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

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16 Comments
  • Sue W
    March 2, 2019

    He might have a dry throat, try him with a water bowl too!

    • admin
      March 2, 2019

      Thank you, Sue, I love it 🙂

      • Bryntin
        March 2, 2019

        It’s probably just too early for him and he isn’t feeling the necessary um… hormones. Cuckoos don’t normally start calling until early May. By then he’ll be feeling so urgent he’ll be calling every five minutes.

        • admin
          March 2, 2019

          Thank you for the advice, Bryntin. If he does start calling every five minutes I may have to keep his door closed until Autumn time. 🙂

  • Peter's pondering
    March 2, 2019

    I hope your Cuckoo recovers fully and lives to shout out the time for many years to come!

    • admin
      March 2, 2019

      Thank you, Peter and I’m sure he’ll be fine with a little TLC.

  • rugby843
    March 2, 2019

    That’s sad! I had a small cuckoo clock years ago, loved it.

    • admin
      March 3, 2019

      Thank you, Rugby, I’m sure he’ll be fine

  • Invisibly Me
    March 2, 2019

    Get well soon, little Cuckoo clock. I think you’ve done well to take him apart to try to fix him (if I attempted this I think he’d be a gonner by now). Fingers crossed the spares online, and a little seed to help him through the tough days until you receive them, will do the trick.xx

    • admin
      March 2, 2019

      Thank you, Carol. I was a little worried when I took him apart, but hopefully, when I get the spares and a little seed as you say, he’ll be back up and cuckooing away. Hope you’re ok. 🙂

  • Dave Kingsbury
    March 3, 2019

    Always good to hear of wildlife preservation! Lovely account, too …

    • admin
      March 4, 2019

      Thank you, Dave, hopefully he’ll be well again in time for Summer ????

  • Amanda Ricks
    March 6, 2019

    How sweet and cool. I used to have a cuckoo clock when I was a girl. It must have not survived one of the many moves we did when I was younger. Too bad.
    Have a good day, Trev. 🙂

    • admin
      March 6, 2019

      Thank you, Amanda. I think this one will be good once I get the spare parts.

  • smzang
    March 6, 2019

    This is a delight. If it is meant that your tinkering will fix him, that is fine, but if that little cuckoo
    was hatched to be one of a kind, you will just have to glory in his uniqueness. Either way, he
    gives much to each who reads this tale.

    • admin
      March 6, 2019

      Thank you, smzang. I am hopeful he will get back to being a happy little Cuckoo soon. ????