The entire film is in German, but you don't need to understand what is spoken. Only the clock movement gears are modern and they are made on site. The rest of the clock is handmade by craftsmen . So grab a cuppa and enjoy! You'll be amazed at all the work that goes into making one of these gems.
Early in the 17th Century many years before clocks were being
carved in the Black Forest, Philipp Hainhofer (21 July 1578 - 1647)a
merchant, banker, diplomat and art collector in Augsburg, wrote about a
cuckoo clock which was owned by Prince Elector August von Sachsen. This
is the first known description of a Cuckoo Clock. At that time Europe
was in the middle of a weather phenomenon known as the "Little Ice Age"
which brought extremely cold temperatures in the winter.
Athanasius Kircher was a 17th century German Jesuit scholar (1650). In his handbook on music Athanasiius described a mechanical organ that had many automated figures including a mechanical cuckoo. This book, was the first to document in words and pictures the mechanical workings of the cuckoo clock. It goes on to describe how the mechanical cuckoo can automatically open it's beak while at the same time the cuckoo can move both the wings and the tail. As the beak opens and closes one hears the call of the cuckoo. Inside the clock are two organ pipes which are responsible for making the call of the cuckoo.
Domenico Martinelli an ordained preist (1669) was the author of a book on elementary clock which bore the title "Horologi Elementari". In this book Domenico advocates using the call of the cuckoo to designate the hours. At that time the mechanics of a working cuckoo clock was already known, and any clockmaker who could also ready would understand that it was both practical and advantageous to have the cuckoo sound off the hours. Consequently cuckoo clocks began appearing in areas that had not previously been known for their clock making. It would be a few more decades before Cuckoo Clocks began appearing in the Black Forest.
The First Black Forest Cuckoo Clocks
It is not known who built the first cuckoo clocks in the Black Forest, but is is known that this fascinating and appealing clock quickly circumvented the realm. One of the earliest known Cuckoo Clock makers was Franz Anton Ketterer (1676-1749) whose heritage is in the Schönwald in Schwarzwald. By the mid eighteenth century numerous clock makers had set up stores and were producing cuckoo clocks that worked with the aid of wooden plates and gears. The clocks were beautifully carved and decorated with hand painted shields. The first Cuckoo Clocks were very basic having only square faces and painted with water colors. As the clocks evolved and grew more refined in their designs, they were also embellished with animated birds who flapped their wings and moved their beaks.
There are many conflicting stories and legends which tell the story of the origins of the Cuckoo Clock in the Black Forest, but none of the stories can be verified. We also have to remember that the concept of placing a cuckoo bird in a clock complete with sound and movement did not originate in the Black Forest. However it is the people of the Black Forest who developed in industry, and improved on the technology and designs which have made Black Forest Cuckoo Clocks highly desired timepieces all over the world.
At the end of the eighteenth century and up to the middle of the nineteenth century Cuckoo Clocks basically consisted of a a flat wooden face with the workings of the clock attached behind the face. On top of the face of the clock was place a semi circular piece of wood which was adorned with beautiful designs and which housed the cuckoo bird. During the cold winter nights the clock makers would work making their beautiful highly decorated clocks. In the Spring the clocks were then sold by door to door by clock peddlers who carried the Cuckoo Clocks by means of a rack which was carried on their backs. Entire families would work in their cottages making the Cuckoo Clocks and each family member had the expertise of making certain pieces of the clock which was then assembled by yet another family member.
Styles of Cuckoo Clocks
There are many styles of Cuckoo Clocks, the most familiar being the Swiss Chalet Style which evolved around the end of the nineteenth century. The most basic type of Cuckoo Clock is the One Day Cuckoo Clock which needs to be wound one time each day. Next there is the Eight Day Cuckoo Clock which needs to be wound only one time per week. Each of these clocks has a musical version along with the addition of a Swiss music box. Animated figures now are added such as a man sawing wood, men drinking beer and even a water wheel turning. Themes of the Cuckoo Clock include deer heads, dead and live animals, leaves and birds. Later versions now include a Quartz Cuckoo Clock which does not need to be wound and which has the recorded sound of an actual Cuckoo.
The production center of the Cuckoo Clock is still the Black Forest of Germany, and the Cuckoo Clock is still a favorite of the tourist visiting there. May stories including including those for children have been written about Cuckoo Clocks and like the Cuckoo Clocks themselves they remain popular to this day.
Athanasius Kircher was a 17th century German Jesuit scholar (1650). In his handbook on music Athanasiius described a mechanical organ that had many automated figures including a mechanical cuckoo. This book, was the first to document in words and pictures the mechanical workings of the cuckoo clock. It goes on to describe how the mechanical cuckoo can automatically open it's beak while at the same time the cuckoo can move both the wings and the tail. As the beak opens and closes one hears the call of the cuckoo. Inside the clock are two organ pipes which are responsible for making the call of the cuckoo.
Domenico Martinelli an ordained preist (1669) was the author of a book on elementary clock which bore the title "Horologi Elementari". In this book Domenico advocates using the call of the cuckoo to designate the hours. At that time the mechanics of a working cuckoo clock was already known, and any clockmaker who could also ready would understand that it was both practical and advantageous to have the cuckoo sound off the hours. Consequently cuckoo clocks began appearing in areas that had not previously been known for their clock making. It would be a few more decades before Cuckoo Clocks began appearing in the Black Forest.
The First Black Forest Cuckoo Clocks
It is not known who built the first cuckoo clocks in the Black Forest, but is is known that this fascinating and appealing clock quickly circumvented the realm. One of the earliest known Cuckoo Clock makers was Franz Anton Ketterer (1676-1749) whose heritage is in the Schönwald in Schwarzwald. By the mid eighteenth century numerous clock makers had set up stores and were producing cuckoo clocks that worked with the aid of wooden plates and gears. The clocks were beautifully carved and decorated with hand painted shields. The first Cuckoo Clocks were very basic having only square faces and painted with water colors. As the clocks evolved and grew more refined in their designs, they were also embellished with animated birds who flapped their wings and moved their beaks.
There are many conflicting stories and legends which tell the story of the origins of the Cuckoo Clock in the Black Forest, but none of the stories can be verified. We also have to remember that the concept of placing a cuckoo bird in a clock complete with sound and movement did not originate in the Black Forest. However it is the people of the Black Forest who developed in industry, and improved on the technology and designs which have made Black Forest Cuckoo Clocks highly desired timepieces all over the world.
At the end of the eighteenth century and up to the middle of the nineteenth century Cuckoo Clocks basically consisted of a a flat wooden face with the workings of the clock attached behind the face. On top of the face of the clock was place a semi circular piece of wood which was adorned with beautiful designs and which housed the cuckoo bird. During the cold winter nights the clock makers would work making their beautiful highly decorated clocks. In the Spring the clocks were then sold by door to door by clock peddlers who carried the Cuckoo Clocks by means of a rack which was carried on their backs. Entire families would work in their cottages making the Cuckoo Clocks and each family member had the expertise of making certain pieces of the clock which was then assembled by yet another family member.
Styles of Cuckoo Clocks
There are many styles of Cuckoo Clocks, the most familiar being the Swiss Chalet Style which evolved around the end of the nineteenth century. The most basic type of Cuckoo Clock is the One Day Cuckoo Clock which needs to be wound one time each day. Next there is the Eight Day Cuckoo Clock which needs to be wound only one time per week. Each of these clocks has a musical version along with the addition of a Swiss music box. Animated figures now are added such as a man sawing wood, men drinking beer and even a water wheel turning. Themes of the Cuckoo Clock include deer heads, dead and live animals, leaves and birds. Later versions now include a Quartz Cuckoo Clock which does not need to be wound and which has the recorded sound of an actual Cuckoo.
The production center of the Cuckoo Clock is still the Black Forest of Germany, and the Cuckoo Clock is still a favorite of the tourist visiting there. May stories including including those for children have been written about Cuckoo Clocks and like the Cuckoo Clocks themselves they remain popular to this day.
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