Ever wondered why Grandfather Clock is called by this particular name or maybe, how did they acquire this unique name? When was the last time you actually saw the Grandfather Clock in someone’s house?
Given their very long, tall shape, resounding bells, swinging pendulums, and prominent Roman numerals, one might assume that they belong to the ‘grandfather’ world as the name suggests. However, that didn’t really happen. The exclusive name of this clock actually has nothing to do with grandparents. In fact, it has a fairly rich and interesting history behind its name and meaning.
So how exactly did their Grandfather Clock end up with this name?
Sejarah Grandfather Clock
At one point there was an American songwriter named Henry Clay Work who visited England around 1875. He stayed at the George Hotel in North Yorkshire. Just then Henry saw an unusual clock, It was a big pendulum clock, motionless, motionless with his hands completely jammed at 11:05. It really tickled Henry, so he went on to inquire about his history.
The hotel owner told him that the clock belonged to the late Jenkins brothers who had also owned the hotel. The clock was meant for his older brother, and it is considered one of the largest and most reliable watches ever. However, the clock suddenly began to slow down and became less accurate when the elder brother died. A few years later, the clock was said to be ‘dead’ and ‘silent’ ever since.
However, according to other stories about how Grandfather Clock got its name, it is believed that the right award went to Henry Clay Work. Being a songwriter, he wrote entire songs about events throughout that time. The song was released in 1876, and was titled “My Grandfather Clock“. The song became very popular, and the fans were crazy about it. Shortly thereafter, ‘Grandfather Clock‘ became the new name for those long hours
Types of Grandfather Clock
Comtoise
Also known as the ‘Morez Clock’ and ‘Morbier Clock’, it is one of the most common types of Grandfather Clock.
Comtoise Clocks is a type of longcase clock that originates mostly from France. This clock was created specifically in the territory of France called Franche-Comté, which was mainly due to the fact that they got their unique name. Since these clocks were also produced around Morbier in France, they were given the name ‘Morbier clock’. This variation of the name is only due to the name of different regions of the Franche-Comté region.
Bornholm
Bornholm clocks consist of lead ballast, and each weighs nearly 8 pounds. The main body of the clock is divided into three main parts: the head, legs and the case. All these parts have straight sides, but the legs often have rounded corners combined with a four-sided mold. The watch face is made of brass or iron, and is usually decorated towards the corner, which is often made of tin.
The ornaments include Roman numerals on lead with pierced brass hands that look very beautiful. The upper part of the face has a small round tin placed with a five-pointed crown. This crown contains the name of the watchmaker along with the year in which the clock was produced. Bornholm, on the other hand, is usually painted with biblical motifs and sometimes imitates Chinese lakarbejde. Another variation of this clock from that time also had a large bent gesim on the case.
Empire
Empire Clock consists of a white face made of iron, coupled with black numbers and simple brass hands. The back of the face often has the name or initials of a watchmaker painted in ink.
The body of the Empire clock also consists of three parts: the legs, the box, and the head. The head has round windows with flat sides. Windows often have rows of pearls or carved laurel bouquets underneath. The legs, on the other hand, consist of an oblique side while the angle of the case has a carved curtain with a modal and the base of the column in the direction of the corner.
Nightmare
In terms of look and feel, Swedish Mora clocks usually have a long and slender body, which means they can easily fit into narrow and narrow spaces, unlike other British clocks that have a similar style and design. The size of this watch reaches a depth of 12 inches, a height of 99 inches, and a width of 28 inches.
This clock has an eight-day movement with the weight of iron. These movements hit the clock on a spiral wire gong or two bells located at the top of the clock. Mora clocks are believed to be the most classic yet timeless of all clocks because every part of the clock is handmade and each clock has a distinctive identity and personality. It is this important and rich history of the clock that makes this clock so special, and its existence is unmatched by other types of clocks.
Fryksdall Mora
This is a popular type of Mora clock known for its extraordinary engraving on the main unit of the clock. It is considered more of a high-end clock and is popularly owned by wealthy people. Fryksdall Mora clocks usually come in white and gray, have a protruding belly, and a pinched waist type.
If you have a Grandfather Clock in this day and age, consider yourself lucky because this is truly one of the most immortal antiques that have been passed down from generation to generation!
