Grandfather clocks, can they live in a kitchen?
Grandfather clocks, can they live in a kitchen?
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Fast Bug

Original Poster:

13,365 posts

187 months

Yesterday (21:46)
quotequote all
We're kicking around the idea of getting a grandfather clock. We've been trying to work out where to put it and we have a breakfast room off the kitchen, there's no doorway between the 2 just an opening that's probably 2 doors wide. It wood be a good few metres away from the oven and hob, and if nobody puts washing on the radiator in winter it's fairly free from condensation.

Is this a good idea? Or would we be better finding a better home for it like on the landing? Any input welcome as I've no idea and don't fancy ruining a 100 odd year old clock if I'm honest!

Super Sonic

13,126 posts

80 months

Yesterday (22:04)
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They are sensitive to humidity and variations in temperature.
They don't like direct sunlight either.
If you want a nice expensive clock, how about a jlc atmos clock.
They don't all look like Victorian carriage clocks, and are probably the closest thing we have to a perpetual motion machine.
Here are two of their more modern designs.



Simpo Two

91,977 posts

291 months

Yesterday (22:41)
quotequote all
Practicalities aside, a kitchen doesn't seem right for a grandfather clock. Landing or hall would be better.

ClaphamGT3

12,128 posts

269 months

Yesterday (23:25)
quotequote all
Depending on age, the humidity in a kitchen would fairly quickly lift the veneers on the body of a long-case clock.

Somewhere dry and out of direct sunlight would be best

Fast Bug

Original Poster:

13,365 posts

187 months

This is what I thought the replies would be. It'll have to live on the landing then of we go, thanks all!

ClaphamGT3

12,128 posts

269 months

I’d also suggest that, if you want it to keep time, get a horological who specialises in long case clocks to set it up for you - they are very sensitive to level and balance

clockworks

7,248 posts

171 months

I've worked on longcase clocks that have been kept in pretty much every room/area imaginable.

If it's a room where you are comfortable for extended periods, a clock will be fine.

Try and avoid direct sunlight and very high or very low humidity.
Dining area should be fine, a conservatory would be bad.

witteringonagain

21 posts

6 months

I think to some extent it depends on the quality, rarity, and value of the clock you are thinking of.

Ours is a well-used, oak cased, 'country' clock, around 200 years old. It has been repaired and patched up many times over the years, and it shows! The painted dial is far from perfect. However, that's what gives it its character and we wouldn't want it any other way.

Over the many years that we have had the clock it has survived several house moves, and has always stood in draughty old hallways or breakfast rooms/lobbies next to open plan kitchens. It ticks along and chimes the hour without complaint, and still keeps good time (easily adjustable).

It is certainly not treated as 'precious', and indeed has proved not the best of investments - the value of such clocks, along with much other of our run-of-the-mill antique 'furniture' has dropped considerably in recent years.




NDA

25,179 posts

251 months

I've always liked the antique 'farmhouse kitchen' clocks - in the right kitchen they look at home.

https://www.clockclinic.co.uk/antique-mahogany-eig...

Lotobear

8,768 posts

154 months

It's a great time to buy one as prices have fallen through the floor - we had a quite nice provincial 8 day longcase, circa 1820, that we had to get rid of when we moved house 18 months ago. We ended up getting £100 for it, could hardly give it away.