Archive for the ‘Cuckoo Clocks’ Category
The first cuckoo clock was crafted in the 17th century, when modern Germany was still a loose collection of principalities. A nobleman living in the Black Forest region perfected the clock’s reliable inner workings. Soon after, the Swiss, who are famous to this day for their clock-making prowess, modeled the cuckoo clock’s exterior after the architecture of the region. That’s why even today the clocks are built in the likeness of a German or Swiss chalet.
Although cuckoo clocks are now available in many distinct styles and designs, the classic German and Swiss influences continue to manifest themselves. The two largest such clocks in North America are located in Wilmot, Ohio and Frankenmuth, Michigan, respectively. Some clocks are more ornate and intricately designed than others; they vary from finely crafted, elaborate woodwork to a straight-forward, two-dimensional front.
I have no formal training in interior design, but I have always had an eye for style. My friends often consult me when redecorating their homes. I don’t mind at all because it gives me an opportunity to shop without incurring any expenses of my own. The latest project I’m helping out with is decorating the newly remodeled kitchen in my friend’s country home. I’m all about accessorizing, so I insisted that we look for the ultimate accessory: a handmade cuckoo clock.
When an object is handmade, it usually means that it has been made with incredible craftsmanship and artistry. We browsed through many handmade cuckoo clocks online before settling on a one-day hand-carved German cuckoo clock. The clock features intricate maple leaf designs, as well as birds, and pine cones. The cuckoo chimes on the hour and half-hour. The cuckoo clock now hangs as the focal point of one of the walls in my friend’s beautifully rustic kitchen.
Company Profile: River City Cuckoo Clocks
As the largest importer of authentic Black Forest cuckoo clocks in the North America, River City Cuckoo Clocks supplies over 100 unique styles of these idiosyncratic timepieces. The company gets all of their cuckoo clocks directly from Germany’s Black Forest, ensuring the highest level of quality and craftsmanship. Some of the finishing touches are made once the clocks have been shipped, but all of the various parts and components come straight from the source.
These cuckoo clocks are typically constructed with pine, spruce or linden wood which has been dried for several years. Each cuckoo clock is unique, but certain features like chimes, houses and the iconic cuckoo birds are common on most designs. Styles of cuckoo clocks vary greatly, with economic models starting for less than $100 and extravagant units going for more than $10,000.
Breakneck Society
It’s hard to fathom an era or society where people don’t allocate their time by the minute. And now even minutes are beginning to feel like an eternity. For instance, the vast majority of trading on the stock exchanges is “high frequency.” This entails hundreds of thousands of transactions continually taking place within microseconds of one another.
This may seem like a hyperbolic example, but this trend is true on a more individual level as well. A five-second load time for a webpage now seems unreasonable. Or what if the clock on your phone—which undoubtedly sets itself automatically—were to be five minutes off? Imagine how inaccurate timekeeping was when people relied one day cuckoo clocks that had to be wound every 24 hours.
The Tradition of Birds and Clocks
Although cuckoo clocks are obviously the first things that come to mind when you think of birds and timepieces, these two seemingly dissimilar things have been connected for thousands of years. Around 250 BC, Ctesibius, a Greek mathematician, developed a timekeeping device that used a Rube Goldberg-esque model to make an owl move. Later, in the Middle Ages, there’s evidence of a mechanical clock which used a bird to sound the hours. Additionally, the Heritage Museum in St. Petersburg is home to a famous golden peacock standing over six feet tall.
Nobody knows for certain how or why bird began being used in clocks, but some breeds obviously make more since than others. Understandably, roosters have often been associated with timekeeping mechanisms for their habit of meeting the dawn with crowing.
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.
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.