A Review of the Cuckoo Clocks’ History

A cuckoo clock refers to a clock that is usually operated by a pendulum, which sounds the hours by making use of little pipes and bellows that reproduce the Common Cuckoo’s sound and also hitting a wire gong. Now the mechanism to generate the cuckoo sound was set up in almost all types of cuckoo clocks right from the mid 18th century and has continued more or less without any changes until now.

There are two myths concerning its origins. The first myth refers to a clock manufacturer called Anton Ketterer hailing from Black Forest in Germany having put in a cuckoo bird into one of his earlier clocks in 1738 and thus cuckoo clock came into existence. The second myth refers to a Bohemian peddler (hailing from the Czech Republic) who, while passing the Black Forest, offered two cuckoo clocks for sale to the clock manufacturers there. They reproduced the design of the clock and thus started the Black Forest’s flourishing cuckoo clock industry. As both these stories cannot be established, we just have to satisfy with that part of the myth that we really are certain about – and this came up later on.

The Black Forest’s history of clock manufacturing started more than 100 years prior to the cuckoo clocks appearing in Black Forest. As the winters in Black Forest were extremely bitter, people remained indoors and would work on items crafted by hand. Therefore, the moment the cuckoo clock made its appearance in Black Forest; it indeed was well accepted by the Black forest residents. Constructing the cuckoo clocks provided them with a lucrative means all through the long, severe winters when they could not work on their fields. Once spring sets in, journeying peddlers would trade the handcrafted cuckoo clocks all across Europe for the Black Forest artisan, using backpacks to transport them to eager buyers who swiftly became fond of them.

Down the years, many varied cuckoo clocks designs were developed. Initially, a number of cuckoo clocks were modeled on the Schilduhr (or the "shield clock") style. In these designs, the sides were open and they showed the mechanical movement of the clock. This design also had a semi circle right over the shield that lodged the cuckoo bird. From 1750-1850, this was the regular cuckoo clock design.

A clock manufacturing school, situated in the Furtwangen town of Black Forest, in 1850, declared a competition to make a clock case that artistically blended the appearance of the handmade style with the professionalism that marked a manufactured clock. An Italian architect emerged the winner of the contest and he had earlier constructed railway guard dwellings for the upcoming railroad that passed through Black Forest. He incorporated grape leaves that were profusely grown in his home country into his design, and also the front elevation of the several railway dwellings he had constructed. This design became an immediate hit and it is the design most people conceive of when they evoke images of the cuckoo clock of Black Forest.

The present day cuckoo clocks, which are sold as keepsakes, are modeled on this successful style. The current clocks are slightly different from the actual railway dwelling design – a few hunting devices, deer, leaves, birds, or other forest creatures. These clocks are identical to Germany's Black Forest.

Other Countries’ Variants - Swiss Chalet Style

Now towards the end of the 1800s, Swiss clock manufacturers believed they could further enhance the cuckoo clock's design and therefore they came up with what is called the Swiss Chalet style cuckoo. Now there are 3 varieties of Chalets:

* Swiss Chalet
* Black Forest Chalet
* Bavarian Chalet

Apart from improving on the external design, the Swiss clock manufacturers also fitted their clocks with music. They put in Swiss music boxes (they were popular for them), figures in motion, and other animated elements to their clocks. Well, such features included movable water wheels, kids playing on rope swings, woodcutters and figures sipping beer. The musical cuckoo clocks of Swiss-make belted out a song on the hour. Usually Edelweis or such other classical song was played.

To conclude, although other countries attempted to take a shot at cuckoo clock manufacturing, Germany's Black Forest area still remains the leading manufacturer of Cuckoo clocks. It represents more than simply a source of livelihood for the Black Forest residents. It has turned into an integral part of their lives. This intimate bond that exists between these people and their wares is responsible for the cuckoo clock’s lasting history and for it being cherished all over the globe.

Source: http://www.stunningclocks.com