As cuckoo clocks have been around since 1730 and have always been manufactured by gifted artists and skilled craftsmen, many of the older pieces that have been even minimally cared for are still in existence today. A well-preserved cuckoo clock from the 18th or 19th century can bring a king’s ransom at any of the prestigious auction houses around the world. Bidding can easily get up into the millions for a certified, pristine Schneider cuckoo clock in perfect working condition. Available in auction houses and high-priced boutiques around the world, antique cuckoo clocks are prized for their hand carved scenes, whimsical displays and attractive facades.
The familiar “cuckoo” sound on the half hour and on the hour never fails to turn heads. There is something about the unique call of the cuckoo, a bird that lays her eggs in the nests of other birds and then abandons her young to be raised by others, that hits a harmonious chord in the human psyche. Surely there are better behaved birds to signal the arrival of a new hour, and certainly any number of our aviary friends utter sweeter sounds that could have been employed to usher in that eagerly anticipated lunch hour. For some reason, the cuckoo clock became a worldwide phenomenon during a time when one part of the world was hardly aware of the goings in another.
The cuckoo clock was comparable to the automobile of its era, or the airplane of its time. Any well preserved, functioning example of its humble beginnings is worth a king’s ransom today. Even on Ebay where items are sold as cheaply and quickly as possible, true antiques are sometimes listed for many thousands of dollars before the bidding is even close to being finished. If you’ve got an antique cuckoo clock, take good acre of it and, should the need arise, it will take good care of you.
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There are cuckoo clocks available for people with all kinds of decorating or collecting budgets. On Ebay you’ll find cheap cuckoo clocks priced from $9.99 to thousands of dollars before the bidding begins. Obviously, if a clock is hand carved, very old, and in good...
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The History of Cuckoo Clocks
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Although the exact date remains a mystery, it is commonly thought that cuckoo clocks first made their appearance around 1730 in the Black Forest area of Germany. To this day, even with all that has come along with modern experience, skill and technology, no other...
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Black Forest Cuckoo Clocks
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Finding a Cuckoo Clock Repair Service
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How to Build Your Own Cuckoo Clock
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Where to Find Cuckoo Clock Parts
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ContemporaryGrandfather Clocks
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The name “grandfather clock” instantly conjures up images of a dark, musty room, grandpa sitting in his rocking chair, smoking a pipe. Curls of woodsy smelling smoke drift across the room as his faithful old clock strikes the hour. Though the name grandfather is definitely...