Traditional Cuckoo Clock
Traditional Cuckoo Clock story dates back in 1640, when the first mechanical clock was made on a local farm close to our premises. It was a very rough time for villagers in the Black Forest Germany. Winters were very harsh and cold; temperatures would drop down to -30°C (-22°F) and snow would pile up to 2-3m (6-8 ft.) high. Since this was mainly a farming community, farmers didn´t have much to do during winter times, therefore they started to make simple wooden clocks and hand carved wooden figurines. In the summer they would go to German marketplaces and try to sell their hand work for extra income.
Cuckoo was still not invented during that time.
Style change and Cuckoo bird
Since owning a time piece became really popular, villagers who were making clocks started to think about their improvements.
They started painting large wooden plates that would later decorate front of the clock to make it more appealing to the customers. Those plates would also hide inner workings and protect them from outer effects such as dust and heat.
They also came up with the idea of Cuckoo bird, as it was the most common bird in the Black Forest - Germany at those times, and it was very easy to imitate.
The idea was to make cuckoo calls every half an hour, and at the full hour depending on the clock (i.e. 7 o´clock – 7 times) to let you know the time even without being able to see the clock.
Those ideas reflected well in customer community and Traditional Cuckoo Clocks became famous worldwide.
Present
Nowadays Traditional Cuckoo Clocks are one of the most important German traditions, and one of the most popular heritage products worldwide. Found in different style variations such as:
1 day / 8 days windig time, musical / nonmusical, chalet / traditional style, very modern outstanding design and quartz battery operated movements.
With the development of industry, quality and possibilities have also grown.
Mechanical movements are more durable and are made of brass and stainless steel, to prevent any rust and outer impact to clocks work. Pendulums have precise adjusting mechanism; acoustics are improved and cuckoo whistles are almost 10 times more durable comparing to the old ways of making them.
German Quartz movements became an advantage for people who would like to have their Cuckoo Clocks, but have no time for winding and maintenance.
