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Antique Cuckoo ClocksContrary to popular belief, the cuckoo clock apparently did not originate in the Black Forest in Germany, but it probably did originate in Germany. The earliest known description of a cuckoo clock was written in 1629 by a German nobleman named Philipp Hainhofer, who described a clock owned by a German Prince. Over the next century, the concept spread slowly, with additional descriptions and drawings of cuckoo clocks published in musical handbooks and other printed materials.
Around 1740 to 1750, the first clockmakers in the Black Forest began making cuckoo clocks. These clockmakers refined the design and construction of the clocks, making technical improvements to it and developing the beautiful design that we now recognize as the traditional Black Forest cuckoo clock.
In addition to the richly carved and decorated casings of the cuckoo clock, they are distinctively different from other clocks because they use the call of the cuckoo bird instead of the more conventional bell, gong, or chime. Some modern cuckoo clocks use a recording of an actual cuckoo bird call, but the traditional cuckoo clock created the call through the use of 2 organ pipes, tuned and timed to mimic the sound of the cuckoo.
Here you can find Swiss and German antique cuckoo clocks of all kinds, with a fresh selection of bargains on rare clocks with character every day.
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