Equipped with elaborate details, in the mechanism, grandfather clocks are also acknowledged as traditional floor clocks. With a well-built tall freestanding structure, they are typically weight-driven pendulum clocks that held its pendulum inside the tower case. The exterior case generally features richly engraved great decoration on the hood which encloses the dial or the face of the clock and is cited as the most accurate timekeeping equipment on the planet.

The difference of eight day and one day clock

Traditionally, floor clocks were engineered with two different types of movements, including eight-day and one-day or 30 hours winding systems. A grandfather clock that requires winding once a week only is denoted as eight-day movement clocks while normally less expensive 30-hour traditional floor clocks should be wound every day.

Notably, eight-day clocks are often driven by means of two weights – one typically driving its pendulum, and the second one is striking the internal mechanism that consisted of a bell or chimes. 8 day winding system should have two keyholes on each side of the clock dial to wind each side. However, 30-hour clocks mostly operate with a single weight for driving both the timekeeping job as well as the mechanisms.

Mechanism

Almost all floor clocks are made cable-driven as their weights are balanced by wires or cables. In case, the cables are attached directly to their weights, the load would turn out the rotation and loosen the cable strands. Consequently, the wire enfolds around a pulley which is mounted to the top end of each weight. Cable clocks are required to be wound by inserting a particular type of key into the keyhole found on the clock’s face and by turning it.

Chime systems

In the early 20th century, innovative quarter-hour chime systems were introduced in traditional floor clocks. At the end of each hour, followed by the full musical sound, the clock strikes the hour. In the similar way, the ¼ h, and ½ and ¾ chimes play after every 15 minutes while the hour bell strikes only after each hour followed by the chime.

Setting the time of traditional floor clocks

Setting the time on your tradition floor clock needs you to follow the instruction, as stated. When setting the time, move only the minute hand toward the counter-clockwise direction. Never move the hour hand while setting the time. As you move the minute hand, the mechanism will move the hour hand automatically.

It is worth nothing that, if you move the minute hand anti-clockwise, you are not required to wait for the floor clock to chime while the minute hand passes every quarter-hour. However, if you move it in the clockwise direction, you need to pause at each ¼ hour and let the chime play prior to advancing toward the subsequent quarter-hour.

Hire a clock mover if your clock is moved any time from its earlier setting

Notably, if you need moving your traditional floor clocks, simply a few feet, mind well that you should not move them together with the pendulum as well as weights. This can lead to damaging the pendulum and other mechanical parts. In case, the pendulum is damaged, the weights may move strangely and cause damage of the glass door of the clock.

Due to this, always consider hiring a specialized clock mover and understand the methodical ways of moving your pricy clock. They typically unfasten the weights in addition to its pendulum before moving them. They used to check the location where you want to shift the grandfather clock. Accordingly, they ensure the uprightness of the setting, before moving the clock. Similarly, only after the clock is moved, the pendulum and weights are placed after needed measurements with diligent care.

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