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Grandfather Clocks Week
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| Posted May 12, 2014 |
Grandfather Clocks are an integral part of USA history and the American way of life. Therefore, by this proclamation, 1-800-4CLOCKS has declared that the week beginning May 12th every year shall now and forever be known as Grandfather Clocks Week.
While grandfather clocks, originally known as long case and tall case clocks and invented in the mid 1600s in England, they made their way over to the so-called New World, with earliest production taking place in a States like Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York and Boston. Probably the earliest made and most sought after antique grandfather clocks came from Pennsylvania. Other later arrivals, by companies such as early Seth Thomas Clocks Grandfather Clocks and E Howard Regulators, among others, are still highly sought after to this day.
Farmers were among the earliest users of grandfather clocks, with one critical function being the rotating moon dial which showed – and still shows – when there will be a full moon, which is every 29 1/2 days. Early American farmers found this useful both for planning when to plant crops, as well as when to pick and harvest their Earthly bounty.
Many are not aware that the term or phrase grandfather clock first began to take hold in the USA because of an American song that came out in 1876 by the composer Henry Clay Work titled “My Grandfather’s Clock”. We have written about this song extensively on our 1-800-4CLOCKS.com website and in this blog, but suffice it to say here that the song was a huge hit, and these timekeepers formally known as Long Case and tall case clocks started to be called Grandfather Clocks and Grandmother Clocks. Other terms used include Floor Clocks and Hall Clocks.
Interestingly, the term Floor Clocks is used almost exclusively by Howard Miller Clocks for their Grandfather Clocks and Grandmother Clocks. Howard Miller currently has the largest high-end market share, as well as much market cache, for its Howard Miller Grandfather Clocks. Yet you will see on Howard Miller’s own website it refers to Howard Miller Floor Clocks.
Other major makers of hi-end grandfather clocks include Hermle Clocks, Ridgeway Clocks, 1-800-4CLOCKS’ own Museum Clocks, Kieninger Clocks, Americana Clocks and others. Interestingly, Hermle Clocks, a German Company, has started to make some of its finest grandfather clocks right here in the USA, in Virginia. We hope to see more Made in USA grandfather clocks, as are most of both Howard Miller’s and Ridgeway Clock’s.
Any special suggestions as to how to celebrate and commemorate Grandfather Clocks Week, beginning this Friday on May 2nd? We of course will be having some special sales! Always feel free to call us about any pricing flexibility we may have. And most of all, we would like to hear the thoughts of all the clock enthusiasts out there, so please feel free to call, email or post a comment on our Grandfather Clocks Blog right here and now.
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