Owning a grandfather clock is a great investment. With styles ranging from traditional, transitional to contemporary, it’s a versatile timepiece that can be passed down as a family heirloom!
Premier Clocks prepared a guide of things to consider when choosing your grandfather clock or floor clock.
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When looking for a grandfather clock, you need to consider which clock style will fit the best to your home interior design. When choosing a grandfather clock, it is helpful to know that there are three common styles of grandfather clocks: Traditional, Transitional and Modern / Contemporary.
The Traditional Grandfather Clock will bring to your home a classic touch. The traditional style grandfather clock is influenced by an antique design. Grandfather clock’s design focuses on decorative detailed touches, like elaborate carvings and rich detailings. The bonnet or split pediment as well as finials are important features of traditional grandfather clocks. Another distinctive feature of a grandfather clock in traditional style is a moon dial.
The Contemporary orModern Grandfather Clock is also often called a Floor Clock or a Longcase Clock. The clocks have a smooth look with neutral elements and neat lines. Not only wooden materials but also metal and glass are used in the contemporary style. The simplicity of details is common for floor clocks as well as various types of a clock top.
The Transitional Grandfather Clock is a combination of traditional and contemporary styles. Transitional grandfather clocks are often made from wood with plain lines and sophisticated details. A grandfather clock in transitional design has a streamline frame compared to the traditional grandfather clocks but at the same time, they are not as sleek as the contemporary ones.
The crown of a grandfather clock is the top part. The split pediment, the bonnet, and the flat top are the four types of crown styles.
Split Pediment Grandfather Clock Crownis commonly compared with a swan neck due to its swan-like curvatures. There is a decorative ornament which is often referred to as a finial and rarely as an eagle on top between split pediment crowns.
Bonnet Grandfather Clock Crownhas a full arched facade and is commonly used in the traditional design of a grandfather clock. This type of the crown encases the clock face and is occasionally referred to as a hood.
Flat Grandfather Clock Crownhas simple details of the clock top. In modern production is often used for grandfather or floor clocks in transitional style since it can fit in both modern and classic decor.
The first grandfather clocks had only one hand which nowadays is called the hour hand. Before the invention of the pendulum, grandfather clocks used alever escapement mechanism that did not have enough accuracy to add the minute hand.
When the pendulum started to be used to drive the clock mechanism, the increased accuracy made possible the addition of theminute hand to clock faces. This was a significant improvement but another problem has appeared. The largely illiterate population knew how to read a clock face with one hand. By , two-handed grandfather clocks were being sold but at the same time they still had the one handed markings.
The modern grandfather clock manufacturers produce only two-handed grandfather clocks.
The next thing to consider when choosing a grandfather clock is the pendulum. A grandfather clock pendulum had a great influence on shaping the design and style of a grandfather clock.
Christian Huygens came up with anew method to create a pendulum to help clockmakers. His idea was to step aside from powering clocks by springs and weights to a new way where a pendulum would swing every second with the anchor escapement system.
The advantage of thelonger pendulum and shallower swing is that less power, in the form of weights driving the clock, was needed, as well as slower beats and less wear on the moving parts. All this makes for better long term accuracy of the clock. Creating a clock with a new mechanism required a long pendulum that had to be put in a long case.
Grandfather clocks withone weighthave a strike only on an hour which indicates that this is a 30-hour clock. It needs winding everyday and has only one winding hole because it uses the same weight for timekeeping and for the strike. Due to this, these grandfather clocks are less expensive.
Grandfather clocks withtwo weights are often called an 8-day clock. This kind of grandfather clock has a seperate weight - one to power the clock, and one to drive the striking mechanism of the chimes. Eight day grandfather clocks require two winding holes to wind the weights to their initial position with the help of a winding ‘key’.
Grandfather clocks withthree weights should be wound back every week. Nowadays, most grandfather clocks have three weights with separate purposes. One weight on the right powers the chime melody, one weight in the middle drives the pendulum, and one weight on the left controls the striking mechanism. The bottom of each weight is labeled as to its proper hanging position as you view your clock from the front.
The clock rests on "feet" or a carved base called a plinth, which sits on the floor. Nowadays, grandfather clocks of any style are made with special levers that can be adjusted on uneven surfaces.
There are three movement types:chain-driven,cable-driven, andquartz (battery-operated).
Chain driven grandfather clock. Grandfather clocks with the chain driven movement usechains as a wind mechanismto set the weights in the correct position. The chain-driven grandfather clock has 3 chains, one for each weight with separate purposes. One weight on the right is responsible for the chime melody, one weight in the middle powers the pendulum, and one weight on the left drives the hour striking and counting mechanism.
The weights must be raised every seven days or the clock will stop. This type of grandfather clock movement needs to bewound manually once a week as the weights are dropping almost to the bottom while powering the grandfather clock.
Cable driven grandfather clock. On the cable driven grandfather clock, weights aresuspended by cablesthat are used to return the clock's weights to the top position. Similar to chain driven grandfather clocks, there are 3 weights with different purposes: the weight on the right is to power the chime melody, the weight in the middle drives the pendulum, and the weight on the left is responsible for the clock striking mechanism.
Each week the weights need to be adjusted to the top position or the clock will stop. The grandfather clock with cable driven movement iswound by inserting a crank, also called the key, to raise the weights that are near the bottom by the end of the cycle as they power the clock. To place the weights back, the crank (or the key) is inserted into the dial and wind them to the top position.
Quartz battery operated grandfather clock. The newest way of powering grandfather clocks isquartzor battery-operated movement that was used to build the first quartz clock in . Quartz crystals are used to produce an electronic oscillator to power the pendulum of a grandfather clock and keep accurate time. A fresh battery can operate the clock for over a year and needs to be replaced if the clock begins to lose time, chime weakens, or pendulum stops to swing.
A clock chime is a tune or a set of melodies that plays at intervals upon a set of bells to mark the passage of time. A variety of melodies exist, many associated with a particular location or bell tower that originated or popularized them. The popular melodies chiming out from Grandfather Clocks are produced by hammers striking tubular bells or gong rods. All clocks differ in tone and have their unique voices and even when the same melody is played there may be significant variations.
The common grandfather clock chimes:
Nowadays, grandfather clocks are valued not only for their aesthetics but also for the practicality that was added in the modern days.
Grandfather Clocks Chime Volume Adjustment. Most grandfather clocks have an automatic or manualchime shutoff option giving an opportunity to turn on or turn off the chines and the strike at any time of the day or night. There is also avolume control to adjust the volume to the personal preferences depending on the hearing abilities or on the size of the room. Additionally, if the grandfather clock has dual-chime or triple-chime movement, there is alever to switch the melodies.
Grandfather Clock Moon Dial. Most grandfather clocks with mechanical movement will have a functioning astrological moon dial. The moon dial slowly moves clockwise following the 29.5 day lunar cycle. All moon dials have an image of the moon that moves showing the lunar date and position of the moon in the sky. The moon dial operates together with the clock movement and needs to be set only once.
Grandfather Clock Materials and Timbers. Grandfather clock cases are crafted from differenttimbers. The first grandfather clocks were made of Oak as the main construction material to hold the long and heavy pendulum. Olive-wood and Walnut were used to make the most exclusive grandfather clocks while the less expensive pieces were made of Pine.
Nowadays,Oak, Walnut, Mahoganyand Cherry are the most popular materials among the manufacturers. Some grandfather clocks have special intricate carvings or burl accents and inlays that are made fromveneers. Some grandfather clocks use a combination of a few hardwoods and veneers.
Grandfather Clock Finish Colors. Thefinish colors of grandfather clocks vary depending on the manufacturer. There is no strict traditional finish for grandfather clocks as it normally followed the trends of the finishes on furniture from the same period.
Access to the movement. Some grandfather clocks feature removable glass panels on the upper sides to allow easy access to the movement.
Grandfather clocks are generally distinguished by their size. The height is the key difference in the debate about what is a grandmother clock and what is a grandfather clock.Grandfather clocks are between 6 and 7.5 feet tall. Grandmother clocks are smaller than grandfather clocks. A typicalgrandmother clock will be between 5 and 6 feet tall. Even smaller floor clocks coming in at anywhere between 3 and 5 feet tall are calledgranddaughter clocks.
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Updated February 28,
Tracking employee time is a vital aspect of managing a workforce properly. But knowing which punch clocks to use or how to maintain the essential data can be challenging, especially for small business owners who are handling a long list of other tasks. Check out our guide to types of employee time clocks to consider why tracking time is so critical.
An employee time clock is a hardware device for tracking work time. To use it, employees “punch” in/out or “clock” in/out. The term “punch in” stems from early employee time clock hardware that required a physical card.
With a traditional mechanical time clock, the process from clocking to paycheck works as follows: First, at the beginning and ending of each shift, the employee inserts the card into the device, which punches the card with a timestamp.
At the end of the pay period, employees add up work hours based on the timestamps. Following that, each employee submits their timecard to their manager. If an employee forgets, the manager has to remind the employee. A manager with a forgetful team might spend time regularly tracking down timesheets.
When all employees have submitted their timesheets, a manager approves hours for those under their supervision. If the manager finds a mistake, like a missing punch, for example, they have to investigate and correct the error. As part of the process, the manager may have to manually enter the hours data into a spreadsheet.
Following that, the manager sends the time data to the payroll department. The payroll department uses the time card data to calculate withholdings, overtime if necessary, and issue a paycheck. In addition, the HR team uses the data to calculate accruals and do compliance reporting.
Employee time clock systems provide the following benefits:
Time clock hardware/software platforms have dozens of features. It’s helpful to understand them before making a decision for your company. Download our free Time & Labor System Buyer’s Guide for comprehensive checklists and descriptions of various features and functions. You can also find more information here: How to Buy Employee Time Clocks, the All-Encompassing Guide.
Of course, every organization will have its own unique list of must-have features in its time and attendance clocks, but there are a few that nearly every company can use.
As you consider how to track employee time, assess the following types of time clock hardware options available.
Although manual methods don’t include hardware or software, we include them here because paper-based workflows are common in small businesses. In fact, over a third of employees in the U.S. still use manual tracking methods to manage their time.
Manual processes include paper timesheets and whiteboard employee schedules. Many small businesses handle shift swaps through texting. These processes are slow, inefficient and error prone. Confusion about scheduling can leave shifts uncovered.
Pros
Cons
When this is the right fit: If you have a very small team, stable shifts, sufficient compliance knowledge, no problem with absenteeism, and an HR manager who has time to respond to employee requests for HR information.
Timekeeping with Excel and Google spreadsheets is a slight step up from paper-based methods. Many small employers manage time data in spreadsheets. This includes work hours, employee schedules, PTO and other types of leave.
Pros:
Cons:
When this is the right fit: If you have a very small team, only need basic timekeeping, and are able to sync timesheets, PTO accruals, overtime and leave tracking.
The card punch clock was invented in the s. This device prints a time stamp on a paper timecard. If you are still using a card punch system, the rest of this article is especially important for you. There are affordable modern time clocks that make more sense for today’s small business.
Pros
Cons
When this is the right fit: If you have a small team, no problem with time theft, and your administrators and managers have time to manage time and labor manually.
The aforementioned time-tracking systems may provide insights into hours worked but they’re prone to errors and outdated. Look for an automated solution to eliminate manual efforts, improve the accuracy of time data, and ensure compliance.
You can choose from different options, including:
Although time clocks are certainly still part of workplaces across various industries, the workforce has changed in the recent past. Fueled by the pandemic, today’s workers have different needs and expectations for tracking their time. McKinsey’s American Opportunity Survey indicated that more than half of American employees work from home at least once a week. But for employers new to the concept of remote work, this change brought worry. How would supervisors know when employees were working? And would productivity decline?
Technological advancements have fueled changes in the time-tracking industry. Some employees use their mobile phones to clock in and out, while others simply punch in on their laptops. A web-based time clock provides access from anywhere, yet geofencing capabilities can track whether workers are clocking in and out from approved locations. Other tools can also observe and track what workers are doing during their scheduled shifts.
If you use a geofencing time clock app, be sure to make it part of your formal attendance policy. The policy should address the following issues for employees:
If you have remote workers or employees with hybrid work schedules, a modern approach to tracking time is a must. Explore these alternative methods that ensure accurate time and labor data.
When employees don’t visit a single location at the start of their shifts, offering a mobile tracking option can simplify time and labor data. If you’re concerned about your employees abusing the system by clocking in from different locations, consider a platform with geofencing capabilities. A geofence is a virtual barrier that sends a notification to the manager when a punch occurs in a different location.
If you do offer mobile time tracking, make sure to review the regulations in your state. Some states have laws that require employers to pay for at least a portion of an employee’s cell bill if using it for work purposes is a requirement.
Since most employees use laptops or desktops to work, clocking in upon logging in is an easy option. But a web-based time clock should do more than just track hours. Your organization needs insights into time data and project and department assignments. The data should flow between other systems, including your payroll system, to avoid errors and ensure accurate pay.
Some companies forego time tracking for various reasons. It might seem too challenging to keep track of remote employees’ hours. Perhaps supervisors want employees to feel trusted and valued. But failing to track hours worked can open the door to many problems.
From a legal perspective, a lack of time data can lead to inaccurate payroll. Benefits eligibility may also be tied to the number of hours worked. But without solid proof of how much an employee works regularly, the company may not be able to offer benefits. If a business faces an audit, time data is often part of that process.
Time data provides crucial insights into the workforce, including productivity. Project- or task-based tracking can show how much work an employee completes but doesn’t indicate how much time each takes. Assessing the time spent on various tasks aids in calculating productivity, budget forecasting, and workforce planning.
Holding employees accountable for their hours worked can benefit your business. Each team member will report on what they completed in the number of hours worked during a pay period. Accountability tends to boost morale across the organization and foster a collaborative and supportive atmosphere.