Hello fellow IHC members-

I have an old cuckoo in my shop that I do not have much info on. The customer would like to date it and get some idea of current worth. I hope I have attached a few pictures of the clock and movement. It is not clear to me how this is done.


The only identification is a "G.K." on the movement. It is a quarter sounding quail (count wheel - does not repeat) and hour cuckoo. A large clock, it is about 12" wide by 18" tall. Even though it has heavy weights, it is only 30 hours of running time.

Anyone have an idea about age and value?

Thanx,

Bruce Weeks

Hi Bruce,
When you write the message, at the top of the box there is a paperclip button at the far right. If you click on that a box will pop up that says file source and browse. Click on browse and find the picture you want to add, and click open on that. It should go in the file box.

I'm interested to see the picture, but I can't be of much help. I do have a large quail cuckoo like you are describing, and I would guess they are from the 1930s or older. They do still make quail cuckoo clocks, but they are a standard size and use small one day weights.

Andy

Andy,

I found the place to post a photo album. Check the new posts for the photos. I appreciate your help.

Thanx,

Bruce

Bruce,

We have a Black Forest German clock of comparable size and similar ornamentation with a deer on top.

I have been told that the GK on the movement refers to Gebruder Kuner (Kuner Brothers, Villigen) ca. 1900. I have no idea of the value but it is a handsome clock.

Item #6509024448 on eBay now is by the same maker.

Thanks Pattye,

The crosshatches on the case front and the hands are nearly identical to the one I have, so I think you are right about the maker. I have made another post on the photo album to, giving more constructional details.

The clock on eBay seems to be much later from the rooled brass plates and formed sheet steel gong hammers. So I think c. 1900 or earlier may be about right.

Thanks again for your help!

Bruce,
One of the best references I have seen on cuckoo clocks is The Black Forest Cuckoo Clock by Karl Kochmann. Below are a couple of the pages, but the book is full of good info and lots of pictures. It is a good one to have in your library.

These guides may help you to date your clock.

hands

wheel construction

Thanks Tom,

From these pages it appears to be probably smack in the middle of a range from 1865 - 1895. The hands look like the third type but are probably bone or ivory like type 2. Case is definately hardwood veneered which says 1865-1900. And the pinions are lantern type with steel arbors, not cut - so 1830-1895 there.

Allowing for some provincialism, 1880-ish seems reasonable. If someone has info on the dates Gebruder Kuner made clocks we might be abel to narrow it a little more.

Anyone care to venture a guess on value? It is (now) in very good condition. I cleaned the case and lightly oiled it, cleaned the hands, birds, etc. and it looks very nice.

I read with interest the reply by Justin Miller to the other post Bruce has about this clock. Can't figure out how to reply to that one.

Justin, if you read this, please check your
GK catalog for the GK model I have posted here. Would be interested if that one is pictured. If so, would you mind posting the information on it?
A picture would be nice also.

Thanks,
Pattye

Pattye, I will check the catalog when I get home to see if I can dig up a model # on your clock out of the catalog I have.

I will also make a scan (or take a picture) of Bruces clock int he catalog, you will see the motif is a perfect match... the only difference is the cuckoo quail set up.

I will keep in touch!

Pattye - There is a little yellow "recycle" arrow icon at the right hand bottom of the frame of replies. If you click on that you get a box to put your reply into. If you check this discussion at the bottom it is the same as the one that is just to the right of the "reply" click-on that has a blue "recycle" arrow in it.

Thanks and I look forward to seeing the post from Justin with the scan from the catalog.