Cuckoo Clock Identification: How to Identify the Maker of a Cuckoo Clock
Do you have a cuckoo clock in your home? Here's all you need to know about cuckoo clock identification.
The Black Forest region in Germany is home to a number of legends and fairy tales you'll remember from your childhood. This is where the tale of Hansel and Gretel came from. But more than fairy tales, the Black Forest is also responsible for the birth and evolution of the cuckoo clock.
Craftsmen have been creating gorgeous, authentic cuckoo clocks in the Black Forest since the 1600s. Cuckoo clocks are so well ingrained into not only German culture, but popular culture around the world. We all know about cuckoo clocks, and they hold a nostalgic place in all of our hearts. Of course, they’re still shrouded in mystery. While we have learned a lot about how cuckoo clocks developed over the years, we still don’t really know who invented the cuckoo clock or how long they have been part of our history.
If you have a cuckoo clock in your home, you’ll probably want to know as much as possible about your favorite clock — when was it created? How much is it worth? Who was the maker of your cuckoo clock?
This blog post is all about cuckoo clock identification and how to identify the maker of a cuckoo clock. There are a number of ways to uncover this information, and we’ll outline them below.
Look For Black Forest Association Certification
First of all, you’ll want to look for a certification from the Black Forest Clock Association. This will prove it was designed and created in the Black Forest, guaranteeing authenticity, character, and quality. Black Forest Association certification is the only way of knowing for sure that you have an authentic Black Forest cuckoo clock on your hands. Cuckoo clock identification begins with this step, and will make it much easier to identify the maker of your cuckoo clock.
If you have an authentic Black Forest cuckoo clock, you should also find a sticker on the inside of your cuckoo clock in black, white, and gold with the letters ‘VDS’.
Here at Cuckooclocks.com, all our clocks come with certification, along with a five-year product warranty.
Check Out the Back of the Clock Case
The second step of our cuckoo clock identification is to check the back of the cuckoo clock case. Most Black Forest clockmakers add a stamp to their case, which will help you to identify the maker of your cuckoo clock. You should find a stamp proclaiming “Made in Germany”, along with the shop’s name underneath. However, not all cuckoo clock manufacturers put their names on the back of the cuckoo clock, which brings us on to our next point.
Look at the Interior of the Cuckoo Clock
For further cuckoo clock identification, open up your cuckoo clock case to look at the interior. 8 day cuckoo clocks and 1 day cuckoo clocks have mechanical gears and pendulums to make them work. The name of the cuckoo clock maker can sometimes be found on this collection of gears.
What to do if You’re Still Unsure
If you’re still unsure about how to identify the maker of your cuckoo clock, we’d recommend getting in touch with a professional. If you have an authentic Black Forest cuckoo clock on your hands, an experienced professional will know what tell-tale signs to look for, and they will know which clock makers use which techniques. They’ll also know the quirks unique to each manufacturer.
If you're looking for a piece of German history and culture, buy an authentic cuckoo clock today. Our clocks are unique, certified, and varied — no matter what your taste, we’ll have a cuckoo clock to suit you.
