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Longcase clock (grandfather clock)

Type Object Region England Time c. 1658–1670

The longcase clock was a domestic precision timepiece of 17th-century England combining a long-pendulum escapement with a tall wooden case.

Timeline

  1. c. 1658–1660London · LondonBenefiting from Huygens' long-pendulum theory, London clockmakers such as Fromanteel placed a pendulum about one meter long inside a tall wooden case, combined with an anchor escapement and spring drive, producing the first long-pendulum case clocks suitable for household use.
  2. 1661–1665London · LondonIn the 1660s London clock workshops established the standard form of the longcase clock: dial and movement above, a viewing window for the long pendulum in the middle, and a weight cabinet below; output increased and specialized production of different wood finishes and dial styles began to appear.
  3. 1666–1670England · EnglandBy around 1670, longcase clock technology spread from London to workshops in Bristol, Norwich, and elsewhere, becoming a common timekeeping furnishing in gentry houses and churches, and establishing the basic paradigm of the English case clock for the next two centuries.

Sources