Modern Style Grandfather Clocks

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You can enjoy tall-case styling in a contemporary space. Grandfather clocks with a modern twist are just as elegant as their traditionally designed counterparts. The grandfather clock is a traditional design icon and the build of these clocks stems from the time when a mechanical movement coupled with a long heavy pendulum made for the most accurate domestic time-piece available. The first pendulum clock was developed in 1656 and relies on very simple principles to produce a remarkably accurate time piece. Give your contemporary tastes a real treat with any of these.

Brandon Cherry Dining / Poker Table and Four Swivel Arm Chair
$2,518.00 (List: $3,777.00)

3.5 stars

(3 Ratings)

Stackable Chairs w Chromed Steel Frames - Set of 4
$224.00 (List: $336.00)

Set of Two Contemporary Dinette Chairs
$179.00 (List: $210.66)

Folding Dining/Game Chair w Durable Brown PVC Cover
$109.17 (List: $181.94)

4 stars

(1 Rating)

Wharton Natural Ladder Back All Wood Kitchen Chair
$109.95 (List: $183.25)

White Leather Upholstered Dining Chairs - Four Piece Set
$512.00 (List: $768.00)

4 stars

(1 Rating)

Al's V-Back Vinyl Upholstered Diner Chair w Chrome Frame
$85.50 (List: $142.50)

5 stars

(2 Ratings)

Al's Diner Chair 512
$88.50 (List: $147.50)

4.5 stars

(2 Ratings)

Set of Four Stackable Chairs w Orange Upholstered Seats & Backs, Steel Frames
For 4: $205.71 (List: $308.57)

Dining Table w Side Carving Set - Nottingham Epic
$1,730.12 (List: $2,162.65)

Dinette Set, Granite Top Table w Two Chairs
$388.26 (List: $647.10)

White Tendy Stack Dining Chair - Set of 4
$256.00 (List: $384.00)

Dinette Set w Metal Base Table, Two Chairs
$184.00 (List: $306.67)

4 stars

(1 Rating)

Leather Side Chairs - Graco Set of Four
$416.00 (List: $624.00)

5 stars

(1 Rating)

High-Back Side Chairs w Faux Leather Upholstery - Set of 4
$615.71 (List: $923.57)

Dunhill 7 Piece Dining Set w Glass Top & 6 Stools - Choose Bar or Counter Height
$2,420.00 (List: $3,630.00)

Mosaic 5 Pc. Dinette Set w Four Castered Chairs
$1,292.63 (List: $2,154.38)

5 Piece Aluminum Dining Set - Marina
$1,365.60 (List: $2,048.40)

Stacking Chair Set w Stripes Design - Set of Four
$760.00 (List: $1,140.00)

Wood Stacking Arm Chairs w Upholstered Seats & Backs
$139.95 (List: $233.25)

Aluminum Side Chairs - Set of Two
$260.00 (List: $390.00)

4.5 stars

(5 Ratings)

Satin Frame Wasser Leather Side Chair
$218.47 (List: $364.11)

Henry Schoolhouse Wood Chairs w Vertical Slat Backs
$129.95 (List: $216.58)

4.5 stars

(3 Ratings)

Contemporary Wood Stacking Chairs w Nine Hole Cut-Out Backs - Set of 4
$268.71 (List: $403.07)

Set of Four Black Dinette Chairs w Steel Frames
For 4: $241.43 (List: $362.14)

Protools Stacking Side Chairs in Stainless Steel - Set of Four
$384.00 (List: $576.00)

4 stars

(1 Rating)

Classic Solid Wood Dining Side Chairs w Slats - Choose Finish
$119.95 (List: $199.92)

5 stars

(2 Ratings)

Wood Grain Laminate Stacking Restaurant Chairs, Set of Four
$256.00 (List: $384.00)

4.5 stars

(5 Ratings)

Stacking Chrome Frame PVC Seat Chair (Natural shown) - Set of 4
$341.00 (List: $511.50)

Stackable Leather Arm Chairs w Chrome Plated Frames - Set of 4
$656.00 (List: $984.00)

Bulldog Upholstered Wood Chair in 28 finishes
$138.39 (List: $230.65)

5 stars

(3 Ratings)

Leather Chair - Mimi - Set of 2
$276.00 (List: $424.62)

Straight Skirt Parsons Dining Chair - Set of 2
$598.00 (List: $897.00)

Pair of Daytona Dining Chairs w Leather Upholstery
$219.42 (List: $329.13)

5 stars

(1 Rating)

Wooden Stackable Chair - Natural Carlo
$66.99 (List: $111.65)

5 stars

(1 Rating)

Café Dinette Table w Stainless Steel Legs
$465.93 (List: $698.90)

Slate Dinette Table, Round Top
$91.00 (List: $136.50)

4 stars

(2 Ratings)

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The Dutch astronomer Christiaan Huygens is credited with first suggesting the use of a pendulum. Pendulum clocks were the first clocks made to have any sort of accuracy. The tall case of a grandfather clock allows for the use of the energy stored in a suspended weight to be used as the clock's motive power so tall clocks allow longer running times than shorter clocks. Grandfather clocks often include a second weight to power the clock's chimes so if there are two winding holes on the clock dial one will be to wind up the clock weight and the other to drive chimes.

The period (the amount of time it takes for a pendulum to go back and forth once) of a pendulum's swing is related only to the length of the pendulum and the force of gravity. Since gravity is constant at any given spot on the planet, the only thing that affects the period of a pendulum is the length of the pendulum. The amount of weight does not matter. Nor does the length of the arc that the pendulum swings through. Only the length of the pendulum matters. Given these rules the length of a pendulum can be adjusted, so that it's period is exactly half one or two seconds, it is a relatively simple matter to convert this period to a clock tick through the system of gears that is familiar to us in mechanical time pieces.

There are no precise rules as to what constitutes a 'grandfather clock' a long case or grandfather clock is generally above 75 inches tall. In the 1920s and 1930s a smaller case size became popular between 64 and 69 inches, perhaps reflecting the growing popularity of urban apartments and lower ceilings. Anything less than 62 inches but using the basic long case principles is generally categorized as a grand-daughter clock, but these cannot be regarded as rules as among clock experts opinions differ and much more complex categorization rules can be encountered.

What we do now know for certain is that the words "Grandfather Clock" as a description for a tall long case floor standing clock entered the English language in 1875 with the writing of the song Grandfather's Clock by an American Henry Clay Work, who was told the story of an unusually accurate timepiece which he came across staying in the George Hotel, Piercebridge, Yorkshire, England. He decided to compose a song about the fascinating coincidence that the clock never made another tick on the second that its' old gentleman owner passed away. The song was a runaway success and has been reproduced in sheet music form more than ten million times, ensuring that everyone now knows that a big tall case clock is "Grandfather's".

Products on this page:

Brandon Cherry Dining / Poker Table and Four Swivel Arm Chair
Stackable Chairs w Chromed Steel Frames - Set of 4
Set of Two Contemporary Dinette Chairs
Folding Dining/Game Chair w Durable Brown PVC Cover
Wharton Natural Ladder Back All Wood Kitchen Chair
White Leather Upholstered Dining Chairs - Four Piece Set
Al's V-Back Vinyl Upholstered Diner Chair w Chrome Frame
Al's Diner Chair 512
Set of Four Stackable Chairs w Orange Upholstered Seats & Backs, Steel Frames
Dining Table w Side Carving Set - Nottingham Epic
Dinette Set, Granite Top Table w Two Chairs
White Tendy Stack Dining Chair - Set of 4
Dinette Set w Metal Base Table, Two Chairs
Leather Side Chairs - Graco Set of Four
High-Back Side Chairs w Faux Leather Upholstery - Set of 4
Dunhill 7 Piece Dining Set w Glass Top & 6 Stools - Choose Bar or Counter Height
Mosaic 5 Pc. Dinette Set w Four Castered Chairs
5 Piece Aluminum Dining Set - Marina
Stacking Chair Set w Stripes Design - Set of Four
Wood Stacking Arm Chairs w Upholstered Seats & Backs
Aluminum Side Chairs - Set of Two
Satin Frame Wasser Leather Side Chair
Henry Schoolhouse Wood Chairs w Vertical Slat Backs
Contemporary Wood Stacking Chairs w Nine Hole Cut-Out Backs - Set of 4
Set of Four Black Dinette Chairs w Steel Frames
Protools Stacking Side Chairs in Stainless Steel - Set of Four
Classic Solid Wood Dining Side Chairs w Slats - Choose Finish
Wood Grain Laminate Stacking Restaurant Chairs, Set of Four
Stacking Chrome Frame PVC Seat Chair (Natural shown) - Set of 4
Stackable Leather Arm Chairs w Chrome Plated Frames - Set of 4
Bulldog Upholstered Wood Chair in 28 finishes
Leather Chair - Mimi - Set of 2
Straight Skirt Parsons Dining Chair - Set of 2
Pair of Daytona Dining Chairs w Leather Upholstery
Wooden Stackable Chair - Natural Carlo
Café Dinette Table w Stainless Steel Legs
Slate Dinette Table, Round Top