Grandfather Clocks vs Grandmother Clocks: What’s the Difference
Longcase clocks are known by a variety of names, but the most familiar one they have is probably “grandfather”. You might also know of them as tall-case or floor clocks because, unsurprisingly, they are tall and stand on the floor.
You might also hear them called “grandmother” or even “granddaughter” clocks, but there are some key differences between the styles.
History of Longcase Clocks
An English clockmaker called William Clement is credited with inventing the longcase clock by lengthening the pendulum of a traditional clock mechanism into what we now recognise as the longcase clock. Lengthening the body in that way not only made the clock more aesthetically appealing but also allowed for the clock to become an emblem in its own right rather than simply a timepiece.
You’ll find a variety of longcase clocks on the market depicting this lengthy history and the way that grandfather clocks have become a popular home accessory for households of all styles.
Why are they called Grandfather Clocks?
It accepted by the Oxford English Dictionary that grandfather clocks received their distinctive nickname from a song popular in the late 1800s by songwriter Henry Clay Work. In a rather macabre twist, though, the song is about a clock that first became inaccurate when one owner died and then stopped altogether when its second owner died. For those of us who associate grandfather clocks with traditional homeliness, this story can seem a little too macabre!
How Do I Recognise a Grandfather Clock?
Grandfather clocks are generally distinguished by their height. As well as fulfilling the general longcase criteria of being free-standing, having a face and a hood, grandfather clocks are between 6 and 7.5 feet tall. In the grandmother clock vs grandfather clock debate, that’s the key difference to remember.
How Do I Recognise a Grandmother Clock?
Moving down the scale, the next question to ask is “what is considered a grandmother clock”? Just like the grandfather clock, grandmother clocks are free-standing clocks with long cases and pendulums to keep time, but they are also smaller than grandfather clocks. A typical grandmother clock will be between 5 and 6 feet tall, designed to fit more effectively into smaller homes without sacrificing the ornamental style of the longcase clock.
What About Granddaughter Clocks?
To further complicate matters for collectors, there’s yet another type of longcase clock – the granddaughter clock.
This often doesn’t share the prestige of its bigger family members coming in at anywhere between 3 and 5 feet tall. However, for people wanting a smaller version of a longcase clock that will fit into a room and won’t dwarf everything around it, the granddaughter clock is a popular option.
Grandfather Clocks from The Clock Store
Whichever side of the pendulum you fall on the grandmother clock vs grandfather clock debate, there are clocks of every shape and size available online at The Clock Store.
Browse our collection to find grandfather clocks that will suit any traditional or modern home, delivering timeless style straight to your door.
We’ve got a clock style for everyone!
