Black Forest Cuckoo Clocks History

The first cuckoo clocks were made around 1738 from the Black Forest in Germany. The Germans farmed during the summer and were cuckoo clock makers during the winter. Though these cuckoos were very simple this occupation cast the economically and geographically isolated German farmer into worldwide fame. The idea for these clocks probably came from clocks built for the kings of Europe. The rooster on the Strassbourg Cathedral in France and several other places contribute to the design of a bird-call cuckoo clock. The call of the rooster was hard to imitate whereas the cuckoo was much simpler. The cuckoo call sound was acquired by observing the wind bellows of a church organ. In the second part of the 18th century the cuckoo clock had rich baroque decor and beautiful carvings. About this time the automated wing movement was created. Some clockmakers developed cuckoos with real feathers that featured precisely automated movement of the head, beak, and wings. The demand from this led to mass production. The clocks were produced in many different styles. During the second part of the 19th century the gabled or chalet roof came into being. It was based on the railroad attendant's gabled cottage then in use. This allowed enough space for the door of the cuckoo that is predominant in current day cuckoos. The German cuckoos of today are made from Black Forest spruce and fir trees. No two are produced alike for each is made independently. They range in size from several inches to over twenty feet. A carved cuckoo clock of today is much to be appreciated with over 200 years of historical significance and a beauty unsurpassed.