March 2000 Timepieces/Data & Statistics Timely Fact Dutch scientist Christian Huygens built the first pendulum clock in 1656. English craftsman soon added wooden cases to protect the pendulum and weights, at which time they started to become popular in the American colonies. Also, “Hickory dickory dock ...” is not a rhyme without reason. In the early years of clockmaking, many owners would grease wooden clock gears with animal fat. Mice would run up the clock to nibble. Source: Howard Miller, Zeeland, MI, (616) 772-9131, www.howardmiller.com.