Grandfather Clocks: A History
Grandfather clocks have not been around forever. Humans have attempted to find the most reliable way to keep track of time since the beginning of civilization. When they first attempted to track time, it was done so through the tracking of the phases of the moon in the nighttime sky. In the earliest days, the seasons, months and years were tracked by carefully monitoring the phases of the moon. As the years passed by, it was the sun and stars that became the known way for civilizations to keep track of time.
The Sumerian civilization began to use the device known as the sundial to break out days into even two-hour blocks. The Egyptian civilization used a device that did the same thing, which became Cleopatra’s Needle. The Ancient Romans were the first to divide the day into day and night increments.
An increasing desire for more precise measurements stemmed the invention of the water clock, and then later on came the hourglass. These two time tracking inventions were limited, as they depended upon water and sand to function properly. Still, people wanted ways to track time that did not depend upon seasonal forces.
The first form of grandfather clocks surfaced in 1582. Although not called that when discovered, Galileo found that a pendulum could be used to track time. Once that was figured out, the designs for a grandfather clock, though he did not build it, were first put into motion. Then, years later in 1656, Christiaan Huygens constructed the first known grandfather clock, putting Galileo’s discovery to use and brought his plans to fruition. Although a significant breakthrough, the clock was not able to keep accurate time. This does not deter from the fact that it was a major breakthrough in the technological world of timekeeping. As the years passed, many inventors put their own touches on this clock to maintain accurate time, but all failed.
Then in 1670, as with most logical reasoning, an edit was made to the clock design. A longer pendulum was put in the clock. Time was kept with pinpoint accuracy from that time on. But it was not until a song from Henry Work in 1875, did we get the name grandfather clock. The name was from one of his songs, and the name has stuck.
The grandfather clocks of today rely on the same form of pendulum swing and the design is the exact same as it was over 100 years ago. It is a piece of technology that time has not yet altered.
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Rouse The Sleeping Beauty Of Antique Grandfather Clocks
Creativity knows no boundaries. For crafts to continue being interesting, or productive, to say the least, skills must be honed and practiced as much as possible in every way imaginable.
There is art in creating things and making things beautiful. If the only way to calm your restless hands and boundless imagination is in the indulgence of your whim to create beauty, so be it.
Beauty in Your Hands
Beauty can be created out of anything, really. You have probably heard of artists creating masterpieces out of mundane, seemingly insignificant items, such as tissue paper, old tires, and even Campbell soup cans. Indeed, you only need your imagination and skill to create something out of nothing.
Reviving Beauty
They say age destroys beauty, and indeed, it is true – in some forms. There are some things, however, that can only be made more beautiful in time, like antique grandfather clocks.
Unlike the assembly line-manufactured timepieces of today, antique grandfather clocks were lovingly made by hand by skilled watchmakers. The superior craftsmanship of these elegant timepieces is apparent in their burnished wood surfaces, intricate carvings, and of course, the trademark resonating chimes.
Sad to say, though, most people take them for granted, so a lot of antique grandfather clocks are laid to waste, rusting and gathering dust in some obscure corner of a foyer, study, or living room. The good news is antique grandfather clocks are made of stronger stuff and is the perfect art restoration project for aficionados.
Beauty Restored
Because antique grandfather clocks are already characteristically beautiful, they do not require valiant, gargantuan efforts to restore. They do, however, require skill, commitment, and a lot of tender loving care.
Look for people with antique grandfather clocks that are far from top shape. Offer to restore them for a fee, so they can still keep their family heirlooms, this time in good working condition.
There will also be some people who would want to get rid of their antique grandfather clocks, so grab the opportunity and offer to buy them. Chances are you’ll get them cheap. Clean them up, re-varnish them, and get their mechanisms working again. It will come with many benefits. You can sell them to collectors and dealers, probably twice, or even three times the price that you paid for them in the first place. It’s a good investment, indeed. Most of all, it’s a restoration project that you’ll certainly enjoy.
Beauty Lives On
After a long day’s work, pat yourself on the back for rescuing antique grandfather clocks from a sure waste of their sublime beauty and elegance. You’ll be giving them a new lease on life.
Once again, antique grandfather clocks will be just as good as new. With the right owners, they will once again stand sentinel in a family home, exuding grace and elegance. They will once again mark the passing of time and chime in every birthday, anniversary, or wedding. They will once again be cherished, loved, and taken care of for generations to come.
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