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A grandfather clock is technically a pendulum-based timepiece housed in a tall narrow encasement. This particular design was first introduced in 1680 by a man named William Clement. However, the pendulum clock itself was created in 1656 by Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens, as inspired by earlier studies of Galileo Galilei.

Galileo proposed the practical use of the pendulum, or free swinging weight, as a metronome for timing music and as mechanism for clocks. From his original idea, it was later on determined that the accuracy of a pendulum’s swing was, in fact, affected by the extent of its swing as well as by gravitational differences in different parts of the world.

Because of this later discovery, the use of an anchor escapement was introduced by Huygens in the mechanism of the pendulum clock to ensure greater precision. The escapement controls the size of the continuous swing of the pendulum while at the same time driving and locking the movement of the interrelated gears or gear train, one tooth at a time. The periodic locking of the escapement against the gear is actually what produces the ticking sound of the grandfather clock.

The use of the escapement to minimize the pendulum’s swing also paved the way for the development of the ‘seconds’ pendulum (or Royal pendulum), which is timed at one second per swing. The seconds pendulum, which is the most distinctive grandfather clocks parts, is typically about one meter (or 39.1 inches) long and requires less power to swing. Advancements in the accuracy of the pendulum clock also led to the addition of the minute hand on clock faces in 1690.

Authentic grandfather clocks are mechanically powered either by a mainspring or by weights. A mainspring is a coil of metal that stores energy when it is wound up or tightened using a knob or key. This stored energy is then gradually released forcing the clock’s gear train and related parts to move until the mainspring is completely unwound-again for winding up. Weights, on the other hand, power the grandfather clock through pulley-action. Basically, when you pull the chain or lever to raise the weights, you cause them to store energy that will be gradually released as they come down and hit the interconnected gears and levers within the clock. Grandfather clocks and grandfather clocks parts typically have three weights-the right weight powering the chimes, the left powering the hour strike, and the center powering the time and the pendulum. The whole mechanism is synchronized to accurately measure and signal the correct hour, complete with chimes and strikes.

While grandfather clocks are now mostly valued as decorative antiques, pendulum clocks in general were the most widely-used and considered the most accurate timekeepers for almost three centuries since its invention, until the 1930s with the popularity of the quartz clock. But the classic craftsmanship of the grandfather clock is what will keep them ticking for centuries.

Author: Blake Allen

Learn more about grandfather clocks parts with links, resources, and recommendations at: http://www.unique-wall-clocks.com/

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Please feel free to read more about the tradtion, care and purchase of pendulum floor clocks on the following pages: Buy Grandfather Clocks – Grandfather Clock For Sale – Contemporary Grandfather Clocks – Grandfather Clocks Kits – Cleaning a Grandfather Clock – Discount Grandfather Clocks – Old Grandfather Clock – Grandfather Clock Plans – Grandfather Clock Movement – Grandfather Clocks Repair, Grandfather Clock Weights – Antique Grandfather Clocks – Oak Grandfather Clock – Modern Grandfather Clock.

Mechanical Clock Movements

Escapement is part of the clock that controls speed and regularity by converting continuous rotational energy into discrete motions. This is accomplished through the use of gears and a lever attached to a pendulum. the most common form in use today powered by key wound springs.

When the pendulum swings the lever locks in the tooth of the gear, this is the tick. The back swing of the pendulum the lever releases the gear, this is the tock. The process is repeated over an over until the clock needs winding. Thus, the familiar tick tock of a clock. The speed and accuracy of the clock is achieved by adjusting the pendulum bob up or down. Adjusting the bob up speeds the clock, adjusting the bob down slows the clock.

The earliest escapement can be traced back to a Buddhist monk Yi Xing in china around 725A.D. He was also a Chinese astronomer, mathematician, and mechanical engineer of the Tang Dynasty (618-907). His contribution was designing and operating a water-powered armillary sphere.

Many escapements have been designed and developed over the years. One that predates the pendulum around 1275A.D. is the Verge escapement, also known as the crown-wheel-and-verge escapement. This escapement design and function is similar to a teeter- totter on a playground. The problem was this system had no natural frequency of oscillation, it is simply force pushing inertia around.

The next development was attaching the verge escapement to a pendulum. Galileo had the idea for a pendulum clock in 1637. This increased the accuracy of clocks enormously, from about 15 minutes per day to 15 seconds per day, leading to their rapid spread as existing clocks were retrofitted with pendulums. In order for this to work the axis of the verge became horizontal. This design was good at keeping time, but the swing of the pendulum was very wide up to 100 degrees.

Anchor escapement also known as recoil escapement was the next big development in 1670. The swing of the pendulum was greatly reduced to 4-6 degrees. The teeth of an anchor escape wheel project radially from the edge of the wheel, much like an up side down anchor. The second pendulum clock was built by Christian Huygens, in 1673. Development of this escapement allowed the introduction of the long clock better know as a grandfather clock, made by William Clement around 1680. The increased accuracy resulting from these developments caused the minute hand, previously rare, to be added to clock faces beginning around 1690.

Improvements in designs lead to the Dead beat escapement introduced around 1715 by George Graham. This design lead to the lever escapement. The up side down anchor was given a rounded edge so as not to lock the gear. This allowed the pendulum to operate the clock on both back and forth swings. Wear on the escapement was greatly reduced. In most wall clocks that use a pendulum, the pendulum swings once per second. In small cuckoo clocks the pendulum might swing twice a second. In large grandfather clocks, the pendulum swings once every two seconds,

The lever escapement is widely used and very accurate. Clocks today have a very long and rich history. Depending on which clock suits your need or desire you can have confidence in there accuracy and dependability.

Author: Joann Rowedda

Explore the many different styles and movements of discount clocks including grandfather clocks, cuckoo clocks and other clocks at maggiesclocks.com

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