The Chalet Style Cuckoo Clock.
The word “Chalet” originates in Switzerland and is a type of Alpine wooden hut that has been used for many years by sheep and goat herders. At the end of the nineteenth century in Switzerland the Chalet style Cuckoo Clocks became very popular, and they were highly prized by tourists who loved the Cuckoo Clocks as Swiss souvenirs. Currently there are three basic styles to the shape of Cuckoo Clocks. The Chalet shape of the Cuckoo Clock takes its name from the different Chalets in the Swiss Alps. Two types of Chalets are the most popular, the first being the Brienz Chalet which takes its name from the village of Brienz which is in the Canto of Bern, Switzerland. The other shape of chalet is Emmental which has a steep roof which has a large overhang that almost reaches to the ground. Often the wooden case of the clock is decorated with carved leaves, birds and animal heads. Yet another type of the chalet style is Bavarian and also has the steep roof and an overhang. The Bavarian Chalet Cuckoo Clock is the most popular model for the addition of a Swiss music box which plays melodies. On most Cuckoo Clocks the dial displays Roman numerals.
Hunter Cuckoo Clocks
The Deerhead or Hunter Cuckoo Clock displays a traditional hunting scene on the clock. In the center at the top of the clock is the head of a buck deer complete with carved antlers. Often there are crossed shotguns and dead game animals arrayed around the the dial of the clock.
Grandfather Cuckoo Clocks
Not all Cuckoo Clocks are small and hang on the wall. There are many beautifully carved Grandfather Cuckoo Clocks that are made in the Black Forest, and depict forest scenes.
One Day Cuckoo Clocks
One Day Cuckoo Clocks are pendulum driven and require winding every 30 hours. On the hour a small door in the clock opens to reveal the cuckoo bird which announces the hour with the appropriate number of Cuckoo calls. Thirty minutes later the cuckoo bird anounces the half hour with only one cuckoo. Under the clock are two chains from which are hanging weights usually made of cast iron in the shape pine cones. One winds the clock by pulling on one of the chains, and the other weight is for the sound of the cuckoo bird. Cuckoo calls are reproduced using small bellows and pipes to emulate the sound of the cuckoo in addition to the sound of a gong being struck. The Cuckoo bird sometimes is programmed to move while the clock strikes. The mechanism to do this is by means of an arm which lifts the back of the carved bird.
Eight Day Cuckoo Clocks
Eight Day Cuckoo Clocks work exactly the same as the one day clocks. The obvious difference is in the in the size of the weights which are much heavier in the eight day clock, and this clock only needs to be wound every eight days.
One Day Musical Cuckoo Clocks
One Day Musical Cuckoo Clocks features the same quality mechanics of the the one day Cuckoo clocks, except there is a third weight added under the clock. The extra weight is for the melody played by the clock. On the hour the cuckoo bird will anounce the hour with the appropriate number of calls, and then a melody plays. Two tunes are produced with the aid of a Swiss music box where the notes are plucked on a rotating drum. On the half hour the bird will “Cuckoo” one time only and then a second melody will play. Most often the melodies produced in the clock are “The Happy Wanderer”, or “Edelweis”
Eight Day Musical Cuckoo Clock
Again the Eight Day Musical Cuckoo Clocks are almost exactly the same as the one Day Musical Cuckoo Clocks. The difference is in in the size of the weights under the clock which are much heavier in the eight day clockc. Also the melody only sounds on the hour in an eight day clock, and not on the half hour. Musical cuckoo clocks frequently have other animated figures which move when the music box plays. The moving figures can include people dancing, sawing wood, drinking beer or even a water wheel turning.
Quartz Cuckoo Clock
The Quartz Cuckoo Clock uses a regular clock mechanism, drawing its power from batteries. Depending on the type of battery used these cuckoo clocks will run for approximately for one year on one set of batteries. One will also have to take into account the amount animated movement produced by the clock. More movement will take more energy from the battery. Because of the use of batteries the Quartz Cuckoo Clock is not an authentic Cuckoo Clock. Also missing are the genuine bellows and reeds from the authentic clock which generate the sound of the Cuckoo bird, and which generate the sound of the striking clock. On the hour the cuckoo bird pops out, and even flaps it’s wings, but in the Quartz clock the call of a real cuckoo is recorded along with other sounds from the woods such as a running stream. At that time other animated figures will also move. A volume control is added to increase or diminish the sound along with a shut off swich which will conserve the battery power. The quartz cuckoo also has the advantage of having a photo-cell light sensor inserted. When the light is turned off the cuckoo call is also turned off. There are many styles and types from which to choose your favorite Cuckoo Clock.