We Have A Poorly Cuckoo

We have a poorly Cuckoo or rather a Cuckoo clock that seems as though it’s lost its way. It’s been in the wife’s family for over 50 years, a present from one of her Aunties. After having it overhauled and re-cuckooed a few years ago all was fine.

A Bong And A Cuckoo

When we moved to Wales in November 2017, some items, including the beloved Cuckoo clock were placed in storage. It wasn’t until a few weeks back that we managed to retrieve it and release it from the temporary darkness it had found itself in. Being well wrapped and protected we had just the right place to hang it. After nearly 18 months of captivity, the little Cuckoo clock was free to bong and cuck-ooo to us on the half hour and hour. Only it didn’t.

I Shall Have To Take It Apart

Something was very amiss and our little Cuckoo didn’t want to show himself. In fact, we couldn’t get the clock going at all as the chains seem to have entangled deep inside his little house. There are not many Cuckoo clock repairers in this part of the world, not much call for them here. That meant I’d have to look at the poor little thing myself. You know how some people are? They can’t wait to delve inside anything mechanical, prod and poke around and take things apart. Well, I’m not one of those people!

Where Eagles Dare

So it was, I took the sick bird and his box off the wall and laid it out on the table. Before I did anything else, I took a photograph of the ‘gubbins’ inside just in case there were problems putting everything back once I’d been in there tinkering. The first thing I could see was the tangled chains. It was impossible to separate them without taking the main body out. Four little screws and some bum clinching later I had them sorted, untangled and in their rightful place.

He’s Lost His Voice

However, there are two paper bellows on opposite sides to each other. These provide the cuck and the oooh, but they had perished. I suppose because of their age, it was to be expected. The second hand on the front of the clock had also perished. I’m happy to say that the ‘donger’ thing was in perfect order. I put what was left of the clock back together and hung it back on the wall. Feeling quite pleased with myself, the voiceless Cuckoo still donged and popped his head out at the required time. Well, he did at first!

Cuckoo

The little clock keeps excellent time, albeit without the minute hand, but now the Cuckoo pops out at various times, donging 4 times at 1:0’clock etc. Hopefully, it’s not a serious problem and with the help of spares I can order from the internet, I’m sure he’ll be back to his chirpy self soon enough. Perhaps I should leave him some seed out to help him through this difficult time.

A brief history of the Black Forest Cuckoo clock