We are going to talk about how Black Forest Clocks are made. I am sure at one time or another you have seen a beautiful Cuckoo Clock at someones home. Maybe you wondered how they are made, what makes them cuckoo, who makes them. We will discuss that here. Let me say you can buy beautiful knockoffs. I have one that I paid $150.00 for. Let me also tell you this, for $150.00 you can buy the real thing, a real Black Forest Clock right out of the Black Forest in Germany. When I bought the knockoff clock which is very nice looking, I didn't know where or how to get the real thing other than going to Germany to get it.

Like I said in my Bio I did buy a real Black Forest Clock for my Mom when I was stationed in Germany and just assumed that the only way to get a real Black Forest Cuckoo Clock was to go to Germany for it. The clocks that are made in Germany are very beautiful and have that old world charm. I have been researching the clocks that are being made in the German Black Forest and it has been a very interesting journey and I would like to share it with You.

What goes through my mind when I think of Black Forest Clocks? I see a country home in the mountainous woods of the Black Forest, Pine trees with sagging branches because of the weight of the snow on them, smoke coming out of the chimney and a guy walking through the snow to his shop behind his home. Maybe his dog following! Why do I see this? Because that's how it is for the most part. Black Forest Clocks are made by a lot of different clock makers and a lot of them work like this. There are also some clock factories but they are nothing like the big sprawling factories you will see here. They may be something like a pole barn where 4 or 5 guy's maybe 10 work carving and assembling the clocks.

This image above is of Rudi Fehrenbach and his son Bernd. They live and work in the Black Forest making clocks. There are many others that contribute to the clock industry of the Black Forest. The clocks are made the old world way. That doesn't mean that they don't use power tools. They use power saws and drills these days but all the small intricate details are still hand carved and the clocks are hand assembled. Below I will Go over how the clocks are built.

If you want to learn a little more about Rudi and Bernd, you can get more details at Black Forest Clocks This will take you right to the about page and a little bio on this father and son clock making business. There is also a little information on Hubert Herr Clocks. While you are there check out the slide shows of all the beautiful Black Forest Clocks!

In the Image to the right you can see a Hubert Herr clock maker / wood carver hand carving some part of a clock. The Black Forest Clocks are for the most part are hand carved the same as they have been for hundreds of years. If you would like some history on these beautiful clocks you can get it here The History Of Black Forest Clocks. So how are these beautiful clocks made? Read on to find out!

1. It starts with the wood carver. He selects the wood he wants to use for the clock and cuts it to the general lengths and shapes needed. He will use power tools and hand tools for this. Power tools will include Saws and Drills. The hand tools will include hand saws, files and rasps, abrasives like sand paper, clamps and hand drills. (Yes they are still used)! The cabinet or case is cut, fitted and glued together.
   
   The part of the clock that has the traditional chalet and forest scene starts by a stencil on a piece of paper. The clock makers design these stencils themselves and also have the ones that have been passed down from previous generations of clock makers in the family. The majority of these businesses are families who have been doing this for generations. The stencils are created for specific sizes and shapes of clocks. The wood carver will pick a stencil for the size and shape of clock he is going to build. He then draws the design on the wood and starts carving and shaping the frame of clock. When the frame and case are done they are stained and left to dry.
2. When the frame and case dry the clock is assembled by putting the movements in the case. The movements are the internal workings of the clock. Back in the days of old the movements were hand made, hand poured by the clock maker himself. Today the clock makers buy pre-assembled clock movements and the process is reduced to fitting it into the case and properly anchoring it in with wood screws or other fastening devices.
3. The pipes and bellows for the cuckoo sound and music box are attached to the top of the clock. Attachments that are extensions of drive chains are linked to metal hooks, cams and pins that activate the cuckoo, his doors and any other moving figures on the clock. The cuckoo is hooked to the bellows and the other figures are moved by the strike movement. There is another movement that will work the music box. The pendulum and weight chains are connected to the movement and the weights are hooked to the end of the chains.
4. The finished clocks are very carefully packed to protect the delicately carved framework and the moving parts. The individually boxed clocks are then put into cartons for shipping and distribution.
   

There really isn't much quality control on Black Forest Clocks.There is basically 2 steps. The first step is making the clocks. They are hand made, hand crafted, hand carved so the quality is built in. These highly trained and gifted wood carvers will not risk their reputation on putting out a poor quality clock. The final quality control step is a complete examination of the final product and a trial run to make sure everything works right.

Cuckoo clocks are the one thing that folks who take a vacation to the Black Forest want. They all want a genuine German Cuckoo Clock. Many families in America can trace their roots back to Germany, Austria, Switzerland where Cuckoo Clocks are traditional home decor. There is a market for the clocks in America. They are beautiful rustic pieces of work that offer that old world charm and will make a fine addition to the decor of any home or office.

Cuckoo clocks are also sought after by antique hunters and collectors. They are looking for clocks that have a traceable history. They also are looking for factory made clocks dating back to the 1850's. These clocks are wanted on the basis of the makers name. Names like Gustav Becker, the United Freiburg Clock Factory (which Becker joined by 1900), Winterhalder & Hofmeier, Kienzle, Junghans, and the Hamburg American Clock Company (which copied American-made clocks for sales in Germany) are among the most collectible.

Nowadays some of the cuckoo clocks are fitted with quarts and electronic movements. Part of the cuckoo clock's charm may be its old-fashioned mechanical movement. When paired with beautifully carved wood and rustic style, and the cuckoo's song on the hour, it is guaranteed to bring smiles to those who value the exquisite craftsmanship and the Cuckoo for years to come.

If you want to see more beautiful clocks you can go to Black Forest Clocks and see slide shows of all the Cuckoo clocks, Grandfather Clocks, Wall Clocks and Desktop / Mantle Clocks.

These beautiful hand crafted clocks clocks will make a fine, fine addition to the decor of any home or office!