Antique Grandfather Clocks Are a Family Heirloom

I have always loved antique grandfather clocks since the very first days of my childhood. We used to own an antique grandfather clock that had been with us for generations. It was an heirloom, having been in my father's family for at least three or four generations already. Of all the antique grandfather clocks which I have seen up to this day, I think that old one was still one of the very best of all. It had this really loud, distinct, brass ring to it that I have never heard in other antique grandfather clocks. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that childhood memories are always a bit more luminous and vivid than the memories of adult life, but I think that my father's antique grandfather clock was the very best in the world.

Of course, I was inspired by that clock in my choice of careers. I worked in a timepiece shop that sold many antique grandfather clocks, and learned all that I could about them. I studied how to fix them, tune them, and even to modify or change the pattern of the ringing bells by hand. It was really an intellectually exciting time in my life, and no doubt about that. I figured out so many things, not just about antique grandfather clocks, but about myself and the kind of person I am and want to be. I cannot remember anything better in my life.

The sentimentalism that I feel towards some of the antique grandfather clocks from my childhood aside, I have to tell you that not all of them are equal. Just because something is old does not mean that it is a thing of quality or an antique. Sometimes it is quite the opposite. Many times, people fall in love with high priced antique grandfather clocks and buy them without really knowing anything at all about what they are doing. This is a shame, because they can get ripped off doing this, instead of going home with a thing of beauty and quality. Above all, you must do all that you can to make sure this does not happen to you. You deserve to get something that you will love and be proud of. Antique grandfather clocks should be well made, and should last for hundreds of years to come.

There are two main things to look for when buying an antique grandfather clock: the type of wood it is made of and the movement. The movement in a clock is all the gears, windings, chains, weights, hands, etc. that actually allows the clock to work. There are some antique grandfather clocks that are made of cheaper woods like pine or popular. These are typically not as beautiful as ones made of walnut, mahogany, or oak. And, when buying an antique grandfather clock, make sure all the parts and pieces of the movement are present and that they work. Most antique grandfather clocks can be tuned-up so they keep perfect time, so long as the movements are damaged or pieces missing. One important thing to have is the original clock key. Without the key, you may not be able to wind the clock to make it work! In most cases, you can find an antique clock repair shop in your town. Take photos of a clock you are interested in and show them to a clock repairman before you buy. This may determine whether or not you buy your next family heirloom-an antique grandfather clock.