A Grandfather Clock can help turn a house into a home... Grandfather Clock Shop

The origin of the grandfather clock dates to 1660, when a long case clock was developed from a hooded wall clock. However, the origin of the grandfather clock can be traced further back to 1582 when Galileo Galilee discovered that a pendulum could tell time.

The grandfather clock was created from the need of a full case to house all the vulnerable weights and pendulums.

Along with the creation of the grandfather clock came the advent of elegant clock design work. The grandfather clock offered baroque features such as twisted columns, cresting and strap work, and convex moldings. During the early days of the grandfather clock, the buyers were high-class or royalty.

In the mid 18th Century, the grandfather clock included simpler and plainer longcase designs, and more regional styles were developed. Extra features include the calendar wheel and the painted dial in the 1780s.

The grandfather clock continued to grow during the Victorian age. The clocks became larger and more elaborate to suit new styles of furniture.  By the end of the 19th century, the evolution of the grandfather clock was complete as a high-priced elaborate multi-chime monster took place.

In the early years of the grandfather clock, quality care was not as advanced as recent years. The grandfather clocks are more revered today and better maintained.

The name "grandfather clock" finds its' origin stems from a songwriter who frequented a hotel once managed by two Englishmen brothers named Jenkins.

They managed a hotel in England. The hotel had a grandfather clock that kept time well when the brothers were both alive. When one died, the grandfather clock started to lose time. When the other brother died at age 90, the grandfather clock stopped running. A songwriter staying at the hotel wrote a song about the clock, titled “My Grandfather’s Clock.’’

The origin of the grandfather clock name can also be traced to lyrics were written by C. Russel Christian, who wrote a poem about his grandfather.

Whatever the origin of the grandfather clock it can be traced to an era when our earliest ancestors or settlers made significant scientific advancements, such as Galileo with the swinging pendulum. The advancements remain in place today in many of the grandfather clocks, reminding us that the origin of the grandfather clock some 345 years ago still has an impact on today’s world.