Cuckoo clocks were first created in Germany about 300 years ago, and were made entirely of wood. Inside the clock is an intricate counterbalance and weight mechanism that keeps accurate time and imitates the high-pitched sound of a cuckoo bird. There are usually three weights that hang from the toward the bottom part of the clock which are shaped like pine cones and must be pulled periodically to keep the clock working. There is a set of wheels inside the clock to provide the necessary power in order to get the pendulum swinging back and forth. Each time the pendulum swings, one tooth or spoke of the wheel is released, and the time train would move forward, showing a very slight movement on the clock’s minute hand.

Before you use your new cuckoo clock, you must test its accuracy first against a battery-operated clock. There is sometimes a difference in the time provided by your cuckoo clock, at which point you must adjust the pine cone shaped weights accordingly. Remember that part of the charm of cuckoo clocks is that they are never really 100% accurate, but they come pretty close to the actual time. With enough patience, you can set your cuckoo clock to work at nearly 99% accuracy level, meaning you’ll miss a couple of minutes every week.

The price of cuckoo clocks range from less than ten dollars to thousands of dollars, depending on its appearance, material, brand and age. Obviously, an antique, hand-carved cuckoo clock which is still in good working condition will always cost more. If you can’t afford collecting such clocks, you can always choose the mass-produced, cheaply-priced modern cuckoo clocks that give you nearly the same enjoyment for less money.
Before buying any of the many advertised cuckoo clocks on sale, make sure you do your homework first. Research the brand, company or website selling the product and find if they get favorable reviews from other buyers. Make sure you only buy these items from companies that offer a warranty or provide repair services, so that you won’t have problems in case the cuckoo clock malfunctions.

Posted by Kafaen Clocks and Watches