One of our favorites of the clocks made in the Black Forest are the trumpeter clocks. The sound of the trumpeters call filling the home at the top of each hour really romanticizes the collection, and creates a wonderful atmosphere. These trumpeter clocks were made by a wide variety of Furtwangen makers such as Emilian Wehrle, Jacob Bäuerle, Lamy & Söhne, Gordian Hettich Sohn, and others.

The trumpeter clock is a complex musical clock, they were not easy to produce, and so very few were originally made… and even few have survived. The complex nature of the clock has caused most to stop functioning, and get out of adjustment as the years have passed. Well intentioned, but inadequate “restoration” attempts have further caused many to be damaged. Today good clean examples seem to be getting harder and harder to find.

We specialize in the restoration of trumpeter clocks of all types, and are always looking to purcahse additional examples. If you have a Black Forest trumpeter clock we would love to hear from you.

We are also interested in adding as many variations as possible to our expanding data base of photos… so even if you have an example that is not for sale, we would love to see a photo of your clock.

Please contact us through this site and we will promptly get back to you with an email to send photos.

Bellow you will find two videos of a 4 horn shelf trumpeter clock we just recently acquired for the collection. When we acquired the clock it was in playing condition, but the tune was playing far to fast… causing many of the notes the trumpeters call to get lost. We did some minor (but very important adjustments), slowing down the tune. The second video shows the clock after these adjustments have been made. We encourage you to compare the two very short videos to see the difference fine tuning can make… even on an example that many would consider in good playing condition.

BEFORE ADJUSTMENTS

AFTER ADJUSTMENTS

Lastly we would like to draw you attention once again to our new book, Rare and Unusual Black Forest Clocks. This new comprehensive book has a large section dedicated to the trumpeter clock. If fact it is the most comprehensive work on the trumpeter clock ever published to date… showing dozens of examples of trumpeter clocks, their movements, and the many variations that can be found. If you are interested in Black Forest trumpeter clocks this book is a must have reference. The book will be released in June, 2012. A special pre order offer for the book is currently available on our website at www.blackforestclocks.org/book

Best,

Justin

This is a wonderful piece of Black Forest automata. This clock was made by the firm Philipp Haas & Söhne C. 1890-1900. The case of the clock is made form oak and constructed in the form of a castle or fortress. In the upper section of the building is the cuckoo door, where the cuckoo calls the full and half hours.

In the front of the building is two turned turrets, and a fence. A large sentry, or guard, walks back and forth between the two towers as the pendulum swings. At the end of the march he does a 180 and returns the other way. This movement happens 24/7 as the pendulum swings.

The cuckoo cuckoo clocks with automated sentry’s are very collectible, as they not only provide automation with the cuckoo with the clocks strike train, but the automated guard is powered by the time train of the clock. The combination of both forms of automata creates a piece that is interesting to watch at any time.

This particular clock is a well documented piece. It was photographed for the 1991 text, Black Forest clocks, by Rick Ortenburger… and it can be seen on page 244.

The key for the clock also has the firms initials incorporated into the handle “PH&S”.

If you are interested in getting a better look at how this clock works, we have taken a video overview on the  clock which can be seen here:

Our new book, Rare and Unusual Black Forest Clocks, which is die to be released in just a few short months also covers many different examples from the early “Shield” clocks with automated sentry figures to the shelf examples. We also have examples with two moving guards, and even a quarter-striking cuckoo and quail clock with automated sentry.

We are still offering a pre-order special for our book. Reserve your copy today through our website or by clicking HERE.

A rare and unusual variation to the traditional Black Forest cuckoo clocks are examples that have exposed cuckoo birds incorporated into their design.

On a traditional cuckoo clock the bird will appear behind a close door at the full and half hours. Variations to this design will include a bird that instead of being placed behind a closed door is partially exposed in an open archway, or even fully exposed on the top of the case. In most cases examples that have this variation the birds are much larger than the typical cuckoo, some have even been found with birds that are life size (12” from beak to tail). Most of the clocks found today with large exposed birds are wall handing examples, but the variation was also used on the table models.

These variations were employed by a wide variety of makers including Johann Baptist Beha, Eisenbach; Theodor and Aaron Ketterer, Furtwangen; Phillipp Haas & Söhne, St. Georgen; Samuel Kammerer, Furtwangen; Gordian Hettich Sohn, Furtwangen and many others.

For those interested in learning more about this exotic variation on the traditional cuckoo clock our book, Rare and Unusual Black Forest Clocks, shows over a dozen known variations with large exposed birds… and also gives the histories of the makers who made them.

For your interest we are including a few examples of cuckoo clocks with exposed birds out of our private collection below.

We are always looking to document additional examples of clocks with exposed cuckoo birds. If you have an example, or know where one is, we would love to hear from you. Please contact us though our website.

Best,

Justin J. Miller

This cuckoo clock was made by Johann Baptist Beha during the last quarter of the 19th Century. It is shown in the firms catalog as a model No. 119. The cuckoo bird is exposed and is nearly life size. The clocks strikes on a large bell located on the top of the case below the bird. The clock has a wood plate movement and uses “Natural call” cuckoo pipes.

This cuckoo clock was made by Johann Baptist Beha C. 1880. The clock has a life size 12″ cuckoo bird perched on the top of the case. The clock has three trains separating the cuckoo call and strike train. The clock strikes on a large bell located on the top of the case below the birds. The clock has a wood plate movement and uses “Natural call” pipes.

This large shelf clock has an exposed cuckoo and quail. The birds on the clock are 50% life size (6″ from beak to tail). The case is 30″ high and 21″ wide. The clock was made by Samuel Kammerer, a Furtwangen maker. The clock utilizes a robust triple fusee movement with solid brass plates.  The movement in this clock is the largest and most robust movement we have ever seen in a cuckoo clock. The cuckoo calls the hours, the quail calls the quarters. This is the only shelf clock we know of in existence with an exposed cuckoo and quail.

One of our favorite Black Forest clockmakers is without question Emilian Wehrle. Emilian Wehrle made some of the most fantastic musical clocks to come out of the Black Forest during the 19th century. Although he is most known for his trumpeter clocks, he also made flute clocks, singing bird clocks, rooster clocks, and cuckoo clocks. His clocks were made of the highest quality, and in very low numbers when compared to Black Forest clock production as a whole. The photograph above is a magnificent shelf trumpeter made by Emilian, we have also included a short video showing the basic mechanical workings of this clock, the end of the video allows you to hear the clock in action.

For those who are interested in learning more about Emilian Wehrle, we have co authored an article with Al Wehrle, a good friend and Emilian’s Great Grandson! This detailed 16 page article gives a detailed look into the early years of Emilian’s life, and the clocks he produced with an overview of how they work, as well as the history of his factory and his decedents down to the present day.

The article titled, “Emilian Wehrle, The Man and His Clocks”, is being published in the March/April 2012 edition of the NAWCC Bulletin.  For those of you who are already members of the NAWCC, you will be receiving this article with next months issue. If you are not a member of the NAWCC you may want to consider joining (www.nawcc.org).

We are always looking to learn more about Emilian Wehrle and his clocks. If you have a clock you think may have been made by Wehrle please contact us. We are always interested in seeing other examples to further our research.

We also want to let you know our new book Rare and Unusual Black Forest Clocks is now available for preorder through our website.  If you have an interest in Black Forest horology this is a must have text for your library. We are currently offering free shipping anywhere in the USA with all preorders (as well as discounted international shipping). We encourage those who are interested to preorder the book and take part of this limited time offer. We are also happy to offer author signed copies to any order placed through our website. Additional information about the book, and the preorder offer, can be found at www.blackforestclocks.org/book.

Best,

Justin J.  Miller