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History Of The Grandfather Clock

The Grandfather clock, called the Tall Case clock by clockmakers, got its start in Britain. The standard clock is the narrow waist clock. This has a box like top and bottom with the center being narrower. Modern Grandfather clocks are the same width from top to bottom.

Grandfather clocks are pendulum clocks that are weight driven. They will strike the hour and chime a melody. Usually Westminster, but other chimes include Whittington and Ava Maria.

They are very accurate time pieces since their pendulums are temperature compensated for changes in room temperature.

How the Grandfathers clock got its name is interesting to note. It came about as the result of a song writer who visited the George Hotel in England. This was in 1875. He wrote a song about a clock he saw standing in a sunlit corner.

"Oh my grandfather's clock was too tall for the shelf so it stood ninety years on the floor. It was taller by half than the old man himself, though it weighed no a pennyweight more..."

So, from this song came the name Grandfather clock. Its heritage is rich and many have been produced the world over in many styles and shapes. There are small ones about 4 feet high called Grandmother clocks, and some that tower over 15 feet high called Great Grandfather clocks. These are very rare indeed and very valuable.

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