Musical box as musical instrument

Collectors who understand the value of classic Black Forest cuckoo clocks choose pieces based on their historic character and design elements. The unique style, quality wood materials and charming cuckoo bird chimes make these clocks instantly recognized as handicrafts from southern Germany. One of the main reasons that cuckoo clocks remain popular is that they continue to be made in the traditional manner taught by craftsmen over the centuries and passed down to new generations. With the reputable internal mechanisms, intricate carvings and clever embellishments, buyers of cuckoo clocks receive superior value for their investment.

Cuckoo clocks provide visual pleasure as well as audio enjoyment with music and sound effects. Every clock features a unique combination of physical elements and a variety of musical tones. The variations of chimes, songs and musical elements add to the pleasure of choosing a favorite clock.

History of Black Forest Cuckoo Clocks

Although the exact origins of the cuckoo clock remains undocumented, the first development is believed to have occurred around 1730 somewhere near the Black Forest region of Germany. Before pendulum style clocks developed, methods of keeping time were tedious and uninteresting so when the idea of a chiming clock arose, the people of the region were enthralled with the new idea. During the long winter months, wood carvers had time to work with pieces of wood from the forest and began to create beautiful handcrafted clocks. By the early 1800’s, dozens of clockmakers set up shops in the villages and sold their wares to travelers who visited the enchanting Black Forest region.

German clockmakers have always led the field with their knowledge and precise techniques used in creating high quality pieces. One of the most renowned was Franz Anton Ketterer, a master clockmaker who while living in the village of Schonwald, developed a method to create a whistling “koo koo” sound using bellows and pipes. Other innovative clock manufacturers added to his ideas by making hand carved pieces with scenes of the forest and always included the cuckoo bird chime. Today, the traditional clocks are still manufactured although adding quartz batteries is a new approach.

Materials and Elements Used to Create Cuckoo Clocks

Cuckoo clocks stand apart from other types of mechanical clocks because of the distinctive wooden enclosures, brass pendulums and colorful woodland figures. The wood used for the clock housings is harvested from the Black Forest region and selected for hardness and color perfection. Experienced wood carvers create intricate panels with lacy designs that complement the sturdy wood structures. They integrate sculpted figures of forest creatures into the clocks and often add human characters. Every clock features a cuckoo bird that pops out of a window and makes a pleasing chirping sound. More recent pieces incorporate the use of bright red, blue, yellow and green paint to highlight design elements.

Inside the body of the cuckoo clock, sophisticated mechanisms maintain and regulate time keeping functions. In some versions, mechanical controls cause figures to move and wheels and other objects to rotate. Wall mounted cuckoo clocks feature dangling pendulums often finished in pine cone shapes and natural colors.

The Cuckoo Clock as a Musical Instrument

When the forefathers developed the idea to give the fairytale cuckoo bird a living sound, they created a musical instrument that also kept time. Every hour or half hour a sweet chirping bird popped out with a cheerful song to brighten the day. Over the years, cuckoo clocks have evolved to include favorite folk tunes heard in Germany’s native forest lands. The figures keep time to the music as they dance, cut wood, or circulate around the outside of a pretty chalet. The cuckoo clock doubles as a music box with delights for the eyes and ears.

Fotos 1,2: ©N. Schmitz/©Torsten Born  – www.pixelio.de