Cuckoo clocks were first invented in Bavaria, where the famed Neuschwanstein Castle is located. Mechanical clocks were invented in the 13th century, but it was only until the 14th century that pendulum-run clocks came into place, such as grandfather clocks. It was in the 15th century when, in the Black Forest, pendulum clocks were made. Woodworkers would make them during the winter when many could not leave their homes because of the snowstorms, and in the spring and summer, they would travel out and sell them all around Germany. These clocks were not called cuckoo clocks yet; they were called artists’ clocks because they were very decorative and delicately sculpted. In the 1600s, cuckoo clocks were made; it is unknown when exactly they were made, but the first record dates back to 1629.
Traditionally, these clocks were carved out of pieces of wood. They were fleshed out with depictions of log cabins, lacy leaves and flora on the roof, and animals and even people. In the interior, the clock is run by a pendulum. It rings every hour when a series of brass gears eject a small bird. A small gong is rung before the bird calls, and the calls themselves are operated by small bellows that pump out the air in a particular sound. These traditional Black Forest clocks need to be frequently rung and have weights hanging on the bottom that regulate the minutes and hours.
Clocks today use a variety of different mechanisms. Since clocks run on entirely mechanical components are generally quite expensive, cheaper quartz clocks are sold nowadays that are battery-run and play the bird song electronically. Traditional Black Forest clocks are especially expensive because they are entirely handmade and need to be calibrated to the last minute details. They are not laser cut or only painted; they are works of art that catch the eye and induce awe in the audience.
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