Cuckoo Clock Question

[Scott Jarvis]

I know there are people on here who know about everything...  I have been looking to buy a Cuckoo clock lately and my father told me he has one in the attic that he brought back from Germany during the war.  He said when he took it down it was working fine and it has been in storage every since (25-30 years).  I didn't know if it would be a bad idea to wind it up and see what happens?  Or would it be advised to take it to a repair shop and have them look at it first? 

I don't want to damage it myself but if there is no real possibility of damaging it I don't want to pay somebody just to start it up for me.  Knowing nothing about old clocks if it is something that would need to be serviced anyway I will just take it somewhere and have it serviced.

Any of you have any experience with clock works and have any advise on what I should do?
Thanks

[Stephen Amaral]

My wife got an older cuckoo  clock  at an auction last spring. The wood needed some repair and the workings were dusty. I repaired the wood, cleaned the workings as best I could and took it to the clock shop town.
The owner advised me that it needed better cleaning AND lubrication with the correct kind of oil or damage could occur.  Better take your clock to a professional and have it checked out and serviced.
Steve

[Jonathan Sutton]

I have an antique 8-day banjo clock (so-called because it will run for 8 days on a single winding). Any antique clock needs regular servicing. There are at least two things that can happen: (1) the gear oil will evaporate and/or gum up and (2) the bushings that hold the gears in place in the movement can wear out. Either one may result in the clock not running at all. If it's been in the attic a long time, you should probably get it checked out. Cleanings are pretty routine service that are expected every few years, and they should be fairly inexpensive (~$100 or so).

Just make sure you get a decent clockmaker who's been around a while and knows what he's doing. There are a lot of hacks out there who will ruin your clock if you let them.

[Scott Jarvis]

Thanks for the input guys.  Ill get it serviced and check back in once it's up and running.

[Brian Vick]

Bellows could need attention as well
OB ;D

[Scott Jarvis]

Well I picked up the clock from my father today.  Nothing fancy, it is a carved wildlife style with some birds on it and two doors at the top, one day wind. One door for the cuckoo and one has a "male" figure in it.  It does have three weights so it plays some type of music. I am taking it into the repair shop this afternoon.  Hopefully it just needs some oil and cleaning and no major repairs.  It was stored in a box in a closet so it actually is in good shape from the outside and no sign of dry rot, rodent damage etc..  If it takes much work it will cost more then what it is worth.  Given the history of the clock unless it is absolutely outrageous  I will have it fixed/tuned up and  get it on the wall.

Ill post some pics once I get it back.

[Scott Jarvis]

So here's the update.  I took the clock to the first shop to get looked at.  They said it looked like it was in great condition for it's age and they saw a few bushings that might be worn but thought they could just oil it an get it going.  I was glad to hear that.  Until he quoted me $285.00- $325.00 just for that.  If bellows needed replaced they were going to be $30.00 more each.  This shop is in a high rent town so I checked around and found a "mom and pop" type shop near by and the owner has been doing business for 50 plus years.  I took it to him and he quoted me $180.00 and that was including replacing the bushings that the other place wasn't sure about. He also said if he had to replace the bellows it would be $15 each.  That was a lot better price. I picked it up today and it seems to be working great.
Right now I can't get a photo to upload, photobucket is not playing nice this evening. >:(

[Paul Okarma]

You can post a picture directly.  I size a copy of the picture  down to 640 on the longest size for posting, since that is the requirement on a BBQ site I frequent.

Just find the picture using Browse below for adding an attachment.

Looking forward to a picture.  My BIL is of German heritage and has several.  SIL is not a fan of them.  ;D

[Scott Jarvis]

Hopefully this works.
Like I said, it is not a super fancy one but has a quality movement and a music box (hence the 3 weights)

[Paul Okarma]

Like it a lot!  :)

[Scott Jarvis]

It took a couple days but I finally have it adjusted correctly. So far it's keeping time within a minute over the last 48 hours. I'll give it a couple more days and see if I need to adjust the pendulum again.

[Paul Okarma]

You sound like me.  It's within a minute over 48 hours.  I always try to make things better and it gets worse.  :)

[Stephen Amaral]

Nice clock. I hope to get mine back from a local clock repair shop soon. I miss the "noisy" thing. :'(

[Jonathan Sutton]

Nice clock. I hope to get mine back from a local clock repair shop soon. I miss the "noisy" thing. :'(

Isn't that the truth. Our banjo clock (no music, just a chime on the hour/half hour) got broken in a move, and it hung on the wall for more than a year before I found somebody to work on it, and then he seemed to forget about it for a while. He finally did get it fixed, and it has been so nice hearing the chime again. We all really missed it.

[Scott Jarvis]

There is a clock I have would really love to have but until I stumble across a winning lottery ticket it will be a while before I get it.  The clock itself is not tooooo awful expensive but I can't justify dropping this kind of money with other bills to pay.  I have been a life long fan of playing poker/cards.  This clock was the black forest clock of the year a few years ago., 8 day, card players, dancers, auto shut off at night.
http://www.bavarianclockworks.com/Chalet-style-8-day-Game-of-Cards-21-inch-cuckoo-clock-Schneider/?gclid=CIrZp6nistECFdg2gQodG_EAcw