Grandfather clocks - timeless timetellers - By: Albert T. Wolf

Grandfather clocks have sort of timeless uniqueness to them. Standing in a majestic and a calm manner, they remind us about the times that have been.

Why are they called grandfather clocks?
The name comes from the song "My Grandfather's Clock" by Henry Clay Work. A clock in George Hotel in Piercebridge, County Durham, England gave inspiration to this song. Two brothers called Jenkins were managers there. After the death of one of the brothers that timekeeper started to lose time and attempts to fix it failed. At the age of ninety the other brother also died and the clock stopped working altogether and could never be repaired. H.C. Work made a song about it in 1876 and the name originates from there.

What kind of grandfather clocks are there?
There are several different sizes available averaging from six to eight feet (1.8-2.4 m) tall and because of the difference in size, you sometimes might come across terms like granddaughter clock - the ones that are smaller than 5 feet (1.5 m), grandmother clock - over 5 feet (1.5 m) and the clocks over 6 feet (1.8 m) are grandfathers.
There are two main types of grandfather clocks: 30-hour clocks and 8 day clocks. Hours or days marked the time when the clock had to be wound again. Eight day clocks were generally more expensive ones and were normally driven by two weights - one for pendulum and other for striking mechanism. 30-hour clocks, however, had only one weight for both mechanisms.

How to pick a grandfather clock?

When buying a grandfather clock remember that you are not buying just another clock to tell the time in the living room. There are couple of things, that you need to keep in mind. One of them is space - they are quite large. You need to know that the clock you are buying actually fits to the room you want to keep it in. You need to know how much space you have for the clock, so keep your I on the measurement. Another thing that matters is the look of the clock and the style of your home - they should match. Grandfather clock is a big investment and you should look at it in the long term. This clock is a personal thing and it comes to your home.

About the Author

Albert T. Wolf appreciates good coffee and unique design. To learn more about exceptional timepieces, visit his grandfather clocks lens.

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