My grandparents, like many of the other senior citizens I’ve encountered in my life, love to collect things. Thankfully they haven’t gone too overboard, but my grandma does have several china cabinets, bookshelves and curios which are chockfull of little tchotchkes. She’s been collecting little figurines and glass statuettes for decades, so her collection is extensive.
As an engineer, my grandfather is drawn to any type of machinery or mechanisms. But the one thing that interests him the most is antique clocks. He’s converted his garage into a workshop where he repairs and restores old clocks that he finds at antique stores, garage sales, Craig’s List…pretty much anywhere. You’ll find every type of clock you can imagine in his workshop—from ornate anniversary clocks to eight day cuckoo clocks.
You won’t find many of them anymore, but when I was little I loved going with my mom to the local clock shop. I could spend hours inspecting all of the timepieces in the shop—from ancient sundials, to decorative coo coo clocks. But the one thing I remember most about the shop was the store owner.
He was a small, spindly man with shoulder-length grey hair and a small pair of spectacles that rested perilously close to the tip of his nose. Every time we came into the store he would be hunched over a clock behind the counter at his makeshift workstation, performing some sort of detailed repairs. Over the years I developed a relationship with him, and he showed me the intricate inner workings of many of the clocks and explained some of their history. Although the shop has been out of business for awhile, I still think about it every time I see an ornate timepiece.
Traditional Clocks in the Modern Home
If you are looking for a way to add style, elegance and charm to your home décor, grandfather and cuckoo clocks are the perfect solution. Not only do they instantly add rustic appeal to any home, they’re pragmatic timekeeping devices too. Particularly if you have a rustic motif, the rich wood creates an inviting ambiance in any room.
With the proliferation of digital clocks on virtually every handheld device, traditional clocks are being marginalized and may seem superfluous to the younger generation. Personally, I find old-fashioned clocks fascinating, with their intricate series of cogs, levers and wheels. Although there are certainly other timekeeping options out there, grandfather and cuckoo clocks offer unparalleled beauty and craftsmanship.
Recreating Time
For the last eighteen years, I’ve spent a good deal of my free time practicing and performing with my Pink Floyd cover band, Anderson Council. We started out simply for fun, but over the years we’ve developed somewhat of a cult following in the area and now play shows at local establishments on a regular basis. Last year we decided to hit the studio and record our own version of the classic album Dark Side of the Moon.
We thought it would be cool to replicate the entire process, so we brought in several female backup singers, conducted candid interviews for voiceover effects and went the extra mile to capture our own background sounds. This was particularly challenging for the intro to Time, as there wasn’t a clock store nearby to record dozens of clocks chiming simultaneously. Luckily, we were able to find a local clock collector who gave us access to his collection, which was exhaustive—everything from anniversary clocks to Black Forest cuckoo clocks. Although our version certainly can’t touch the original, it was well-received and, in my opinion, a fitting tribute.
Grand Cuckoo Clocks
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What is an 8 Day Cuckoo Clock?
Now that the Gregorian calendar is staunchly imbedded in cultures around the globe, any device that utilizes a timekeeping mechanism that isn’t calibrated for 12 months comprised of 7-day weeks seems a bit out of place. This is particularly puzzling when the disparity occurs with a time keeping device. So, naturally I was puzzled when I learned about 8 day carved cuckoo clocks.
Despite their name, 8 day cuckoo clocks keep time in the same fashion as any other contemporary timepiece. The moniker is derived from the fact that the clock must be wound every eight days. This level of maintenance may seem burdensome now that all of our phones and computers instantly sync up with satellites, but when the clock was first introduced, it was cutting edge technology.
Functionality and Style for Your Home
Decorating our homes is one of the best ways to demonstrate our sense of style and individuality, and one of the best ways to do this is with household accents. If you want to give your house a bit of style and charm, look into unique wall clocks, such as authentic made in Germany cuckoo clocks. These can be displayed in your kitchen, bedroom, guest room, or any other spare room where you feel it needs a bit of sprucing up. These clocks come in many different styles, colors, and patterns, so there’s something perfect out there for your home.
When purchasing any clock, just keep in mind that it’s fundamentally about functionality. Clocks are a great way to add pizzazz to your home, but they should still function as a clock. For that reason, don’t let the look of novelty clocks override your ability to read the numbers. Some clocks have numbers that are too small or poorly marked, and it can be very difficult to ascertain the time. Avoid this frustration by picking a stylish and functional clock. This way, your home will benefit twofold. It will more accurately reflect your sense of style, and it will be more convenient for you and your guests.
Making a Dramatic Statement
In the world of interior decorating, it is commonly held that the best way to make a bold statement is with an understated overall look punctuated by bold or dramatic pieces. This means that if you want a drastic paint color, that should be the focal point of the room. Make sure the accessories complement but don’t overshadow that paint job.
Or, if you’re going to go with a more neutrally based color palette, make sure that you have some pieces that can serve as conversation starters. This can be a particularly ornate hand made grandfather clocks, or it can be a dark mahogany polished buffet. Whatever the dramatic piece, don’t go overboard with the look. Choose that one bold item and build the look of the room around it.
Crafted to Perfection
While telling time is certainly the primary function of a clock, this is not their sole purpose. They are also used as decorative items anywhere in your house. When clocks are purchased for the dual purposes of style and functionality, they tend to have classic designs, such as hand made cuckoo clocks.
Handmade clocks are generally crafted with painstaking detail and have intricate details. They are suited to your every need and taste. You can put these clocks in the dining room, kitchen, living room or even your bedroom. The clock you choose can say a lot about your personal style, so choose wisely.
Add Time to Your Home
The addition of a beautiful, antique German cuckoo clock can do wonders for the right home. Placed in that old corner that never gets any attention, a good clock will expand the contours of your property without moving it an inch. It can turn a room without any personality into a showroom, exhibiting that old world charm that is so lovely to be a part of.
Before purchasing your clock, make sure that you are determined on where you want to put it. That way you can select a color scheme and motif that complements the other elements in the room. Of course, you could always select the clock first and let it serve as the focal point, customizing the rest of the room’s details around it.