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Longcase/Grandfather Clock

Freestanding weight-driven pendulum clocks, known as longcase or grandfather clocks, were borne out of technological breakthroughs in horology in the late 1650s. The use of the pendulum and the invention of the anchor escapement made clocks more accurate, more elaborate and easier to maintain.

First used by the Dutch clockmaker Christiaan Huygens in 1656, the pendulum made for near frictionless time-keeping, while it was the anchor mechanism (probably invented around the same time by British scientist Robert Hooke) reduced the swing and improved accuracy. Today, longcase clocks remain a popular collecting area with celebrated makers like Ahasuerus Fromanteel, Thomas Tompion, George Graham, the Knibb family, Joseph Windmills and John Ellicott in high demand.

Read ATG's detailed guide to longcase clocks here

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