Lacquer plate clock
The original form of the Black Forest clock is not the cuckoo clock but the lacquer shield clock. The clock shield with the dial was preferably made of fir wood, while other types of wood are also found for gears, axles, etc.
The use of wood was inexpensive. In addition, the craft guilds did not initially allow a watchmaker to work metal.
This wooden wheel cuckoo clock (early 19th century) is a rarity, as many of these clocks fell victim to the woodworm. It is a second generation cuckoo clock - the first generation had no door for the wooden bird.
Movement: Stollenwerk with wooden wheels and side doors with an unusual locking mechanism. Overhead wooden anchor shaft. Wooden climbing wheel. Strike the bell (missing). Weight drive via nuts.
Shield: Slightly cambered ivory-colored shield with sparse flower painting in the spandrels. Small door for the cuckoo painted with a bird in the arch (not original). Roman numerals for hours.
Hands: wooden hands (not original)
In September 1850 Robert Gerwig, the director of the Grand Ducal Badische Uhrmacherschule in Furtwangen, called for a competition for a contemporary watch design. The most momentous design comes from Friedrich Eisenlohr, the architect responsible for most of the buildings along the Baden state railway. Eisenlohr provided the facade of a station house with a clock face. As an example you can see a rather rare table cuckoo clock from the end of the 19th century:
Movement: Cut-out brass movement with Black Forest hook walk. Hour and half hour strike on gong with simultaneous cuckoo call. Spring winding. Striking mechanism with worm and steel cable.
Housing: Brown colored wooden housing. Carved grapevines are placed on both front sides. Crowning of the roof with a carved cuckoo and vine leaves. Dial with Roman hours made of bone.
Pointer: Black Forest leg pointer.
