The Never-Ending Fascination With Grandfather Clocks
Since time immemorial, man has been fascinated with time and tried to capture the effervescence of its fleeting nature in a bottle. The next best thing man could do was mark the passing of time with crude makeshift devices they fashioned from indigenous materials around them. Finally, the pendulum triggered the creation of grandfather clocks and telling the time was never the same again.
From Seasons to Days and Finally To Hours and Minutes
There were no grandfather clocks then, but man managed to tell the time by the passing of the seasons, not by the passage of hours. They told the time by the shadow the sun and moon cast on earth. The compelling need to know the time is tied to man’s attachment to Mother Nature and the bounty with which she blessed those who toiled hard in the fields.
Before biblical times, man counted the seasons, watched summer change into winter, and glorified in the earth’s rebirth in springtime. They knew through the changes of the season if it was the time to sow their wheat or barley or harvest the golden fields heavy with the life-giving grains.
They also watched the skies for the telltale red sunset and prepared themselves against the harbinger of floods and draught. Time was the passage of day into night and back again in the endless cycle of life. Time was not measured with the accuracy that the world has today – from digital small timepieces to tall clocks. They only had the seasons, day and night, and the ebb and flow of the tides to help them manage their personal and social activities.
Each generation contributed to the perfection of telling the time. Sundials, the hourglass, and candles were used to tell the hour. The crude devices eventually gave way to more convenient time-telling mechanisms; the bell or the gong, for instance, sounded the time for prayer.
But historical records note that 5000 or 6000 years back, clocks were already in use, and in 1577 the minute hand was an important invention of Jost Burgi to meet the demand of the astrologer Tycho Brahe for his star gazing. The invention of the of the pendulum in 1656 triggered a lot of new ideas that led to the creation of grandfather clocks. At this point, clocks became more accurate.
The Diaspora of Grandfather Clocks To Brave New Worlds
The English settlers braved the lonely stretches of prairies and fought the fierce Indians to save their lives and property. During this journey, several clocks endured bruising and hard knocks, but still managed to be displayed in crude log cabins. These clocks were sweet reminders of homes left behind.
Grandfather clocks continued to be enhanced with new machines until these evolved to the contemporary clocks we see in big clock shops offline and online. Newer designs and materials were introduced to make the big tall clocks more affordable, efficient, and stunning as always. In Europe and in other parts of the globe, these clocks became the standard must-haves for every household that valued its performance and beauty.
To date, the leading names in long clocks are Howard Miller, Ridgeway, Bulova, Seth Thomas, and Hermie. These clockmakers perfected the art of making floor clocks of various designs without compromising quality and function. This generation is indeed fortunate to have the masters around to provide the excellent timepieces fit for royalty.
The fascination for these 7-foot tall clocks still continues to this day. Once you’re bitten by the bug, you’ll never outgrow your passion for grandfather clocks.
People cannot resist the charms of grandfather clocks, whether it’s a contemporary grandfather clock or an avant-garde floor clock. Visit www.GrandfatherClockMarket.com today and enjoy the romance of these clocks while you shop for your very own.
Filed under Grandfather Clock Sounds by 
The Brookwood Grandfather Clock How to Care for It and Where to Get the Best Price
The Brookwood Grandfather Clock – How to Care for It and Where to Get the Best Price
The Brookwood grandfather clock comes from a long tradition of fine clock-making in America, as long case clocks were the very first clocks to be actually made in America for use in the home. Before 1680 all clocks were imported from Europe. The long case design for this ancient timepiece came about because of the need to house the long pendulum. In the early days the movements of grandfather clocks were made from wood and bronze.
We still love our grandfather clocks today and the Brookwood grandfather clock is a very authentic-looking copy of the original design. It is a splendid looking floor clock with a North American red oak case, which has a rich color and finish to it. The case and full length door of the clock are crafted from 13/16″ thick red oak, to make it an elegant and sturdy piece of furniture which will last way into future generations of your family.
If you want to create an elegant traditional décor in your home, a Brookwood grandfather clock will set the mood perfectly. This magnificent clock has a 31 day cycle, so you only have to wind it up once a month. These clocks are usually about 6′ 4″ high and have a glass front which displays the attractive brass weights and pendulums. The very musical chimes strike on the hour and once on the half hour. If your Brookwood clock starts to gain or lose time, this is not a problem because all you need to do is to adjust the length of the pendulum and that’ll fix it.
Having spent a lot of money on a Brookwood grandfather clock, its care and maintenance will be very important to you. Oiling and cleaning at regular intervals will keep your valuable timepiece running smoothly and increase its life. The oiling procedure is important and you should not oil your clock without finding out exactly how to do it correctly. If you put oil in the wrong places on the clock mechanism you could cause major problems. You only need to have a Brookwood grandfather clock oiled once every two – four years and get a professional clock repairer to give a full clean every five – eight years.
If before the scheduled service time you find that your Brookwood clock is having problems like the chimes sound slow or it’s not keeping the right time, first of all check that it is still standing on a perfectly level surface. I remember the case of a guy whose clock got infested by termites. The clock had a hollow space at the base and some termites had taken up residence! Houses that over time develop cracks in the foundations are vulnerable to termite infestation, so be aware of this, because they could damage your Brookwood grandfather clock beyond repair. If your floor is level and the clock is still misbehaving, it’s a good idea to let a professional have a look at it just to be on the safe side.
It’s also worth mentioning that the very best prices for Brookwood grandfather clocks are to be found online. The online stores don’t have high overheads like local stores and they have a bigger market base, so they can get real good discounts on buying in bulk.
If you’re planning to enhance your home with a Brookwood grandfather clock, I hope that I’ve helped you to get some ideas about the best places to buy for a keen price and how to keep your lovely grandfather clock in mint condition.
Hassan Ouda is a sublime devoted author He writes articles on several subjects including publishing ebook. You can read more of Hassan’s articles at Hassan’s Publishing located at
Filed under Grandfather Clock Sounds by