The Origin of the Cuckoo Clock

A cuckoo clock is typically pendulum driven and chimes hourly with the call of the common cuckoo. The cuckoo clock is traditionally designed as a “chalet”. The traditionally styled ones have a wooden case which is decorated with carved leaves and animals. When the clock strikes a small trap door opens and a bird emerges. Some clocks also feature a moving bird. There are two kinds of movements: one-day movements and eight-day movements. Some also feature musical movements. The first of the cuckoo clocks were made in the Black Forest, between 1740 and 1750. They are characterized by hand painted shields.

The chalet styled clock is one of the most popular clocks. It is a Swiss contribution. They were very much value by the Swiss as souvenirs. The chalet style is further divided into three basic styles:

• Black Forest Chalet

• Swiss Chalet

• Bavarian Chalet

The Swiss chalet is further divided into two types. They are the Brienz and the Emmental. The Bavarian chalet features a Swiss music box, which plays famous melodies like, “The Happy Wanderer” and “Edelweiss”.

Today’s cuckoo clocks are mostly driven by weight, very few are spring driven. These weight driven clocks are designed with pine cone shaped cast iron weights. The typical cuckoo sound is generated with the help of two tiny gedact (pipes) in the clock. When the clock moves a puff of air is sent to each pipe alternatively when the clock strikes.

In recent times these clocks are powered by Quartz batteries. These clocks lack the cuckoo bellows. In these clocks the bird emerges from its hiding and moves up and down. Some clocks also feature the bird flapping its wings while calling out. The call of the bird in these clocks is digitalized. Many clocks also feature the sound of waterfall and sounds of other birds in the background. The battery power clocks do not have a gong wire and hence the cuckoo emerges only at the full hour.

Some Cuckoo clocks today also feature twelve different musical chimes (one for each hour). Some of the famous chimes that are featured along with the bird call are: sounds of wood choppers, jumping deer, beer drinkers and many more. One feature unique only to the quartz clocks is that they are light sensitive. When lights are turned of during the night, they automatically switch to the silent mode during the hourly chime.

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Special Instructions about Travel Clocks

Travel clocks are small digital clocks which you can carry along with you anywhere you want. These clocks run on small batteries and are very small in size. They have various options including settings for musical alarms. They also feature LCD displays where you can check the time and date. Some of these also feature vibrating and snooze options.

Power source

Different types of travel clocks have different sources of power. Some are battery powered, while others include cords that are required to be plugged in. Battery powered alarm clocks require AAA or AA batteries. They usually require small batteries because they themselves are very small. These small batteries are found in watch stores or any other departmental store. It is very necessary to make sure before you leave for any trip, that your clock has a working power source.

Changing the time

If you are traveling from one time zone to another it is essential that you change the clock time and also the date to your current time zone. Some clocks feature a time or an hour button which you have to press to activate the alarm time change.

Setting AM/PM

It is very important that you set the AM/PM option accurately. Make sure that the LCD display of your clock indicates the correct AM or PM option. If you jumble up this setting then the alarm wouldn't go off in the morning; it will rather go off in the evening.

Setting alarm time

Find the switch that reads alarm, if you want to reset your alarm time. Move this switch along the alarm setting. Some clocks are provided with buttons in stead of switches, in such cases hold down the button till the time starts flashing and release it when you reach the desired alarm time.

Turn alarm on

Next you must recheck whether you have set the correct alarm time. If your LCD display does not indicate a picture of a bell somewhere then the alarm is not set on. In such cases, check your settings again. If still the picture does not appear then look for an alarm on/off button and move it to the correct position to set the alarm on.

Music options

Not all travel clocks have the alarm wake-up option. If you have one that has this option then you can easily use it to choose the buzzer options. Some alarm clocks have musical options too.

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Origin and Types of Grandfather Clocks

In 1670 the anchor escapement mechanism gave rise to the longcase clock or the grandfather clock. Before the grandfather clock was developed, the pendulum clocks functioned on the verge escapement mechanism. The pendulums swung to about 100 degrees with the help of this mechanism. Long pendulums could not be fitted into the case as a result of the length of the swing. With the help of the anchor mechanism the pendulum's swing was restricted between 4 to 6 degrees. The reduced swing length allowed clock makers to use longer pendulums. These had certain advantages like - they could function on less power, caused less friction, reduced wear and tear, and lastly, were more accurate than the verge escapement ones.

Mostly a seconds pendulum, which is also known as a "Royal" pendulum, is used in the longcase clocks. These pendulums take exactly one second to complete a single swing. They measure about 39 inches in length. In recent times these clocks use a more accurate mechanism known as the deadbeat escapement.

Why these clocks were called Grandfather Clocks?

The story goes that two Jenkins brothers were posted as managers at the George Hotel in Piercebridge, County Durham, England. In 1875 on of the brothers died and the clock at this hotel began to lose time. Even after several attempts by famous clockmakers, it could not be fixed. It finally broke down when the other brother died. The clock was never repaired after that. Henry Clay Work, an American composer and song writer, wrote a song about this story and titled it as "My Grandfather's Clock". The clock and the song both became very popular and thus the name was derived.

Types of Grandfather Clocks

These clocks are basically of two types. They are:

• Comtoise Clocks: These are also known as Morbier clocks or Morez clocks. These are of French origin and were made in the French region called Franche-Comte, hence the name. These were initially produced in 1680. They are distinguished by their curving "potbellied" case. Also these clocks feature a large number of curved lines. They are heavy and their pendulum bobs are highly ornamented.

• Bornholm clocks: These are of Danish origin. They are encased in tall wooden boxes. These are also pendulum driven and were manufactured in Bornholm from 1745 to 1900. The clock makers of Bornholm were inspired in manufacturing these when an English ship carrying such clocks was stranded there. The clocks the ship carried were sent to Poul Ottesen Arboe in Ronne for repairing. While repairing those clocks Arboe learned the mechanism and functioning of these clocks. It was then that they started to produce these grandfather clocks.

Many people like to adorn their living space with a grandfather clock, just for sheer décor purposes or as a prized family possession. Several of these clocks are high-priced antique pieces and collector's items these days.

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Choosing the Right Wall Clock for Your Kids Room

Wall clocks not only tell us the time but are also decorative pieces for our wall. Wall clocks have undergone major developments and still continue to do so. In recent times, several new and innovative methods have been developed for displaying the time. Clocks have been adorning walls from a long time; they come in different shapes and sizes and have unique designs. These days the coolest wall clock is the one featured with the plasma and neon display. A LED lighted clock changes color with the time of the day. Well, with time a clock that would use the laser projection system would also be developed.

These clocks are not at all expensive and are available for different rates. If you are bored of your old clock you can easily go for a change and get a newer model. Special clocks are also available for special occasions, like Christmas and Halloween. There are clocks that are very much room specific. A kitchen clock will be different from the kids' wall clocks. You can also get decorative clocks for your sitting room.

Kids' wall clocks may be used to teach the time very easily to your little ones. Also if you have trouble in getting your kids out of bed in the morning, then these clocks can prove to be very useful. All you have to do is help their imagination run wild and turn these clocks into games and ensure that they play along. These clocks are especially made of durable materials so that if the little ones throw them they do not break easily. Don't go for forged iron wall clock for your kid's room. They might be dangerous if a little one makes an attempt to throw it around. Clocks which might have small parts are also harmful, because your child might try to put it in his mouth and swallow the tiny parts by mistake. Clocks made of easily breakable material can also pose a threat; the broken parts might cut your little one's hand. Choose clocks with animated themes and bright colors. It is always better to remain on the safe side than be sorry later.

Placing a digital wall clock on your kid's room might not be such a bright idea. Kids easily get addicted to them because of their easy to read number display. This might prevent them from learning to read old fashioned clocks. The best way to help them learn time is to place an old fashioned yet funnily decorated clock in their rooms. This won't look boring to them. Gradually, kids will get used to them.

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Bizarre Alarm Clocks

If you sleep deep and find it very difficult to wake up in the morning you need to change your alarm. There are a lot of interesting alarm clocks these days, and each of them has its own unique features. Some of them wake you up in a nice calm way, while others irritate you out of your deep slumber. Some of the top alarm clocks are:

The Sfera: This one hangs from the ceiling just above your bed. Each time the snooze gets activated the clock retreats towards the ceiling and each time you need to reach a little higher to turn it off. And ultimately a point comes when you actually have to get up from your bed to turn off the switch.

The Puzzle Alarm: This alarm clock shoots three pieces of puzzle in the air. To stop the alarm you need to get up from the bed and find out the three pieces and put them back in the clock to turn the alarm off.

Nooby: This is an interactive one which wakes you up with message saying, "Rise and shine, it's time to get up!" If you ignore it and go off to sleep again, you will be awakened again by a harsh voice saying, "Take your fingers out of your ears!" This will go on unless you get up and turn it off by wringing its blue neck.

ClearSounds Wake & Shake alarm clock: It features a choice of different types of alarms, ranging from several loud tones to a flashing strobe. It also features a vibrating pad to alert you when the alarm goes off.

The Kuku: This one greets you early in the morning by crowing and laying eggs. To stop it you need to return its eggs to their proper place.

The Blowfly: Once its alarm goes off it escapes from its cage and revolves round you producing sound. To turn it off you have to catch it and put it back in its cage.

Clocky: Clocky loves to play the hide-and-seek game. Once it is set to the snooze mode, it will roll off the nightstand, fall on the floor and search for a place in the room to hide. When the snooze goes off again you will have to get out of bed, find it and turn it off.

The Sonic Alarm: Simply remove the pin and yell "fire in the hole" and drop the grenade into the sleeper's room. After approximately ten seconds a piercing blast will issue from the alarm and will continue do so unless it is turned off. To turn it off the sleeper has to find the one who set the alarm so that he can put back the pin in the proper place.

These out-of-the-box alarm clocks are great for giving away as gifts or to use in your own house. The next time you wake up from sleep, you will be sure to wake up with a bang!

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