Archive for January, 2010
You may have heard that the cuckoo clock traces its origins to Germany’s Black Forest, where clockmakers carved intricate designs in the 17th century. But you might be surprised to learn that the inner mechanisms of these clocks have remained remarkably consistent through the years. While wooden gears have largely been replaced with metal and plastic, the design schemes are virtually identical.
If these pendulum-driven clocks haven’t changed much on the inside, their elaborate exterior designs have only become more decadent. Some handmade cuckoo clocks implement a light sensor that keeps the cuckoo from sounding at all hours of the night. If you’re looking to add a touch of class and elegance to your living space, you could certainly do worse.
Getting the Best Out of Your Cuckoo
For many people, there’s nothing more annoying than not knowing the time. That’s why so many people love handcrafted cuckoo clocks. This way, even if you’re just lounging around your home, your clock will announce the hour, every hour with a series of pleasant bell, chime, and gong sounds. Some of these clocks are even outfitted with the ability to alert at the half hour mark as well.
The only problem that some people have with the cuckoo clock is that sometimes the hourly chime is simply too loud. This can be disruptive when you’re trying to watch a movie, listen to music, or sleep. That’s why you want to choose a cuckoo clock that has a lower toned chime. Or, if possible, find one where you can control the volume of that chime. This low toned chimed will be particularly helpful if you’re a light sleeper.
Are you taking risks?
Here’s a free “risk” document that may help you find the answer.
We not coo coo, but our clocks are!
Farmers Went Cuckoo for Clocks
Cuckoo clocks originated in the Black Forest region of Germany. The first cuckoo clock was built by Triberg native Franz Anton Ketterer. The clocks made by Ketterer soon became popular and many other people in the Black Forest region also learned how to make them. In the early 1800s there were more than 600 cuckoo-clock makers in the region.
Farmers were prevalent in the Black Forest region and they became the main manufacturers of German Black Forest cuckoo clocks. The winter months were the best time to make the clocks since farmers were not as busy during this time. In the summer months the farmers would sell the clocks to peddlers, who would then take them to Europe to sell them. Later on the clocks became valuable as art pieces.