The Black Forest region in Germany spawned more than merely fairy tales; additionally, it served as home to the first cuckoo clocks. Black Forest craftsmen are making cuckoo clocks since the 1600s, and they are still making them today. If you’ve got a cuckoo clock and want to identify its producer or place of origin, then there are many ways to begin doing it.

Black Forest Association Certification

Authenticating that your cuckoo clock comes in the Black Forest may start you on your journey to locate the maker. Genuine Black Forest cuckoo clocks have a certification — composed in German — in the Black Forest Clock Association. You might also find a round sticker inside the clock in stone, black and white with Italian writing and the letters “VDS” from the middle. The sticker or certification authenticates that the cuckoo clock came from just one of the numerous Black Forest cuckoo clock makers.

Clock Case

Turn the cuckoo clock over. A number of the Black Forest clockmakers include a stamp on the back of the clock with the title of this shop that offered the clock. Look for the stamp that states “Made in Germany.” Beneath that, you might find that the clockmaker’s title. If you see individual letters, then these frequently refer to this year the clock has been created.

Interior Works

Open the case to analyze the interior works of this clock. If you find quartz movements, then the clock is not a genuine Black Forest cuckoo clock because they simply include mechanical gears, pendulums and works. Mechanical works can comprise one- or even eight-day movements, all which must be wound. Sometimes the title of the maker may be found stamped on the works. Look for manufacturers’ names such as Hubert Herr, Rombach and Haas, Anton Schneider, Hekas and Trenkle Uhren.

Cuckoo Clock Style

Real Black Forest cuckoo clocks are manufactured in two fashions, the chalet and the nature or hunting style. The chalet-style cuckoo clock generally consists of a small house such as a timbered house in the Tudor style or an Pine home with a high-pitched roof. The chalet cuckoo clock usually depicts a scene in the life of a Black Forest villager, with hand-carved figurines. The hunting or nature-style cuckoo clock includes detailed carvings of deer, birds, Tree Trimming and removal Bakersfield, CA leaves, owls or eagles. Identifying the style may lead to the clockmaker if you compare it to pictures from cuckoo-clock reference books.