GERMAN BLACK FOREST MUSIC ANIMATED WOOD CHOPPER SAWYER CHALET CUCKOO CLOCK
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:52904 | Modified Item: No |
| Brand: Black Forest Emil Schmeckenbecher | Country/Region of Manufacture: Germany |
We have a large number of vintage and antique clocks currentlylisted along with an equally impressive collection of music boxes andother very nice collectibles. Be sure to have a look at our other items!This is a beautifully designed, absolutely gorgeous animated musical chalet cuckoo clockthat was produced about 45 or so years ago in the Black Forest of what was then, Villingen "West Germany" by "Emil Schmeckenbecher, " one of the finest clock makers in this... region of the world. This clock is designed to look like a detailed working saw mill like many that used to dot the landscape here and there in the mountains of southern Germany. It's quite fancy and has an upper platform complete with wood bead trim, a wooden picket fence on either side of the case, a stack of logs, and two or three stumps. There are two colorful Black Forest men to the left side operating a two man saw and another equally impressive Black Forest man to the right side holding an axe over a log he is intent on splitting. The background is quite colorful and features a pair of windows and curtains, blue floral vines, and a round opening near the top with a colorful slumbering cuckoo bird in the opening. The lower part is simply gorgeous with a colorful pine tree to the left and a small chalet home tucked into the hillside below it. There are rolling hills and a colorful creek to the far right and a moving waterwheel mounted just to the top of it. The dial has a black backdrop and features raised white Roman numerals to mark the hours and matching fancy hands to pointout the time. There should be a wooden door at the very back but it is missing...no impact on the clock operation. It's open in the back to allow access to the all metal, weight driven movement produced by "Regula" and bearing the Schmeckenbecher name. A weight driven movement simply means that the chains need to be pulledoccasionally to wind the clock, cuckoo and music activities. The bellow or whistle tubesare intact and the tops look and sound good too! At the bottomof each hour, the colorful bird in the round opening near the top wakes up and gives offa single cuckoo sound before drifting back to sleep. What's cool too is that the men sawing the log move the saw back and forth as time ticks away! Then at the top of each hour, thebird awakens again and correctly cuckoos the current number of hoursbefore going back to sleep. The waterwheel then begins to turn and the man with the axe starts chopping as a Swiss music box inside the case plays an impressive version of The Woodchoppers March, one of the most popular tunes known around the world. The waterwheel stops when the music stops and so does the woodchopper but the two Sawyers keep right on sawing...absolutely fascinating! The clock works quite well here, keeps good time, animation is good too, and the music is lovely! I'velooked the clock over fairly well and find only minimal wear. I did notice that three of the paddles on the waterwheel have broken off and there is no back but it's not at all detracting. This clock is most impressive and a great example of old style Black Forest craftsmanship. It is the ideal size too measuring about 12" at its highest (not countingthe weights or pendulum), about 6 1/2" at its deepest point, and about 10" across the top. Keep in mind that despite the fact that the clock doesn't look old, it is and we don't know the service history. The movement, however, does show signs of maintenance but nonetheless, some adjustments or service may be necessary once the clock arrives at its new home. We oftenrecommend to our clock customers to have their vintage or antique clocksserviced at least once every three years. Doing so will keep a classicclock like this one, healthy for years to come. The clock comes completeas shown with three sets of attached metal chains, a carved wooden chalet pendulum, and three heavy pinecone shaped metal weights. This clock is in a class all by itself and is certain to be the focalpoint of any collection. Any guests in your home or office will bemore than pleased to see and hear this rare German timepiece in action. Bid with confidence; I know you'll love this clock!If you like this item and I'm sure you do, then I know you'lllove the other items we have listed! Check backfrequently since we're listing a lot of antique/vintage items as timeallows!We're selling this item and everything else we list with NoReserve, AS-IS, No Returns or Refunds, and a low starting bid so thateveryone has an equal chance to own this rare clock! We'd beglad to send more pictures if available; just ask! My wife andI have been accumulating lots of nice antiques and other collectorsitems over the years. But now is a good time to start clearingout the things we no longer wish to keep. We will give the moneywe raise from ebay sales to a ministry we support that is helping toconstruct orphan homes and schools in Kenya and China, helping to resettlerefugees from the Sudan, and lending assistance to victims of terror like thosein Israel. It's just something we have a passion for and this iswhere your money will go once you have paid for this item. We do allthat we can to accurately describe each item to the best of ourability. Our terms are pretty simple; payment is due on or before the 2nd day following the the close of sale. The winning bidder will be sent aninvoice following the close of sale through EBAY Checkout. Buyer is topay for shipping and handling. Wegenerally ship by the US Postal Service and sometimes by Federal Express. An international buyer will pay additional postage and is encouraged to get ashipping estimate from us prior to the close of auction. In most cases, payment can be made by VISA or MasterCard by calling our office or through PayPal in US funds. Please note that all transactions will begiven the appropriate feedback. Bid often and have Fun!Be sure to add commits to your favorites list!
