The Simpson

Antique Grandfather Clocks

The tall standalone clocks we call antique grandfather clocks have been helping humans keep track of time through the ages. In addition, people using everything from hourglasses to sundials also tracked time. During the second half of the 13th century, the very first mechanical clocks were developed. These early clocks were huge contraptions made with heavy iron frames and large gears, and were usually placed in church towers and striking the bell on the top of each hour. In addition there were town criers calling out the time. Later advances led to an hour hand, and the ability of the clocks to strike every quarter-hour. Eventually, during the first half of the 15th century, personal clocks, those we call antique clocks started to appear.

The Grandfather Clock Gets A Boost From Astronomers

In 1582 Galileo Galilei discovered you could use a pendulum to keep time. He studied pendulum clocks, and drew what became the first designs for a grandfather clock. In 1656 Christiaan Huygens applied what Galileo had discovered and developed the first pendulum clock, the prototype for the grandfather clock. These clocks hung on walls and were affectionately entitled “wags-on-the-wall” due to their short pendulums.

Grandfather Clocks Get Taller

The first grandfather clocks did not keep time well. An early grandfather clock could lose as much as ten minutes a day. In 1670 William Clement found by making the pendulum in a clock longer he could make the clock keep better time. The advancements resulted in an increase in precision that meant the clocks held time to within a few seconds variance per week. This was the start of the popularity of long case clocks, later renamed grandfather clocks, due to their ability to keep time so accurately.

Final Improvements To Grandfather Clocks

In 1721 George Graham noticed that temperature changes in the pendulum of a grandfather clock could cause it run slower or faster. Graham improved the grandfather clock design by compensating for the temperature changes in the pendulums. His changes led to grandfather clocks that were accurate to 1 second a day. Current antique grandfather clocks were created by this and similar designs.

In today’s world, the antique grandfather clock occupies a place pf prominence where it is generally viewed as soon as a visitor steps into the foyer. These antiques add top the charm and elegance of a home.

In another article, I will discuss antique American clocks.

In most cities in the US you are going to be able to find antique shops, shops that specialize in porcelain dolls, stamps, old toys, and other collectibles. These stores have been around for years and there are new ones opening up periodically that cater to different niche markets. This leads one to wonder, what is it about collecting that is so fascinating?

You name it and there is some one out there collecting it. Items that are collected range from the gross to the exquisite and beautiful. What is the driving factor that makes people collect things. As a kid you had a collection and probably didn’t even realize it. Whether it was your favorite set of marbles, and army of GI Joes, dolls, teddy bears or comic books… you had a collection. There was something that you had to have, and you had more then one of and they gave you great pleasure and joy.

That is part of why people collect. For joy and pleasure. Remember what it felt like when you found that really awesome looking cat’s eye marble that no one else you knew had. It was your pride and joy, and you only every used it when you wanted to totally dismantle your opponent. Joy!

What about the teddy bear that was your mom’s when she was a kid, that as you got older you found out actually belonged to your grandmother when she was little. You never played with that teddy bear and you really only cuddled it at night on the really scary stormy nights. As you got older, it was the one bear that you held on to. It’s either kept in a special box now or you have given it to your child.

There are people that collect figurines, simply because they are beautiful and they bring joy to that person to be able to look at them everyday. Plus the excitement that comes with being the first to get the next figuring in a series is exciting.

There are other reasons that people collect though, which still have to do with joy and pleasure but in a different way. A person that collects old military items is collecting them for another reason. Yes, it’s a passion, it brings joy… but it also gives them a tie to the past. It is like holding onto a piece of history, all part of the Value of Antiques.

Antiques are beautiful, they simple don’t make things the way they used to. Great care and time was put into building a jewelry box 80 years ago, that isn’t done today. For some people collecting is an attempt to hold on to and cherish the beauty and dedication of the creator. Jewelry is also collected for beauty. My grandmother used to collect costume jewelry. She had an amazing collection of some of the oddest pieces I have every seen, but it was a joy for her. It made her different, unique to have that collection.

There is a great misconception that many people have, that collecting is about money. That the whole reason a person is collecting baseball cards is because they know that in 30 years part of that collection is going to be worth big money. I promise you when that collection was started it was done because that person had a love for the game and the people that played it. Collecting those baseball cards was there way to be a part of the magic that was going on, a way to be close to Babe Ruth. Ask them if they want to sell and they are going to tell you no. It isn’t about the money, it is about the connection to something they loved.

Collectibles can be passed on from generation to generation. Then they are heirlooms, but they are still collectibles. These collectibles are kept as a connection to history but also as a connection to the person that gave them the collection. So the fascination here is love and loss.

The reasons that people collect are endless. The fascination for collecting comes from within the person. It is there way to celebrate what brings them joy, what they consider beautiful, there connection to the past, to hold a piece of history and to honor someone that they have lost that they loved. You see, the Value of Antiques does not lie necessarily in their monetary value.

Lovers of antique will find a paradise in this website dedicated exclusively to cataloging all antiques that are up for auction in the entire country. The Antiques Hunter searches exhaustivley to find every last antique item currently being sold in UK Antique Auctions, in scores of locations. It then brings them all to you, the buyer, on one great website, with all the article details intact. In fact, you can surf the Antiques Hunter for whichever article or artifact you desire, and be confident that nothing has slipped through your fingers. You’ll never miss an antique bargain again, because you are viweing every item currently for sale in antique auctions, so nothing has slipped through your fingers.

The Antiques hunter is an easy site to navigate, with categories covering every kind of antique. You then have the ability to choose a sub-category, like which style or era interests you most. The categories range from traditional grandfather clocks, to old maps and manuscripts. Carpets, arts, linens and tapestries are also part of the long and varied list. Once you find an object of interest, you are routed to the website which is operating the auction to make your bid or to complete your transaction.

Antiques are old and rare at the same time. They are also commonly thought of as being more than 25 years old for items of this century, and more than a 100 years old for previous centuries. Although not a rule, antiques are more valued for their rarity. In fact, rare items that have few similar items can be worth a lot to the potential buyer. It is a matter of demand. As long as there is a buyer willing to pay whatever purchase price set by the seller.

Cheap antiques have always been sought after by collectors because they know that over the years, the antiques they have are going to be worth a great deal more. From antique furniture, to antique teapots, to antique dolls, there will always be someone who specialize in collecting certain types of antiques.If you look around, you’ll find many items that can be considered as antiques. From old ball point pens to old furniture, these are all antiques by definition, and they have a price. Even the old black and white TV that your Dad has out in the work shop is an antique TV, and with a bit of restoration work, can possibly find a buyer. There is a market for cheap antiques if you take the time to look.

One of them would surely be eBay. At eBay, you will find a wide range of antiques, such as coins, art, silver, maps, books, furniture, and even very rare items dating back to the ancient Greek and Roman days. The items are practically endless, and what is more, many of the antiques do not cost a fortune. If you want to get started on collecting antiques, start studing up on them, and plan your purchases carefully. It is common for buyers to resell antiques that they acquired years ago, and the antique market is always a busy one, whether it is on eBay or specialty antique stores. You might still be wondering why collectors go through all the hassle to preserve and collect antiques. You may be wondering why it’s important to learn more about antiques. Why these cheap antiques even valued? All the world over, antiques are very treasured, because they represent an era that has long gone, a record of a forgotten generation, or trends in our history that we can look back upon, and in the process, find a part of ourselves.

Antiques are old and rare at the same time. They are also commonly thought of as being more than 25 years old for items of this century, and more than a 100 years old for previous centuries. Although not a rule, antiques are more valued for their rarity. In fact, rare items that have few similar items can be worth a lot to the potential buyer. It is a matter of demand. As long as there is a buyer willing to pay whatever purchase price set by the seller.

Cheap antiques have always been sought after by collectors because they know that over the years, the antiques they have are going to be worth a great deal more. From antique furniture, to antique teapots, to antique dolls, there will always be someone who specialize in collecting certain types of antiques.If you look around, you’ll find many items that can be considered as antiques. From old ball point pens to old furniture, these are all antiques by definition, and they have a price. Even the old black and white TV that your Dad has out in the work shop is an antique TV, and with a bit of restoration work, can possibly find a buyer. There is a market for cheap antiques if you take the time to look.

One of them would surely be eBay. At eBay, you will find a wide range of antiques, such as coins, art, silver, maps, books, furniture, and even very rare items dating back to the ancient Greek and Roman days. The items are practically endless, and what is more, many of the antiques do not cost a fortune. If you want to get started on collecting antiques, start studing up on them, and plan your purchases carefully. It is common for buyers to resell antiques that they acquired years ago, and the antique market is always a busy one, whether it is on eBay or specialty antique stores. You might still be wondering why collectors go through all the hassle to preserve and collect antiques. You may be wondering why it’s important to learn more about antiques. Why these cheap antiques even valued? All the world over, antiques are very treasured, because they represent an era that has long gone, a record of a forgotten generation, or trends in our history that we can look back upon, and in the process, find a part of ourselves.