The Lost Code

Grandfather Clock

Between 1787 and 1818
Varnished mahogany, brass, iron
H. 2.18 m
W. 44 cm
D. 21 cm
This grandfather clock is signed James Orkney, a clockmaker born in Scotland who set up his own business in Québec City on Côte de la Montagne. British legend has it that a long case clock belonging to two brothers who owned a hotel in England inexplicably started to lose time when one of them died. None of the clockmakers called to its rescue was able to repair it. When the second brother died at the ripe old age of 90, the clock suddenly stopped working. The new hotel manager decided to leave it like that, its hands pointing to the time when the second Jenkins brother died. American composer Henry Clay Work visited the hotel in 1875. Touched by the story, he wrote a song entitled “My Grandfather's Clock.” It was an instant hit, and this type of clock got its name from the song.
Musée de la civilisation Collection, 34-5

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