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 Dealers in fine, quality antique longcase and other clocks in South Africa |
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Glossary of Clock Terms
Go to longcase clock design over the years.
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Anchor escapement
Another name for the recoil escapement. Invented in 1656 7 by Joseph Knibb.
Anniversary clock
The 400 day clock is referred to as an anniversary clock. Also refers to a clock that runs for one year after winding.
Arabic numerals
Figures 1,2,3etc as opposed to roman numerals I, II III etc.
Arbor
The shaft or axle that the wheel and pinion of a clock or watch are mounted upon.
Atmos clock
A clock that is wound by changes in temperature. It uses a 400 day clock type of pendulum
Atomic clock
Uses the natural frequency of the caesium atom. First made by Dr.Louis Essen
Balance
The governor of a watch escapement. A round oscillator having a balance spring attached. Used on many clocks and all mechanical watches
Balance spring
Also known as a hairspring. It controls the speed and swing of the balance
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| Ball Clock |
Ball clock
A clock using a rolling ball to release the escapement in place of a pendulum
Balloon clock
A clock that has a balloon like shape. Usually French, introduced c.1760
Barrel
The housing for the spring in a clock, watch or mechanical instrument
Beat
The tick of a clock as the escapement is released
Black Forest clock
Largely novelty clocks, the most common being the cuckoo clock
Bow
The ring on a pocket watch to which the chain is attached
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| Carriage Clock |
Boulle work
Style of decoration using brass inlaid into tortoise shell
Carriage clock
a style of portable clock with a handle. Brass case usually having top and side glasses to view the movement. Most examples being French
Chain fusee a steel bicycle type chain connects the spring barrel to the fusee
Chapter ring the ring of a dial displaying the numerals and minute markings
Chronometer an extremely accurate clock associated with ships. Suspended on gimbals it was used to determine longitude at sea. Now phased out due to GPS
Clock derived from Latin clocca meaning bell. The first clocks had no hands and struck a bell to show the passing of time.
Deadbeat escapement invented by George Graham in 1715.A very accurate escapement used on regulators and other quality clocks
Demi hunter a half hunter pocket watch. A full hunter has a flap that fully covers the dial
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| Dial Frame |
Dial the face of a timepiece
Dial clock also known as a station or schoolhouse clock
Drop dial a dial clock with a short trunk to house a longer pendulum
Drum a clock contained in a circular case, usually housed in a decorative wood outer case
Ebonisethe painting or staining of wood to give the appearance of ebony
Engine turned a way of engraving a repetitive design by machine
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| Finial |
Escapement the part of a clock mechanism that allows the power of the train to be released at regular intervals
Filigreedelicate pierced metal work resembling lace
Finial a finishing point e.g. Brass acorn, ball etc. used to decorate clock cases
Fluting decoration of furrows or channels usually on columns
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| Fluted Pillar |
Fly a form of governor to regulate the speed of the chime or strike of a clock
Fob from German fuppe meaning small pocket. A small ladies pocket watch
French polish a mixture of shellac and spirit used to polish wood leaving a high gloss
Fret pierced wood of metal to allow sound to be emitted from a clock case
Fusee the spirally grooved pulley of varying diameter used to equalise the force of the spring
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| Fretwork |
Gnomen the pointer on a sundial that casts the shadow
Granddaughter clock grandfather style clock 3ft 6ins to 4ft 6ins tall
Grandfather longcase clock 6ft 6ins or more. First called grandfather clock in the song "My grand fathers clock" written in 1876
Grandmother clock similar style to grandfather but from 5ft 6ins to 6ft 6in tall
Gimbals a universal joint carrying a chronometer in it's box, to keep the chronometer horizontal as the ship pitches and rolls
Hands the pointers showing the time on clocks and watches
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| Hood |
Hood the casing around the dial of a longcase clock. Removable to view the movement
Impulse the push occurring as the tooth of the escape wheel strikes the pallet
Index or regulator. The pointer controlling the length of the balance spring on a watch
Inlaying lines, bands, flowers etc. laid into a background. A simple form of marquetry
Jewelled to describe bearings used in watches. Made from jewel stones e.g. Ruby, sapphire or garnet
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| Kettle Front Clock |
Key in horology the key is the winder for winding the springs
Lacquer a protective covering for metal to prevent tarnishing or oxidation
Lantern clock metal cased clock made from the 14th to the 17th century. They were weight driven and hung on the wall but evolved into longcase clocks as had cases made to hide the weights and pendulum
Luminous a dial of a clock and hands painted with a radium compound to glow in the dark
Lunar work a secondary dial on a clock showing phases of the moon
Mainspring the main driving spring in a clock or a watch
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| Matting |
Marriage when the case and movement of a clock did not start life together
Matting the fine punching in the centre of 17th and 18th century clock dials
Metronome used by musicians for marking time
Moon dial dial representing the phases of the moon, sometimes found on longcase clocks
Movement a term to describe the mechanical part of a clock, watch etc
Napoleon hat a name for a clock that's shape represents the hat worn by Napoleon I
Ogee a moulding; which is convex above and concave below in a continuous curve.
Ormolu cast brass decoration usually finished in gilt
Orrery a device representing the planets and their movement around the sun
Pair case a double watchcase. The movement is fitted to the inner case and the whole watch fits into an outer case. Common in the 17th and18th century
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| Regulator |
Pallet part of the escapement upon which the escape wheel operates and transmits impulse to the pendulum
Pedometer a watch like instrument used for measuring walked distance
Pendulum the time controller on a pendulum clock
Pivot the turned down section at the end of the arbor that runs in a bush
Pivot hole the hole or bushing into which the pivot runs
Platform escapement an escapement mounted on it's own plate as used on carriage clocks etc.
Rack striking the hours are counted off on a rack that runs onto a snail and is self correcting should the strike side be allowed to run down
Regulator a precision weight driven clock usually with maintaining power and deadbeat escapement
Repeater a striking clock that can be made to sound the last hour at will
Sextant an instrument used at sea to ascertain the altitude of the heavenly bodies. Used in conjunction with a chronometer
Shelf> clock an American term for a bracket clock
Ships clock a timepiece fitted in usually a brass case
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| Spandrels |
Silvered dial a deposit of silver on a brass dial giving a whitish finish
Snail a cam that governs the number of times a clock strikes on the hour
Spandrel decorative triangular cast brass corners of a clock dial
Suspension the means by which a pendulum is hung. Usually a suspension spring, being a thin strip of tempered steel
Timepiece a watch or clock that shows the time only and does not strike
Train a succession of gears working together in a watch or clock
Trunk the main body of a longcase clock
Turret clock a large public clock in a tower or church steeple
Veneer a thin sheet of high quality wood covering a base wood
Wagon spring an American invention, which was only used in American clocks, it uses a wagon type spring as the motive force
Westminster chime a set of chimes on four bells or gongs as in Big Ben
Zaandam klok a type of wall clock made in Holland in Friesland and Zaandam and known by these names
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