Cuckoo Clock
We are often fascinated by the way a cuckoo clock works. It is a marvel to see a bird jolting out of the clock to tell us the hour. Cuckoo clocks with dancing couples or a farmer at his work or even a soldier marching to the beats instead of a cuckoo bird are a delight to watch. Cuckoo clocks have been in great demand the world over since the 17th century when they were made for the first time.
History and origin of cuckoo clocks
Franz Ketterer made the first cuckoo clock in 1738 in Germany. The Black Forest Area of Germany is world famous since ancient times for its cuckoo clocks. It is said that the snowy winters of this area made the people choose clock making as an alternative to farming, lumbering and trade. Intricate designs in carving and superb and innovative ideas in making mechanisms for the clocks saw the rise of this industry.
How a cuckoo clock works
Antique cuckoo clocks had hanging weights, mostly designed to resemble brown pinecones. Over a week, the heavier of the weights, which would be at the lowest position, would slowly rise and the other weight would be lowered. To keep the clock running, you had to wind the clock once a week. Modern cuckoo clocks use quartz or springs to keep time. Carved pinecones have become a designer accessory with no functional use. But the most interesting part is the cuckoo bird that comes with a cuckoo bird. On the hour, a window opens in the clock and a tiny bird dashes out, chirps the number to announce the time and goes back. Cuckoo birds are also being replaced with dancing couples, working people and even other animals like deer and squirrels.
Cuckoo clock shapes and designs
Most cuckoo clocks are shaped in the form of a house or a small birdhouse. Traditionally made from wood, most cuckoo clocks were made to resemble a birdhouse or chalets. They were also adorned with carvings of leaves and flowers. Some of them even have carvings of people and scenery.
Clocking centuries in Germany
The Black Forest region in Germany is the place where cuckoo clocks were made for the first time in the 17th century. You can visit Germany to take a look at the world’s largest cuckoo clocks on display. These are so huge that you can actually take a walk inside them and see the works and mechanism from the inside.