A longcase clock, also grandfather clock or floor clock, is a freestanding pendulum clock with the pendulum held inside its own tower, commonly around 1.8-2.4m (6-8 feet) tall. The tower often features elaborately carved wood at the head, surrounding the clock face. The English clockmaker William Clement is credited with the development of this form in 1670. Most longcase clocks are striking clocks.

The terms "grandfather", "grandmother", and "granddaughter" have been applied to longcase clocks. Although there is no specifically defined difference between these, the general perception seems to be that a clock over 1.8m (6 feet) is a grandfather; over 1.5m (5 feet) is a grandmother; smaller than that is a granddaughter.

Traditionally, the clocks were made in two types: eight-day clocks and 30-hour clocks. An eight-day clock was designed to be wound once a week, while the generally lower priced 30-hour clock had to be wound every day. Eight-day clocks are often driven by two weights - one driving the pendulum and the other the chimes - and they have two keyholes on either side of the face to wind each one (as can be seen in the Thomas Ross clock illustrated to the right). By contrast, 30-hour clocks often had a single weight to drive both the pendulum and the chimes. Some 30-hour clocks were made with false keyholes, for customers who wished that guests to their home would think that the household was able to afford the more expensive kind of clock.

How longcase clocks came to be known as "grandfather clocks"

During the 19th century two brothers named Jenkins worked as managers at the George Hotel in Piercebridge, County Durham, England. One of the brothers died, and according to the story told to Henry Clay Work in 1875, the clock (made by James Thompson) began to lose time. Repair attempts were made, but failed. When the other brother died at the age of 90, the clock stopped running altogether, and was never repaired in remembrance of the brothers.

Work decided to write a song about the story of this clock, which he called "My Grandfather's Clock". The song became popular, and it is from this song that the current usage derives. ^*

Current manufacturers

• Howard Miller Clock Company
• Seth Thomas Clock Company
• Ridgeway Clocks

External links

• BBC Antique collector's guide to longcase clocks
• The Blaylock Clockmakers of Longtown and Carlisle
• Charles Edwin on the evaluation of antique clocks
• Clock Types' overview
• Eric Arshbarger's Lego clock
• James Thompson, maker of the George Hotel's clock
• John Shone's pages on longcase clocks
• Smallcombe Clocks & Lights on longcase clocks

Clocks