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Here is a partial
list of terms related to
Grandfather Clocks, their parts,
their design, and their functioning.
We hope you will find them useful
and that you will learn something
you did not know before.
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4/4
Movement
- Grandfather clock
movements that chime or strike on the quarter,
half and three-quarter hour, in addition to
every full hour. Our clocks chime on the hour
and half hour.
Beat -
The tick of a clock. Or the time it takes for a
grandfather clock pendulum (balance) to swing
from its center (dead point) to one side and
return to its center again. Most clock
"escapements" beat twice per cycle. The beats
should be equally disposed about the center of
the pendulum. Grandfather clocks with
single-beat escapements, such as the chronometer
and duplex, have one beat on each alternate
swing of the pendulum.
Bezel -
Front
section of the grandfather clock case including
grooved rim into which crystal is set. Can also
describe the flat decorative surface adjacent to
the grandfather clock dial.
Bob -
Polished round disc at the lower end of a
grandfather clock pendulum.
Bonnett -
The
top of these grandfather clocks are usually
rounded or connected in a full arch at the top.
Bookmatched -
The wood piece is cut in half and folded open
like a book so the wood pattern mirrors each
other from right to left; to match the grains of
(as two sheets of veneer) so that one sheet
seems to be the mirrored image of the other.
Break arch
-
A type of top for bracket clocks and grandfather
clocks which appeared about 1765 and is
characteristic of the style of George
Hepplewhite. The arch is incomplete, having a
small ledge or step where it joins the sides of
the case. Break-arch grandfather clocks usually
had circular dials with brass bezels, but a
number are known with silvered all-over,
enameled or painted dials Dials with a
semi-circular top are also known as break arch.
Burl -
A piece of
wood with more lines and pattern in the grain of
the wood. Burls have to be cut from special
areas of the tree; a hard woody often flattened
hemispherical outgrowth on a tree.
Cable Driven Movement
- A movement that is wound
with a crank or key to pull the weights up to
the top of the clock. The weights will fall over
the course of the week that powers the
grandfather clock.
Chain Driven Movement
- This grandfather clock
movement requires a chain attached to the 3
weights is pulled down once a week to raise the
weights. The weights will then fall over the
course of the week which powers the clock. This
process can mean more problems with the clock.
Our clocks do not need the weights to function.
Chapter Ring -
The ring on the dial of a grandfather clock
where the numbers are displayed. Usually in a
brushed silver in a circular pattern.
Chime Rods
-
Stationary metal rods inside the grandfather
clock that, when struck by small hammers, create
chimes and the hour gong.
Clock -
The word clock is derived from the medieval
Latin "clocca" meaning a bell. This is
essentially because the earliest "alarm" clocks
did not possess dials but merely sounded a bell
at the "set" time.
Dentil moulding
- A flat piece of molding, equally notched to
create small squares in the wood. used to
decorate the case of a grandfather clock.
Dial, brass -
Brass was the most common material in use on
grandfather clocks from the late 16th century to
the late 18th century, when enamel or iron dials
began to appear. Before it became possible to
produce sheets of brass with an even thickness,
brass dials were cut from sheets which had been
cast and reduced to the required gauge by
beating with trip hammers operated by water
power.
Escapement
-
The device in a grandfather clock that controls
the action of it's movement.
Finial -
A
decorative ornament perched on the upper
extremity of a column or other structure.
Finials are often found on the very top of
grandfather clocks, between the split arches.
Fixed Moon Phase Dial
- An non-functional image
of a moon dial to enhance the look of the
grandfather clock.
Grandfather clock -
Also called tallcase, longcase, or floor clock.
Grandfather clocks are pendulum clocks enclosed
in tall narrow cases which are over 6 feet tall.
(Some say a true grandfather clock must be 6
foot 3 inches or taller - all of our clocks are
at least that tall.)
Grandmother clock -
Generally, a popular name for a shorter version
of the grandfather clock.
If a clock is under 6 foot 3 inches, or very
slim and spring-driven with a dome top and an 8”
or less square.
Granddaughter clock –
This is an even shorter version of a grandfather
clock. Generally, any clock less than 5 foot 2
inches tall with most of them using round,
electroplated silver dials, with numbers that
are painted on rather than engraved.
Hands -
The pointed indicators which mark the hours, and
minutes on the dial of the grandfather clock.
Keystone -
The
semi-triangular piece of wood usually at the top
center of the clock.
Key-wind -
Term
used to describe grandfather clocks powered by a
mainspring, as with all of our clocks.
Movement -
The
mechanical parts of a grandfather clock that run
the time and the features of the clock.
The inner mechanism of the grandfather clock can
be key-wind, weight driven, electric or quartz
(battery powered). Our grandfather clocks are
31-day key-wind movements which never require
electricity or batteries.
Pediment -
This usually refers to
rounded top of a grandfather clocks which is
interrupted or split in the center (usually seen
on cherry clocks).
Pilasters -
Columns or posts that are found on the sides of
the grandfather clock running vertically. These
are decorative, but also add strength the the
cabinet.
Pendulum -
A swinging rod hanging from below the
grandfather clock's movement to regulate the
timekeeping for mechanical movements (usually
decorative for quartz movements).
Roman Numerals -
Numeral style (I, II, III, IV, etc) used on
grandfather clock dials. You may see the Roman
Numeral 4 as IIII. This is not incorrect.
In fact, it is the original and oldest
designation by the Romans.
Tapered -
progressively narrowed toward one end.
Tempus Fugit -
Latin phrase that means "Time Flies". This can
be frequently found above clock dials.
Weight -
Heavy metal piece used to power certain types of
grandfather clock chime movements. Usually
decorative when used with quartz movements.
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The History of Grandfather Clocks |
Grandfather
Clock Terms
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