The Vienna regulator resulted from attempts to produce a smaller precision clock than the longcase clocks existing at the end of the 18th century, while retaining the advantages of a long pendulum and weight drive. The earliest examples had the pronounced hood, base and trunk of the longcase clock, but later models had the familiar straight-sided case. The case had glass on three sides, allowing the pendulum and weights to be seen, and although a true regulator has no striking or chiming mechanism, the Vienna clocks were often so provided, and displayed up to three weights. The cylindrical weights had brass cases which, together with the polished bob and veneered case back, made a pleasing and dignified effect. The pendulum rod was nearly always of wood, varnished black, but examples with a gridiron pendulum are known. Early dials were plain and had slender hands. The usual length of the case was something over three feet, but some tiny ones were made. Some clocks ran longer than the usual eight days, for a month or three months, and some were provided with subsidiary dials.