Our Long-case clock
Our L object is an inlaid mahogany long-case clock made by John Fernly in Trowbridge, Wiltshire circa 1775. This clock is an eight-day movement type (we shall explain that further in the article) with anchor escapement and rack striking on a bell. It has an automaton of a moving hawk inserted at top of clock face. Above the hawk is an engraved farmyard scene with chickens. The engraved arched silvered dial has a subsidiary seconds dial with calendar aperture and blued steel hands. In the corner of the face are cherubs depicting the four elements.
While you likely know the term “Grandfather clock,” the long-case clock didn’t acquire this name until after 1876. American songwriter Henry Clay Work wrote the massive hit song “My Grandfather’s Clock”, about a clock that “stopped short, never to go again, when the old man died.”
Evolution of the clock
Before the mid-17th century, clocks relied on a “verge escapement” mechanism, which required a wide, heavy pendulum to swing. The pendulum would swing out so far to the sides that they had to be mounted on the wall or placed on brackets. Additionally, they were also highly inaccurate, they could lose up to 15 minutes a day. Over the course of the year that’s the equivalent of almost 4 days! These early pendulum clocks were invented by a Dutch scientist called Christiaan Huygens in 1656.
English horologist William Clement introduced anchor escapement around 1670 which allowed the angle of swing to be reduced to between 4° to 6°. It was this innovation that allowed for a longer, slower-swinging pendulum (the “seconds pendulum,” roughly 39 inches long). This posed a new issue though – how to protect the long rod and heavy hanging weights from drafts and children. Thus the ‘long-case clock’ was invented.
These clocks become the ultimate status symbols during the 18th century. Early cases feature beautiful marquetry (intricate inlaid wood) or lacquer. Dials evolved from square brass plates to arched tops containing moon phases, calendars, or moving automatons like the one on our clock.
Styles of clock
The styles of these clocks broadly fall into two main categories based on how often they need attention:
• 30-Hour Clocks: Driven by a single continuous cord or chain. They were cheaper, usually had a simpler face with just one hand (the hour hand), and required winding every single day.
• 8-Day Clocks: Driven by two separate weights on lines wound around barrels. These high-end status pieces featured intricate brass faces with both hour and minute hands and only needed winding once a week.
