ComputerHunter.org

 

A Brief History of Grandfather Clocks


Since the beginning of civilization, humans have searched for a reliable way to keep track of the time. In the earliest days, months, seasons and years were tracked by careful monitoring of the phases of the moon. Later, the sun and stars were also used to help early people track the passing of time.

The Sumerians used the sundial to divide days into two-hour segments. The Egyptians created a device called Cleopatra's needle to divide their days into two-hour segments while the ancient Romans devised a way of dividing time into night and day.

A pressing need for more precise measurements led to the invention of the water clock and then the hourglass. These inventions were limited as they relied on water and sand, respectively, to function. The search continued to search for a way of tracking time independent of the seasons or nature.

In 1582, Galileo discovered that a pendulum could be used to track time. He drew the first designs for a grandfather clock, though he did not build it. Finally, in 1656, Christiaan Huygens built the first known grandfather clock, putting Galileo's discovery to use. Though the clock did not keep accurate time, it was a major breakthrough in timekeeping technology. Through the years, various inventors tried to improve on the design, but with little luck.

Finally, in 1670, William Clement discovered that the clocks worked better with a longer pendulum. Of course, this required a taller clock. Clement named his newly designed clocks long-case clocks. This was the predecessor of the grandfather clocks that we know today.

In 1875, Henry Work wrote the song "My Grandfather's Clock" and the name stuck and finally, after many years in the making, grandfather clocks were born.

Today's grandfather clocks rely on a pendulum attached to an anchor. The swinging pendulum causes the anchor to turn a gear, which in turn causes the clock to tick. A pair of weights further helps power the clock and keeps it from losing time. Although the technology has evolved over the years, the grandfather clocks of today still reflect the ingenuity of human's earliest ancestors.

Grandfather Clocks Info provides detailed information on antique, contemporary, discount, English, and German grandfather clocks, as well as kits and repair information. Grandfather Clocks Info is the sister site of Cuckoo Clocks Web.







Google News - Top Stories

Reuters

Fed's new tool: Business loan bailout
CNNMoney.com - 55 minutes ago
By Chris Isidore, CNNMoney.com senior writer NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The Federal Reserve announced a new program to help the battered market for short-term business loans - taking its closest step yet to lending directly to businesses.
Funds' Flight From Commercial Paper Forced Fed Move (Update1) Bloomberg
Bonds off after talk of rate cuts, Fed moves MarketWatch
BusinessWeek - International Herald Tribune - Forbes - guardian.co.uk
all 2,305 news articles


Boston Globe

Bernanke hints at possible interest rate cut
MarketWatch - 1 hour ago
By Greg Robb, MarketWatch WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Ben Bernanke opened the door on Tuesday to a possible cut in interest rates to steer the economy out of a severe downturn, admitting that the turmoil in world markets has caused the Federal Reserve ...
Video: Bernanke signals possible rate cut ReutersVideo
* Financials lead sell-off as credit worries mount Reuters
CNNMoney.com - New York Times - Forbes - Monsters and Critics.com
all 1,165 news articles


ABC News

Debate Round Two: It Just Might Get Nasty
ABC News - 57 minutes ago
By RUSSELL GOLDMAN Sen. John McCain has said he wants to shift the national dialogue away from the ongoing economic crisis and onto Sen. Barack Obama's character, and will likely use the stage of tonight's debate to do just that.
Debate Expectations: Talking Up the Town Hall New York Times
Obama strategist Axelrod fires warning shot at McCain on tonight's ... Los Angeles Times
Washington Post - USA Today - CNN - Christian Science Monitor
all 1,480 news articles


BBC News

Judge orders 17 Chinese Muslims released from Guantanamo Bay
Los Angeles Times - 1 hour ago
US District Judge Ricardo Urbina will decide where in the US the men can be released. Most had been cleared of wrongdoing four years ago.
Judge Orders Release of Chinese Muslims Into US Washington Post
Federal Judge Orders Release of Chinese Muslims New York Times
CNN International - BBC News - Bloomberg - The Associated Press
all 649 news articles


The Associated Press

Stevens’s Lawyer Challenges Witness
New York Times - 1 hour ago
By NEIL A. LEWIS WASHINGTON - Senator Ted Stevens’s defense lawyer bore in on the prosecution’s chief witness Tuesday, portraying him to a jury as someone who betrayed a longtime friend to protect his fortune.
Stevens jurors hear tape of plot to hide free work The Associated Press
An Angry Judge at Stevens Trial Washington Post
CNN - The Miami Herald - United Press International - WBIR-TV
all 918 news articles

Google
 

Copyright © 2006 Computer Hunter - A Division of Arthur´s Job Base