Cuckoo Clock Parts

Cuckoo clocks are whimiscal and fun for both adults and children.  So, when one is in need of repair, it is most important to find the correct cuckoo clock parts to repair that treasured family clock.  

A cuckoo clock is a clock that is typically pendulum driven and that strikes the hours using small bellows and pipes that imitate the call of the common cuckoo bird in addition to striking a wire gong.  There are two standard designs of cuckoo clocks.  The first, called the traditional or carved style is a wooden case typically decorated with carved leaves and animals.  The second style, known as the chalet style, which is carved in the form of traditional houses-Black Forest chalet, Swiss chalet or Bavarian chalet.  

Most cuckoo clocks have a bird which appears through a small trap door  while the clock is striking.  The bird is often made to move while the clock strikes, typically by means of an arm that lifts the back of the carving. 

There are typically two different types of movements used in cuckoo clocks--one day and eight day movements.  Some have musical movements which play a tune after striking the hours and half-hours. Usually the melody sounds only at the hours  in eight day movement clocks and on the hours and half-hours in the one day movement clocks.  Most of today's cuckoo clocks are weight-driven, while there are a few still produced as spring-driven.  The weights are made of cast iron in a pine cone shape.  The cuckoo sound is created by two tiny pipes in the clock, with bellows attached to their tops.  The clock's movement activates the bellows to send a tiny puff of air into each pipe alternately when the clock strikes.

In recent years, manufacturers have begun producing batter-powered quartz cuckoo clocks.  They do not use bellow to produce the cuckoo sound.  Instead, the cuckoo call is produced by a digital recording.  In musical quartz clocks, the hourly chime is followed by the replay of one of several popular melodies.  Quartz cuckoo clocks also have a sensor that detects when the lights have been turned off at night and automatically silence the hourly chime. 

Cuckoo clock parts for antique cuckoo clocks or vintage cuckoo clocks are sometimes difficult to find as they are hand carved from wood--wooden hands, dials and cuckoo birds or other characters or decorations on the clock..  But with some patience and the help of the internet, you should be successful in your search for cuckoo clock parts.