Cuckoo clocks are one of the most well known and beloved collectible antique clocks of all time.
A German, Franz Anton Ketterer first made the cuckoo clock in late 1740s. Antique cuckoo clocks are often associated to Black Forest clocks due to the fact that Ketterer lived in a village in Black Forest, Germany where the clock was invented and was perfected by skilled craftsmen.
The most common wood used for antique coo coo clocks is the Lime tree or the Linden tree. They are sometimes painted but are mostly left as they were to let the wood’s natural color shine thru.
How does a coo coo clock work?
Black Forest clockmakers are reputed accurate, skilled, and reliable craftsman which assures that antique cuckoo clocks are perfect time keepers. With this, the mechanism and the movement of the cuckoo clock has remained the same for nearly 300 years.
Old cuckoo clocks run well on beautifully crafted all-wood mechanism. They have weight-driven movements which usually hang beneath it, appearing as part of the clock’s design as they are mostly represented by pinecones.
A vintage coo coo clock’s mechanical movement is located at its front or bottom drive where the weights are attached. The periodic pulls on the pinecone is necessary to keep its momentum thus powering the cuckoo clock.
The distinct sound generated by an antique cuckoo clock is likewise a product of superb woodworking skills. It is produced using the same principles as the organ, but much smaller. The wind rushing through 2 pipes and each creates a different syllable thus the cuckoo sound is made.
Every hour, a door on the cuckoo clock opens to let out a figurine that makes the cuckoo sound. One “cuckoo” is made for each passing hour.
Types of antique cuckoo clocks
Old cuckoo clocks are classified into types and may differ from each other based on their features. Even their typical bird cuckoo figurines vary from the norm and have come to include other figures such as soldiers and other animals.
They are generally divided into 2 distinct types, the musical and the non-musical cuckoo clock. A musical cuckoo clock includes a melody after the “cuckoos” and features a third weight while the non-musical cuckoo clock only has two.
Bavarian cuckoo clocks are among the finest antique coo coo clocks there is. These German coo coo clocks showcase the “cuckoos” in harsh, startling calls.
Some antique antique cuckoo clock can function for 8 days without winding; others can only last a day thus has to be wound regularly.
The 1-day cuckoo clock tends to run slower as the movement runs down making it lose time. 8-day coo coo clocks are later innovations and are far more practical to use as it only needs to be wound once a week.
An architect by the name of Friedrich Eisenlohr designed one of the most commonly used and liked depictions of the cuckoo clock, the house inspired coo coo clock known as Bahnhäusle.
The 19th century cuckoo clock is yet another design and was called the frame-clock design. It featured a clock face in the middle of a wooden frame, and a painted space between the two.
Another type of antique coo coo clock is the Swiss cuckoo clock “Chalet” style which originated in Switzerland by the end of the 19th century.
They were highly valued Swiss souvenirs which have 3 basic styles that follow the traditional house depiction namely: Black Forest chalet, Swiss chalet, and the Bavarian chalet cuckoo clock.
Antique cuckoo clocks value
Just like all the other antique clock values, the worth of cuckoo clocks continues to rise and flourish even amidst the booming market of mechanical timepieces.
Old coo coo clocks that dates back to the 1850’s and 80’s are particularly sought after by most antique clocks collectors. These are exceptionally hand made clocks with the obvious trace of history and antiquity thus explains their lavish worth.
Other fine examples of antique cuckoo clocks were made in the late 19th and early 20th century. They too are very collectable antiques and are notable part of the rich history of vintage coo coo clocks.
A particular classic coo coo clocks maker and manufacturer contribute and affect its value. The rarity and value of vintage cuckoo clock supplies its worth even more and thus collectors are willing to pay hefty sums just to acquire one.
Antique cuckoo clocks are a prudent investment that does not only promise later profit but contentment in terms of elegant time telling.
Antique cuckoo clocks repair
Repairing an antique cuckoo clock is a complex business. The fact that they are antiques makes it even more difficult plus, you don’t want to ruin any old cuckoo clock part no matter how perfect its condition is.
The best you can do is properly maintain your vintage coo coo clocks and once in a while check minor defects you noticed before it leads to more serious troubles.
There may be available easy to follow steps on antique cuckoo clocks repair but it is still very much advisable to let the experts handle it.
