Longcase Grandfather Clock Features and Uses
Longcase Clocks happen to be oldest clocks existing. Also known a grandfather clock, a longcase grandfather clock or a tallcase clock, a longcase clock is famous. Many upscale homes have this tall self-supporting clock. They have a pendulum mass enclosed inside the cases and carved lovely clock faces. Usually these clocks have a freestanding structure and they are placed on the floor. The very first versions of grandfather clocks emerged in the mid seventeenth century. They used a type of an escapement called verge. They also had a shorter pendulum because they needed wide swings.
Long pendulums were impractical because the swings were about eighty degrees to one hundred degrees wide. Shortly after, by 1670, William Clement who was an English clockmaker invented the anchor escapement. This became a major advancement because it drastically reduced the pendulum swings. The clock required four to six degrees wide pendulum swings to keep the time. As a consequence, most of longcase clocks that were released had long narrow cases. The pendulum length was no longer a major problem. These tall clocks mainly had square faces but this element was changed in 1710.
The products thereafter had an arch just above the intricately decorated dials. They used a mechanical movement and as years passed the clocks were restyled. This type of a movement included such features as a pendulum. A pendulum is a weight, which is suspended with a rod. The movement also featured an indicator to record the activity of the escapement. It simply had two rotating hands to indicate the time. The gear wheels role is enhancing the strength needed to create an impulse to swing the pendulum. Last but not least, the mechanical movement included an escapement to produce timed impulses to keep the pendulum swinging.
As years passed, the pendulum swings became undetectable with naked eyes. This explains the existence of second pendulums where every swing takes a second. Today you can still find these antique grandfather clocks. However, you have to ensure that your house has the older high ceiling design. The self-supporting clocks are tall wooden boxes that cover up a generous share of your living room space. The contemporary types are sophisticated and have intricate time keeping systems. They can practically complement any interior design you have in your house. Furthermore, the modern manufacturers keep the picture of an upscale home in mind when designing the clock. This new longcase grandfather clock is still tall and free standing but it is very elegant.
A clock with a dark cherry finish can surely complement your modern home interior decoration. On the other hand, if your home has countryside themes, you many want to try an oak grandfather clock style. It looks classic and ideal for your home. Modern people are more interested in buying a fashionable clock with extra flashy features. You only need to search for this kind of a longcase grandfather clock. There is a clock with a lovely theme and entertaining theme for you. The most commonly bought are clocks with Westminster chimes.
G. Smitty is a writer who loves to discuss many topics ranging from grandfather clock parts to professional basketball. Thanks for reading!
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The Old Grandfather Clock You Love Comes From The Old Oak Tree
If you are still enjoying your grandmother’s grandfather clock, you are looking at an old oak tree cut, carved and polished to a splendid veneer that never diminished with the years. At the hands of skilled artisans who had the passion for long clocks, the hard oak yielded its hardwood to become a thing of beauty.
Why the Oak for a Grandfather Clock?
The oak tree has been immortalized in many a poem, and these lines from the poem “An Oak Tree” expresses it all:
“Your Mighty Stature Sought by All
For Matters, Thousands, Big or Small
O’ You Magnificent Oak Tree.”
Ever since the Middle Ages, the oak has been valued for its hardness. This toughness repels bugs and fungal infestation because the tree is loaded with tannin. The beauty of its grain markings when it is sawn into quarters also makes it the most sought after hardwood for wall paneling and stately furniture. It is no wonder that a grandfather clock of great prize was made from the hardy oak tree.
One of the remaining old buildings with oak panels for ceilings is the celebrated 1857 Old Main building of Knox College. The Old Main building is a national landmark and a testament to the tireless efforts of Janet Greig Prost, the first female trustee of the board. Prost worked hard at her campaign to raise funds for the restoration of the building. She was able to raise the needed funds in 1932.
Such dedication to the preservation of a national landmark is equaled by everyone who owns an antique grandfather clock fashioned from the sturdy oak. With proper care and maintenance, this clock will go on, ticking and chiming at the appointed hour through the years, from one generation to the next.
The Long Case Clocks
The long case clock was so called because it stood 6 to 8 feet tall. It was not called a grandfather clock at this time. Instead, it earned the macabre nickname of ‘coffin’ clocks. The simple long case clock took various styles to cater to the different whims and tastes and took on the elaborate carved ornamentation.
The tall clocks at this time were made for royalty and nobility; hence, the workmanship was excellent. Soon these clocks became a fixture in most homes. But few have survived with the years as antiques go. A clock made by pioneering artisans the likes of Tompion and Nibb can fetch 0,000.
A clock also famous for its elaborate details is the tall clock attributed to Alexandre-Jean Oppenordt. He was cabinet-maker to King Louis XIV. The beautiful clock was fashioned from oak and walnut, embellished with enameled metal, glass, and gilt bronze mounts.
Before work on an exquisite clock starts, the blueprint is created – from designs to measurements. The clock is made from ready-cut panels of the oak tree and is hand-carved. The exquisite carvings on the bonnet and piedmont are carefully created using chisel, clamps, mallets, and knives. It is always a labor of love to create those beautiful tall clocks.
Usually the skill was handed down from father to son, and apprentices learned the craft through hardwork and persistence. As more artisans engaged in the trade, there was a growing demand for more carvers. Apprentices were trained to meet the exacting standards in the handling of the oak panels to the mechanisms that made the clock work.
Your Beloved Clock
The eloquence of your old grandfather clock will continue to enthrall you, and the spirit of the old oak tree will live into the next generation. If you are interested to know more about this type of tall clock, you can always get the information from books and from online sources. Perhaps you’d like to make your own grandfather clock from the reliable old oak tree?
A grandfather clock is everybody’s prized possession. Today’s floor clocks like the Howard Miller grandfather clock are made in the same classical tradition with modern innovations. Visit www.GrandfatherClockMarket.com today to get one that will suit your style and budget.
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