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Grandfather Clock Was Part Of The History

Grandfather clocks represent a time period in human history when craftsmanship was a quality much more exposed than it is today. The history began with old antique timepieces such as the "pocket watch", “wrist watch for men”, “wall clocks in the living room”. Grandfather clock was the first clock for the home to be made in America these stately clocks originally known as either tall case or long-case. The first long-case clocks were made in England and were necessary furniture to the house. The pendulum movement is the heart of the grandfather clock. This case was often designed and made by a cabinet maker. The usual mechanism of the long-case clock was made of bronze and wood.

The clocks were mainly driven by weights but wind-up clocks came onto the market later and became popular also. Traditionally, 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 30-hour clock had to be wound every day. 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 key; the key is being inserted into holes in the clock's face and turning it. However 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. Grandmother clocks are the smaller version of the long-case clock. They differentiate within the height. Grandfather clocks stand about six to eight feet tall while Grandmother clocks stands five feet below that is why you can meet clocks named Grandmother or Granddaughter clocks.

Over the years, clocks of all kinds have continued grow in popularity and the grandfather clock remains by far the most well known. Even though new designs and styles have been introduced, traditional grandfather clock designs are still the most sought after clocks. Some contemporary grandfather clock models feature digital movements, replacing the standard, spring driven designs. Whether powered by the spring and pendulum or electric movements, the grandfather clock is still a classic and continues to be one of the most treasured clock antiques in history.

By: Luck Jean

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