Here we summed up some Frequently Asked Questions
of a prospective cuckoo clock owner. Not all questions of interest
can be listed here under this section. More information you will
find also in the other sections of this website. To give you a better
overview of possible questions complexes we tried to sum up certain
aspects under separate buttons within this website.
If you do not find the answer on your question within these next
topics than please fell free to contact the HelpDesk of the sponsor
of this website Bavarian Shopping Mall.com via email: michael@bavarian-shopping-mall.com
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What is my old clock worth?
This questions always comes up if somebody gets an old clock as
a present, finds it in the cellar or inherit it. Cuckoo clocks are
like any type of collectible – over the years it can lose
or increase in value. But there are many things that affect the
value of a cuckoo clock. Most important are the condition, rarity
and demand. Many price guide values apply to an absolutely mint
clock. Clocks missing trim, broken pieces, marred finishes, or that
are not running are worth less. Please remember that when you sell
to a dealer, he will offer you 50% or less of what the current retail
value is. With a picture, we can usually help you identify and value
your clock. Please contact therefore more than one dealer to get
a better idea about the value.
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After unpacking the clock the cuckoo
or the music does not work
Please reread again the unpacking and set up instructions carefully
of your cuckoo clock manual. Or have a look at our hints under the
“Set up” button of this website. If the clock should
not work in the end, please check the following points:
- Has the cuckoo's door been "unlocked"? You have to
turn a little wire to the side, that secured the door while shipping
- Have the clambs been removed from the bellows inside the clock
as described in the instructions?
- Please check the position of the night shut-off. The most common
reason why cuckoo and music do not work is that they have been
turned off. With some clocks the night shut-off is a switch at
the left side of the clock, with other types it is a wire under
the clock.
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What wood is used?
Most of the cuckoo clocks are made of Limetree (or Linden Tree,
Latin name: Tilia). Those trees with their heart-shaped leaves are
quite common in Europe. Their wood can be used very well for carvings.
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The major difference between 1-Day, 8-Day
and Quartz Cuckoo Clocks
Typically Black Forest Cuckoo Clocks are driven by a mechanical
movement which is run by weights under the clocks. To keep them
working you have to pull up the weights from time to time. With
8-Day Cuckoo clocks you have to
do this once a week, with 1-Day Cuckoo
Clocks each 24 hours. Quartz cuckoo
clocks are driven by batteries. They are not as authentic
as mechanical cuckoo clocks, the "feeling" is quite different
because they are using an animated cuckoo made of plastic and a
recorded cuckoo sound.
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What service do Cuckoo Clocks need?
Usually cuckoo clocks run for many years without problems as long
as they hang in a friendly environment (not humid, not dusty, the
temperature should not fall below 32ºF = 0ºC). We recommend
that the movement should be cleaned and oiled by a clockmaker each
6-8 years. After overhauling a clock, experts recommend oiling every
two years for grandfather clocks and every three years for shelf,
mantel and wall clocks. Old clocks may have porous brass which soaks
up the oil, in addition, the oil dries up as time passes. Fresh
oil on the pivot holes helps prevent wear (assuming the clock is
still clean) and fresh oil on the escapement will improve the pendulum
swing. A qualified clock repairer should oil the clock so oil is
applied in the correct places in the correct amounts. Over-oiling
will cause the clock to need overhauling again sooner. Oiling the
wrong places (such as gear teeth) will cause excessive wear.
Merely removing dirt does not repair wear. Over time as dust gets
in the clock mechanism, the oil becomes an abrasive paste, which
causes wear. The longer the clock runs in this condition, the more
repair it will need. When the clock finally stops, it will take
extra work to bring it back to proper condition. Previous repair
work by unskilled personnel can cause even more work and will increase
the repair bill. Often these problems are not visible until the
movement is disassembled and cleaned. So – if you had fun
the time the clock works than you should invest a little more to
get the fun back and let your clock get old.
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The Clock Stops or runs too slow / too fast
Please make sure that the clock is adjusted properly on the wall.
The clock must be placed in a correct vertical position so that
the pendulum can swing freely.
You must "listen" to the clock and be sure that the clock
has an even Tick-Tock sound. Do not adjust the clock with your eyes,
do it with your ears. This is adjusted by moving the clock to the
right or left, until you hear the tick tock sound which is even.
The pendulum is responsible for making the clock keep time. If your
clock runs to fast, you can move the pendulum-disc down a little
on the pendulum to correct this. If the clock is running to slow
you have to move the pendulum-disc up.
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Shipping-instructions for cuckoo
clocks
If you need yourself to ship a cuckoo clock, please follow those
instructions. It is nearly the same just reverse the set up process.
Maybe you remember the time when you got your clock. Just try to
do the same. If you do not remember than this will help:
- To send the clock, pull the chains so the hooks are under the
case. Insert a piece of string, wire or a twist wrap through all
the chains "as close as possible to the case bottom".
Bundle up the chains in a small bag, or a piece of aluminum foil
and tie up the bag tightly with a rubber band or string. This
prevents the chains from coming off the wheels, and creating a
snarled mess of chains inside the clock.
- Put a strip of paper in the spiral gong on the inside of the
back access panel. Pack the clock in an oversize box with crushed
newspaper. Please do not use Styrofoam peanuts because they will
get into the movements and might damage them. Wrap the pendulum,
and place in box.
- If you are shipping the clock to a service station do not send
the weights. If there are any numbers on the weights like 275
or 320, write them on a piece of paper, along with your name,
address, phone number, your Email address, a short description
of any problems and enclose in box. So you will safe on the sipping
costs.
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Getting repair material / parts
for your Cuckoo Clock
If you have ordered a cuckoo clock online over a website and need
parts for it than just simply contact it again. If you do not want
that or the website is gone than there are special websites available,
which will of course care for this. They have any parts of a clock.
Sometimes they are special service stations of various cuckoo clock
manufacturers.
Best way to get what you are looking for contact the manufacturer
himself. Please check therefore the addresses we listed under the
“vendors” button on this website.
Also a very good online address is the Website TIMESAVERS. They
have almost everything you may need from hands and weights to complete
carvings and whole new movements. http://www.timesavers.com/
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The clock still not runs after the third
shop service
Make always sure that you pick out somebody who knows what he is
doing. If you are not sure about your local clock dealer than please
have a look under the here on this website listed “Service
Stations”. They are picked out by manufacturers themselves
– so they know what to do. Those, who do not have the expertise
to do the job correctly will cause you many times to bring the clock
to another service station, who will have to correct sloppily done
work.
Some shops dunk the whole movement in cleaning fluid, dry it and
oil it, and call it done! This process takes less than an hour.
They may use crude screw-on or screw-in bushings, or even worse,
solder on the bushings or punch the pivot holes! These techniques
are not accepted by shops doing high quality work. Experienced clock
dealers will take the movement apart, clean and examine it for wear
and damage and finally check if for correct operation. The necessary
repair work is carried out including repairing the pinions, polishing
the pivots, bushing worn pivot holes, checking and repairing the
mainspring ratchets, testing and correcting wheel meshing, and checking
the mainsprings. The parts are cleaned again, the pivot holes cleaned
with pegwood, the pivots given final cleaning, and the movement
is assembled and lubricated. This will cost you a little bit –
but you will be sure that your clock is in good hands and will work
after that probably.
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