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German Grandfather Clocks of the 1800s

Grandfather clocks, also called longcase or tallcase clocks, were first produced during the 17th century. German grandfather clockmakers of the 1800s are known for their quality work and craftsmanship, and the skills of the more popular horologists were passed down through the generations. Longcase clocks were not called “grandfather clocks” until the late 1800s, when American songwriter Henry Work wrote a tune titled “Grandfather’s Clock.”

  1. Size

    • It is not unusual to find antique German clocks from the 1800s that measure up to nine feet or taller. Buildings during this period commonly had rooms with high ceilings, and the timepieces were made to take advantage of the vertical space. A deluxe Berg clock made by Johann Wilhelm Winkel Elberfeld, for example, measures nine feet. Clocks in the Westphalia region of Germany, which were once used in farmhouse kitchens, tower at over ten feet in height, according to Ian D. Fowler, an antique watch and clock restorer.

    Movements

    • Antique German clocks used cable- or chain-driven movements. An individual operated a cable-driven longcase clock by using a crank or key to adjust the position of the weights, which were attached to pulleys. Each cable within the grandfather clock had its own dial. Individuals wound clocks with a chain-driven movement by simultaneously lifting and pulling on a chain connected to a weight. German grandfather clocks with quartz movements were not produced until the 1900s.

    Clocks as Art

    • Notable German clockmakers often hand-painted the faces of their longcase clocks or installed signature clock hands. Some clocks included novelties like perpetual calendars. Emanuel Hanky was one of the more popular clockmakers of the Black Forest region in the early 1800s because of delicate, intricate carvings on the wooden cases that house the grandfather clock mechanisms. The Kinzing family of clockmakers from Neuwied created grandfather clocks that were famous for their compound musical movements.

    Clocks as Furniture

    • It was common for clockmakers to partner with cabinet makers to create a timepiece that served more than one function. Notable collaborations include the partnership of the Kinzing and Roentgen families and Johann Daniel Herder with Carl Wilhelm Machenbach. German clockmakers in the 1800s usually housed the clock mechanisms, including the pendulum, in wood cases that did not have glass covers. This style gave clockmakers the opportunity to incorporate the clock movements into pieces of furniture-like cabinets and drop-front writing desks.

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