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.
If you are looking for more information on grandfather clocks go to http://www.about-grandfather-clocks.info
My version of Sakata’s My Grandfather’s Clock. And yes I compensated for the parts I didn’t know how to play, so yea that also means it’s not as good as the others who’ve covered it. Quite a few mistakes, but hey, no one’s really that perfect 
Video Rating: 5 / 5
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Unlock The Mystery Behind Grandfather Clocks
Ever wondered what mystery lies behind grandfather clocks? Why do they evoke such emotions? Why do they have their own brand of sentimentality?
A Mystery behind Grandfather Clocks
All these melodrama are actually called for. For there is truly a mystery behind grandfather clocks, a story so sentimental it managed to leave a mark throughout the years. And it touches every person that stops to look at its moving pendulum, or listen to its chimes.
So what’s this story? Have you ever wondered why it’s been called a grandfather clock in the first place? Yeah, it’s stately, imposing yet homey and comforting, just like the old chap himself. But there’s more to it than all these common sense answers.
So How Does the Story Go?
It all started when Henry Clay Work set foot in a hotel called the George Hotel. It was 1875 when this happened. Work found himself on the border of County Durham and Yorkshire and stopped to listen to the folks’ stories. He was so touched by the story behind that long case clock that he decided to write a song about it.
You can’t wait to hear the story? It goes this way. Two brothers who carried the name Jenkins owned and operated George Hotel. And right in the heart of the lobby stood proud an imposing longcase clock. The clock was efficient and was a faithful reminder of time, until one of the brothers died. After that, the clock just ceased to be efficient. The hotel staff, together with the local clockmakers, tried to repair it the best they could. But their efforts were all in vain. The clock just won’t cooperate.
Where Grandfather Clocks Got Their Names
And then the second brother died. After that untoward incident, the longcase clock just stopped functioning altogether. It just lost its reason for existence.
The inspired Henry Clay Work went on to write a song about the touching story he heard. He gave the song the title, “My Grandfather’s Clock.” And that’s where your longcase clocks got their current name. And that’s how your grandfather clocks became a legend.
The Song Became a Hit
The song then became a hit in the 50′s and 60′s. The version by Radio Revellers made waves in Europe. If you grew up during these decades, you’re bound to be familiar with the song. In 2002, Ken Hirai made a hit out of the song in Japan with his own version. The song earned a high position in the Japanese popularity charts. It became a favorite among many generations of Japanese.
Now popular singers like Boyz II Men have given the song their own beautiful rendition. Have you seen the episode of Twilight Zone called “Ninety Years without Slumbering”? That episode gained inspiration from the song. You may even have heard the song’s version that’s beyond the pale. It’s called “My Grandfather’s Cock.”
And so the legend lives on (for the grandfather clock, that is). And you have that legend standing in your receiving area, with its unwavering pride and imposing facade.
Experience a unique brand of sentimentality with Grandfather Clocks. Consider the elegance of the Howard Miller grandfather clock and the timelessness of the Ridgeway grandfather clock. Visit GrandfatherClockMarket.com today.
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