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tum of the pendulum pushes the escape Grandfather Clocks
wheel backward during part of the cycle. For hundreds of years, floor-standing clocks were called “longcase,”
This causes extra wear to the movement “tall-case,” or “floor clocks.” These are tall, freestanding, weight-driven
and applies a varying force to the pendu- pendulum clocks. Until the early 20th century, longcase pendulum
lum and causes inaccuracy. clocks were the world’s most accurate timekeepers.
The Deadbeat Escapement – A more I’ve heard from many customers that the first item they purchased for
accurate variation evolved without hav- their first apartment was their grandfather clock. I believe that if you’ve
ing a recoil segment, called the deadbeat grown up with a grandfather clock in your home it becomes part of what
escapement or the “Graham “home” means. It’s the heartbeat of the home. The comfort of a
Escapement.” This innovation to the consistent, relaxing rhythm that is always there is a reassuring presence.
anchor escapement was invented by Many grandfather clocks are passed down from generation to
Richard Towneley around 1675 and generation. We have many customers whose clocks are from a
introduced by British clockmaker great-grandparent. I believe the record is a customer who told me that
George Graham around 1715. This the clock was his great-great-great-great-great grandfather’s clock. You
escapement gradually superseded the can bet that the entire family is looking over his shoulder to make sure
Drawing of a Graham, or deadbeat, ordinary anchor escapement and is used he’s caring for the family heirloom.
clock escapement. in most modern pendulum clocks.
Having no recoil, increased drive
force causes the pendulum to swing in a wider arc as well as move faster.
The time required to cover the extra distance exactly compensates for
the increased speed of the pendulum, leaving the period of swing
unchanged; however, the wider swing causes a slight increase in swing
time due to a circular error. For domestic clocks this effect is negligible.

Temperature-Compensated
Pendulums
It was soon observed that pendulum clocks
slowed down in the hot summer months and
sped up in the cooler months, bringing to light
the fact that the thermal expansion and contrac-
tion of the pendulum rod was affecting the
clock’s accuracy. This was solved by the invention
of temperature-compensated pendulums.
The first remedy, The Mercury Pendulum,
was created by George Graham in 1721. The The first Grandfather Clock I remember as a child.
second, The Gridiron Pendulum, was invented The Oxford English Dictionary states that the popular 1876 song
by John Harrison in 1726. By the mid-18th My Grandfather’s Clock is responsible for the common name
century, precision pendulum clocks achieved “grandfather clock” being applied to the longcase clock. The song
accuracies within a few seconds per week. These was composed by American songwriter Henry Clay Work who dis-
were the Gold Standard of timekeeping for sever- covered a longcase clock in The George Hotel in Piercebridge,
al hundred years through the mid-20th century.
In the last several decades we’ve seen remark- County Durham, England. When he asked about the clock, he was
able timekeeping advances. We now have the told it had two owners. When the first owner died, the clock
optical lattice clock or “atomic clock” that may became inaccurate. When the second owner died, the clock stopped
lose one second every 15 billion years. What working altogether. The story inspired Henry to create the song.
would Huygens think?
Lyrics to My Grandfather’s Clock:
At left: The mercury pendulum by George Graham in 1721.
At right: The gridiron pendulum by John Harrison in 1726. My grandfather’s clock was too tall for the shelf
So it stood ninety years on the floor
It was taller by half than the old man himself
But it weighed not a pennyweight more
Of Note: Scientific American had a very interesting cover article in It was bought on the morn that my grandfather was born
its January 2022 issue. If you’d like to delve into what’s involved in And was always his treasure and pride
making one of these mechanisms, I suggest viewing the YouTube But it stopped - short - never to go again
videos put out by Chris on his Clickspring channel. You can Google When the old man died.
“Clickspring Antikythera” for a fascinating series on the process.
Ninety years without slumbering
About the Author: Tic toc tic toc
In 1949 my dad, Tom Castronovo Sr., started the family business. I His live seconds numbering
joined the business in 1975, tuning and rebuilding pianos and repairing Tic toc tic toc
clocks. In 1996 we changed the name of our clock repair service from But it stopped - short - never to go again
Fairview Piano & Clock Co. to The Clock Doctor. When the old man died.
Our service business has continued to grow from year to year. We are now
one of the largest, if not the largest, In-Home Grandfather Clock Repair In watching its pendulum swing to and fro’
businesses in the country. We are always on the lookout for qualified clock Many hours he had spent when a boy
repair people to join our team. For more information, please contact Tom And through childhood and manhood, the clock seemed to know
at tom@theclockdoctor.com and visit our website at www.theclockdoctor.com And shared both his grief and his joy
For it struck 24 when he entered at the door
With a blushing and beautiful bride
But it stopped - short - never to go again
40 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles When the old man died.