Long Case Floor Clocks - pendulum clocks, chiming clocks - modern grandfather clocks and reproduction antique Grandfather clocks - new built Grandfather clocks . New grandfather clocks - modern grandfather clocks and Reproduction antique grandfather clocks. A range of long case floor clocks from Billib the grandfather clocks specialist New grandmother clocks - Reproduction antique grandmother clocks. A range of long case floor clocks from Billib the grandfather clocks specialist A collection of shelf clocks - unique desk clocks from Clocks & Chimes and a range of mantel clocks and table clocks from Billib. A selection of beautiful mantel clocks and table clocks from Billib in various wood finishes; fitted with the finest clock movements and dials. Delightful small desk clocks designed to take advantage of the inherent elements of a particular piece of hardwood, such as: the wood's colours, its distintive grain and particularly any organic shape that the it may have. A collection of wall clocks from Clocks & Chime together with a selection from Billib – large wall clocks and small wall clocks, reproduction antique clocks and modern wall clocks - housing quality German clock movements. Built or finished in a range of woods such as oak clocks, mahogany clocks etc. Large wall clocks in reproduction antique clock styles and stunning modern clock designs Small wall clocks in contemporary clock designs and reproduction antique clock styles Clocks & Chimes - Clock Menu Page - Links to Longcase pendulum clocks weight driven grandfather clocks regulator wall clocks and shelf clocks: desk mantel and table clocks. Newly buit small wall clocks from Clocks & Chime in contemporary clock designs, and a selection of reproduction antique clocks and modern wall clocks - housing quality German clock movements from Billib. Built or finished in a range of woods such as oak clocks, mahogany clocks etc. Newly buit large wall clocks from Clocks & Chime in contemporary clock designs, and a selection of reproduction antique clocks and modern wall clocks - housing quality German clock movements from Billib. Built or finished in a range of woods such as oak clocks, mahogany clocks etc.
Website Clock Menu: Clocks home; Long Case Floor Clocks: Grandfather Clocks, Grandmother Clocks; Shelf Clocks: Desk Clocks, Mantel & Table Clocks; Long Case Wall Clocks: Large Wall clocks, Small Wall Clocks.
Hand crafted clocks built to order and delivered in 6 to 8 weeks. Also, a selection of grandfather clocks, wall clocks and shelf clocks ( mantle clocks, table clocks) from Billib the clcock specialist.

 

 

Development of Mechanical Clocks and ...!

The concept of the pendulum-clock is credited to Galileo Galilei an Italian physicist, mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher who studied the motion of the pendulum as early as 1582; although he never actually built one in his lifetime.

Acknowledgment for the invention of the pendulum clock is given to Christiaan Huygens, a Dutch scientist, in 1656. Huygens' early clock had an accuracy error of one minute a day - the best achieved at that time.  He later improve on this, reducing the clock's error to less than ten seconds a day. Huygens also developed the balance wheel and spring assembly around 1675, which is still found in some of today's wristwatches.  This advance improved the accuracy of portable 17th century watches, although it has to be said, only to an error of ten minutes a day.

In London in 1671, a substantial improvement in the form of a new "anchor" or "recoil" escapement, which reduced interference with the motion of the pendulum, was being used in clock building by William Clement.

George Graham enhanced the pendulum clock's accuracy to 1 second per day in 1721, by developing a technique to compensate for changes in the length of the pendulum due to temperature variations on the metals used.  This was refined and developed by John Harrison, a carpenter and self-taught clock-maker, who also introduced new methods for reducing friction. 

Harrison took up the British government's challenge to develop a means of determining longitude to within one-half degree.  By 1761, after a voyage to the West Indies, he built a marine chronometer with a spring and balance wheel escapement that kept time on board a rolling ship to about one-fifth of a second a day, nearly as well as a pendulum clock could do on land, and ten times better than required to win the government’s prize, which was around £6 million in today's currency.

Over the next century accuracy of a hundredth of a second a day became the standard, and refinements led to Siegmund Riefler, in 1889, develop a clock with a nearly free pendulum. The next development of several free-pendulum clocks, was inspired by R.J. Rudd who introduced a true free-pendulum principle around 1898. Of these clocks, the most famous is the W.H. Shortt clock, which was demonstrated in 1921. 

This clock almost immediately replaced Riefler's clock as a supreme timekeeper in many observatories.  The clock housed two pendulums, the master and a slave.  By introducing a second slave pendulum, which gave the master pendulum gentle pushes to maintain its motion, as well as drive the clock's hands.  The master pendulum was free from mechanical tasks that would disturb its regularity. 

The future of pendulun clocks - Design or Function?

Shortt clock was replaced as quartz crystal oscillators and clocks, developed throughout the 20th century.  Now at the begining of the 21st century, computer technology is displacing crystal technology, as time displays become an integral part of the full range of modern computer and media devices; changing the way people relate to and use timepieces. 

Clocks and watches today are more then ever being bought solely for their aesthetic appeal, as design or fashion statements, rather than for their functionality. And what better design statement to enhance any room than a splendid looking grandfather clock or large wall clock, in reproduction antique clock style or a contemporary clock design.
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