
A grandfather clock (also known as a floor clock or longcase clock) is basically a clock with a swinging pendulum located inside its tower, which usually features a glass face for open viewing of the pendulum. Grandfather clocks can be anywhere from 6 to 8 feet tall with wooden heads and elaborately carved features surrounding the clock face.
Grandfather clocks truly have a storied past. An Englishman by the name of William Clement is credited with initial design of grandfather clocks in the late 17th century. However, grandfather clocks supposedly got their name from a song by Henry Clay Work in the 1800s. Work's song "My Grandfather's Clock" was reportedly a story about a clock that belonged to two brothers named Jenkins. When the first brother died, the clock began to lose time and was unable to be repaired. When the second brother died, the clock quit working altogether. Click on the articles below to find out more about grandfather clocks.
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