Short Stuff: Grandfather Clocks

In this episode of Stuff You Should Know's Short Stuff series, Josh and Chuck explore the fascinating history of grandfather clocks and uncover how they got their iconic name. They trace the evolution of these towering timekeepers from their invention centuries ago through to the golden age of grandfather clock design, then dive into the surprisingly sentimental story of how a 19th-century songwriter named Henry Clay Work immortalized them in a hit song that essentially rebranded long case clocks forever. Along the way, you'll learn about the clockmakers who revolutionized timekeeping accuracy and discover the competing claims about what really inspired Work's now-legendary composition.