From its beginnings in the 17th century to the symbol of the Black Forest
The Black Forest cuckoo clock is, like the Bollenhut, a synonym for the Black Forest. The clocks are now an integral part of any souvenir shop. Until it got to the point where the “Original Black Forest Cuckoo clock“ became a trademark of the region in southern Germany, it was a long, rocky road.
The famous clock was first mentioned in the 17th century and was known as a mechanical cuckoo. It was not until a full century later that the first cuckoo clock appeared in the Black Forest. It took some time before the little house with the cuckoo and the carved front became a widespread souvenir. It was hard to imagine a Black Forest house without the clock with the cuckoo, which calls on the hour.
Abroad, especially in the USA, the cuckoo clock is a typical symbol of Germany. Many Americans spend their holidays in Germany mostly in the south, in the Black Forest or in Bavaria. Since the attacks on September 11th in New York, however, the number of American guests has noticeably decreased, and in return more and more holidaymakers from the Far East are now visiting the Black Forest.
History of the original cuckoo clock
Where exactly the cuckoo clock comes from is still largely unknown.
- In 1629, on his trip to Dresden, Philipp Hainhofer from Augsburg first mentioned the cuckoo clock that belonged to Elector August of Saxony.
- In 1650, Athanasius Kircher described a mechanical organ with various automatic figures, including a mechanical cuckoo figure, in the widespread manual for music Musurgia Universalis (1650). This cuckoo automatically opens its beak and moves its wings and tail tip. At the same time, the cuckoo call sounds, generated by two organ pipes that are tuned to a minor or major third.
- In 1669, in his book Horologi Elementari, Domenico Martinelli suggested using the cuckoo call to display the hours. From this point in time at the latest, the mechanism for a cuckoo clock was known.
The first cuckoo clock from the Black Forest
In a small Black Forest house near Triberg, the two brothers Andreas and Christian Herr, born in 19 and 1812, began building Cuckoo which makes music. The historians who write about the Black Forest clock making, however, do not agree completely. Markus Fidelis Jäck writes that in 1810 Franz Anton Ketterer from Schönwald made the first cuckoo clock in 1730. However, the writer Franz Steyerer reports differently about the history of the clocks. Franz Steyerer reports in his Book “History of Black Forest Watchmaking” from (1796) that Michael Dilger from Neukirch and Matthäus Hummer began building cuckoo clocks in 1742. In the 19th century, the cuckoo was found in lacquer clocks as well as in frame clocks.
The Furtwangen watchmaking school
To the poor region around Furtwangen In order to strengthen the cuckoo clock industry, the government of the "Grand Duchy of Baden" commissioned the young civil engineer Robert Gerwig (1820-1885) to found the clockmaking school in Furtwangen. Initially, the cuckoo clock was mostly made directly by farmers and builders in their Black Forest houses. The aim of such a clockmaking school was to promote and industrialize the production of cuckoo clocks. The school in Furtwangen is now called the "Robert Gerwig School".
Robert Gerwig grew up in Karlsruhe on. After completing his engineering exams, he worked at the Technical University of Karlsruhe as senior director of water and road construction. Gerwick was involved in railway construction his entire working life. He worked on many railway lines in the Black Forest, his last project being the Höllentalbahn.
Only a short time after the founding, the then headmaster Robert Gerwig called the artificial in the Grand Duchy of Baden to a competition. Designs should be submitted for a new watch case.
The appearance of today's cuckoo clock
Friedrich Eisenlohn, an architect and also a planner of railway lines, submitted a design for the cuckoo clock based on the style of his planned railway guard's houses and won first prize. A decorated front with carvings of vine and oak leaves as well as local animals was found as early as 1861 on clocks by manufacturer Theodor Ketterer from Furtwangen. From 1863 onwards, Johann Baptist Beha produced the form of the clock that is still known today with carved bone hands and a weight in the shape of a pine cone.
The lacquer plate clock, which was common until the middle of the 19th century, was displaced from the market within a few years by the new railway house clock. The triumphant advance of the cuckoo clock began.
Distribution of the Black Forest Cuckoo Clock at that time
The profession of clock carrier was created based on the example of glass carriers who travelled through the country on back packs. The clock carriers also had a frame on their backs on which they were transported. The traders formed companies. They had branches and travelled through almost all of Europe with their clock goods. The first clock traders appeared in 1740. Today, you can still see clock carriers with their cuckoo clocks at traditional festivals or as dolls in museums.
Summary
- Origin: The cuckoo clock is a synonym for the region in the southwest of Germany and has its origins in the 17th century. It is also referred to as a mechanical cuckoo.
- Appearance: The characteristic Black Forest clock with a cuckoo calling on the hour and the carved front, which typically depicts a Black Forest house, did not appear until a century later.
- Popularity: It is now an indispensable part of any souvenir shop and has become a widely sold souvenir. In the USA in particular, it is a typical symbol of Germany.
- Production: The first cuckoo clocks in the Black Forest were made at the beginning of the 19th century by the brothers Andreas and Christian Herr in a small house near Triberg.
- Sales: Originally, cuckoo clocks were carried around the country on the backs of so-called clock carriers and sold. Today, you can find them in numerous online shops, such as Schwarzwaldpalast.de.
- Quality: When buying, pay attention to the quality of the movement and the design. With proper care and maintenance, a cuckoo clock can work for many years.
- Variety: From antique style to modern Black Forest clocks – discover the variety and beauty of each individual cuckoo clock.
So, now you are well informed and ready to get your own cuckoo clock. Have fun browsing and experiencing the Black Forest!
questions
It is a mechanical clock that originated in the Black Forest. It is known for its cuckoo call every hour and its carved front, which typically depicts a Black Forest house.
The mechanism is based on a mechanical clockwork that is powered by weights or springs. The cuckoo call is produced by a whistle that is operated by bellows.
There are a variety of designs and styles of cuckoo clocks, from traditional wood-carved models to modern versions made of metal or glass. The size and shape can also vary.
The clock has undergone several design changes over time. For example, from 1863 onwards, Johann Baptist Beha produced the form of the clock that is still known today, with carved bone hands and a pine cone-shaped weight. The original lacquer shield clock was pushed out of the market within a few years by the new railway house clock.
To ensure longevity, you should clean and oil them regularly. The adjustment of the time and the cuckoo call should also be checked occasionally.
Cuckoo clocks are available in many shops in the Black Forest or also available online. When buying, pay attention to the quality of the movement and the design.
With proper care and maintenance, it can last for many years, but it is important to have it checked regularly and repaired if necessary.
The first mention was in the 17th century. However, the first cuckoo clock appeared in the Black Forest a century later. This means that the Black Forest cuckoo clock is at least 300 years old.
The first cuckoo clocks in the Black Forest were made at the beginning of the 19th century by the brothers Andreas and Christian Herr in a small house near Triberg.
Originally, cuckoo clocks were carried around the country on the backs of clock carriers and sold. This profession was created based on the example of glass carriers, who transported glassware in a similar way.
