There was a time when the timeless weathervane was not some ornamental finial mounted atop the roof--it was a tool used for survival. At the turn of the century, nearly 50% of the population still lived in rural communities. There were no interstates, televisions, or even radios for people to keep in touch with one another. The majority of the rural population depended upon agriculture and knowing all one could about the weather could very well mean the difference between life or death.
While the traditional use of weathervanes is to help determine wind direction, they could also be useful in helping protect the home by serving as lighting rods. Of course, some of the classic weathervanes were made from wood, but most were actually made from copper so they made excellent conductors and could help a lonely farmhouse on the prairie avoid catching on fire during a storm. Also, used in conjunction with a barometer, a farmer could tell a lot about approaching storms by keeping a watchful eye on the weathervane and perhaps get a warning about tornadoes.
Of course, we don't need to use a weathervane these days to know what Mother Nature has in store for us. We have weather stations, the weather channel, and a number of modern meteorological resources from which to choose for this purpose. These days, the timeless weathervanes have taken on a more decorative role on modern homes. While there are traditionalists who prefer to use antique weathervanes to adorn their rooftops, a number of companies are making wonderful adaptations of this timeless classic.
Modern finials are made in the same wide variety of shapes and sizes while featuring traditional shapes, such as: roosters, cows, horses, and pigs. But, if you are uncomfortable about having a copper weathervane atop your roof serving as a potential lightning rod and frying your electronics, contemporary vanes are made in aluminum and other non-conductive materials to give you peace of mind about mounting a finial to your house.
For homeowners with a cupola, a grand weathervane makes the perfect crown and will add the finishing touch. But, cupola or not, adding a classic weathervane to your home is like giving your home a little character that helps it, and you, stand out from the crowd. Online retailers have a wide assortment of timeless weathervanes at affordable prices so start surfing the web today for the perfect finial for your home.
While the traditional use of weathervanes is to help determine wind direction, they could also be useful in helping protect the home by serving as lighting rods. Of course, some of the classic weathervanes were made from wood, but most were actually made from copper so they made excellent conductors and could help a lonely farmhouse on the prairie avoid catching on fire during a storm. Also, used in conjunction with a barometer, a farmer could tell a lot about approaching storms by keeping a watchful eye on the weathervane and perhaps get a warning about tornadoes.
Of course, we don't need to use a weathervane these days to know what Mother Nature has in store for us. We have weather stations, the weather channel, and a number of modern meteorological resources from which to choose for this purpose. These days, the timeless weathervanes have taken on a more decorative role on modern homes. While there are traditionalists who prefer to use antique weathervanes to adorn their rooftops, a number of companies are making wonderful adaptations of this timeless classic.
Modern finials are made in the same wide variety of shapes and sizes while featuring traditional shapes, such as: roosters, cows, horses, and pigs. But, if you are uncomfortable about having a copper weathervane atop your roof serving as a potential lightning rod and frying your electronics, contemporary vanes are made in aluminum and other non-conductive materials to give you peace of mind about mounting a finial to your house.
For homeowners with a cupola, a grand weathervane makes the perfect crown and will add the finishing touch. But, cupola or not, adding a classic weathervane to your home is like giving your home a little character that helps it, and you, stand out from the crowd. Online retailers have a wide assortment of timeless weathervanes at affordable prices so start surfing the web today for the perfect finial for your home.
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