements usually have two keyholes on either side of the dial to wind each one (as can be seen in the Thomas Ross (clockmaker) clock illustrated to the right). By contrast, 30-hour clocks often had a single weight to drive both the pendulum and the chimes. Some 30-hour clocks were made with false keyholes, for customers who wished that guests to their home would think that the household was able to afford the more expensive eight-day clock. All modern chiming grandfather clocks have 8-day movements. Most grandfather clocks are cable-driven, meaning that the weights are suspended by cables that wrap around a pulley mounted to the top of each weight. Such clocks are wound by inserting a special crank (called a "key") into holes in the clock's face and turning it. Others, however, are chain-driven, meaning that the weights are suspended by chains that wrap around gears in the clock's mechanism, with the other end of the chain hanging down next to the weight. To wind a chain-driven grandfather clock, simply pull on the other end of each chain until the weights come up to just under the clock's face.
In the early 20th century, quarter-hour chime sequences were added to grandfather clocks. At the top of each hour, the full chime sequence sounds, immediately followed by the hour strike. At 15 minutes after each hour, 1/4 of the chime sequence plays, at the bottom of each hour, half of the chime sequence plays, and at 15 minutes before each hour, 3/4 of the chime sequence plays. Almost all modern mechanical grandfather clocks have at least
Westminster Quarters, and many also offer the option of
Whittington chimes or St. Michael's chimes, selectable by a switch mounted on the right side of the dial, which also allows one to silence the chimes if desired. As a result of adding chime sequences, all modern mechanical grandfather clocks have three weights instead of just two. The left weight provides power for the hour strike, the middle weight provides power for the clock's pendulum and general timekeeping functions, while the right weight provides power for the quarter-hour chime sequences.
How longcase clocks came to be known as "grandfather clocks"
and weights.
During the
19th century, two brothers named Jenkins worked as managers at the George Hotel in
Piercebridge, County Durham,
England. One of the brothers died and, according to the story told to Henry Clay Work in 1875, the clock (made by James Thompson (clockmaker)) began to lose time. Repair attempts were made, but failed. When the other brother died at the age of 90, the clock stopped running altogether, and was never repaired in remembrance of the brothers.
Work decided to write a song about the story of this clock, which he called
My Grandfather's Clock. The song became popular, and it is from this song that the current usage derives.
Historical manufacturers
Current manufacturers
External links
- Charles Edwin on the evaluation of antique clocks
- Care guide for valuable antique longcase clocks
antique longcase tallcase grandfather clocks
FJ & RD Story are dealers in high quality British antique clocks, specialising in longcase clocks, tallcase clocks, grandfather clocks, and regulators.
Charles Edwin Inc. Antique grandfather clocks, longcase clocks, mantel ...
W e are pleased to offer these antique clocks. We specialize in longcase or grandfather clocks, bracket clocks, wall clocks, and often ...
Charles Edwin Inc Antique Longcase Clocks - solutions to common ...
B efore you start fiddling with the innards of your longcase clock (grandfather clock, tallcase clock, or whatever you choose to call it), please be ...
P A Oxley Antique Longcase Clocks & Grandfather clocks. Specialising ...
Specialized in British antique longcase and grandfather clocks and barometers. Based in Wiltshire, England.
P A Oxley Antique Longcase Clocks
View our extensive collection of Antique Longcase Clocks online or at our showrooms in Wiltshire.
Mills and Sons, Longcase clocks individually handmade in the UK
Mills and Sons, Longcase clocks individually handmade in the UK ... A variety of finishes, movements, dials and other options are available on all
Grandmother longcase clocks, modern home clocks. Tempus Fugit Dials
Mills and Sons, Longcase clocks individually handmade in the UK ... A variety of finishes, movements, dials and other options are available on all
Longcase clock - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A longcase clock, also tall-case clock, grandfather clock or floor clock, is a freestanding, weight-driven, pendulum clock with the pendulum held inside the tower, or waist of the ...
antique grandfather clocks longcase clocks moonphase clocks tallcase ...
Grandfather clocks, antique grandfather clocks, longcase clocks, moonphase clocks, tallcase clocks.
Antique bracket, mantel, carriage, longcase clocks and barometers
Carries a comprehensive stock of antique clocks from the 18th and 19th Centuries, specializing in English Longcase and Bracket clocks.
