Luke Judge

Cuckoo clocks are unique creations that are centuries old. The
first cuckoo clock was produced back in the early 18th century
in Germany’s region known as the Black Forest. Clock making in
this area of Germany dates back to the early 17th century,
almost a full hundred years before clockmakers and craftsmen
produced the very first cuckoo clock. The father of cuckoo
clocks in believed to be the German clockmaker, Franz Anton
Ketterer, although there are a great many stories and lore
revolving around this unique timepiece.

This early clock was thought to be inspired by a Bohemian design
from the late early 1600s that came to Germany from a peddler
from the modern day Czech Republic. This method of selling
timepieces made the cuckoo clock even more famous, as clock
makers all around the Black Forest area of Germany. In the next
three centuries, peddlers would travel all around Europe selling
these charming timepieces, further influencing different areas
of Europe with the unique sound of the cuckoo clock.

Although the first cuckoo clocks were made of wood, they are a
great deal simpler in style than the intricately decorated and
heavily carved creations that are usually thought of to be
cuckoo clocks. Instead of just the case being made of wood,
early Germany clockmakers made every piece of the clock from
wood, including the gears and other working parts. This is one
of the reasons why these early clocks have fallen into disrepair
or are completely lost. Furthermore, many of these early clocks
were painted with watercolor paints, which do not have the
potential to hold their pigments over time and are easily
removed by simply cleaning the clock with a damp cloth.

Although these early clocks were more primitive than their
modern day counterparts, they included the famous cuckoo bird
instead of more traditional chimes to mark the hour. Native to
Asia, Africa, and Europe, the cuckoo bird is a unique bird that
lays their eggs in the nests of other birds, which in turn rear
the cuckoo’s young as surrogate parents. This bird was commonly
grey in color, although the female features a vibrant tuft of
red feathers atop her head.

Also like today’s clocks, the early cuckoo clocks were decorated
in schemes that showed families, military motifs, or hunting
scenes. In the late 1800s, the production of cuckoo clocks
became industrialized and began production for customers all
over Germany, Europe, and the rest of the world. Soon, the
cuckoo clock became immediately synonymous with Germany life and
style, making the timepiece an incredibly popular souvenir.
Three of the more famous clock makers in Germany began making
cuckoo clocks, namely Theodore Ketterer, Fidel Hepting, and
Johann Baptist Beha.

Unlike the industrialization in other parts of the world where
large, noisy, dirty factories took over the countryside, the
cuckoo clock factories were generally much smaller and housed in
cottages where entire families would contribute one specific
part of the clock. Each individual was trained in one aspect of
clock making or decorating, with one family member working on
the actual clock, another working on the case carving, another
on painting the decorations, and another to completely assemble
the piece. Over 13,500 men, women, and children worked in making
cuckoo clocks during this period of time in the Black Forest
village of Triberg.

Today, the cuckoo clock has made its way all over the world.
Still made in many of the same traditions, the most historic
cuckoo clocks are still produced in the Black Forest region.
Whether you choose to decorate your home with a clock that
houses the tiny bird or want a true German souvenir to remember
your trip, a cuckoo clock is the perfect addition to any home.

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AUSTIN, Texas — Texas will join other states in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of federal health care legislation as soon as President Barack Obama signs the bill, Attorney General Greg Abbott said.

“To protect all Texans’ constitutional rights, preserve the constitutional framework intended by our nation’s founders, and defend our state from further infringement by the federal government, the State of Texas and other states will legally challenge the federal health care legislation,” Abbott said in a written statement late Sunday night after the U.S. House of Representatives approved the measure.

The legislation is headed to Obama to sign, which could happen Tuesday.

“We plan to file the moment Obama signs the bill,” Abbott said in a posting on Facebook. Attorneys general for several other states indicated Monday they would join the lawsuit.

House members voted 219-212 late Sunday to approve the health care overhaul that would extend coverage to 32 million uninsured Americans. It also would significantly expand Medicaid, the federal-state health care program for the poor; place new federal regulations on the insurance industry; and allow parents to keep children up to age 26 on their family insurance plans.

Most Americans would have to buy insurance or face penalties. There would be subsidies to help families with incomes of up to $88,000 a year pay their premiums.

Prominent Texas Republicans, including Abbott and Gov. Rick Perry, have been outspoken against the Democratic-backed health care measure. Perry called it a “gross federal overreach.”

“Unfortunately, the health care vote had more to do with expanding socialism on American soil than it does fixing our health care finance and delivery systems. The Obama health care bill undermines patient choice, personal responsibility, medical innovation and fiscal responsibility in America,” Perry said in a prepared statement.

No Republican joined House Democrats in voting for the bill, and one admitted Monday that he shouted “baby killer” during a speech Sunday evening by a Democratic colleague whose vote was crucial to the overhaul’s passage.

Rep. Randy Neugebauer, who represents about two dozen West Texas counties, said he yelled “it’s a baby killer” in reference to an agreement reached between President Barack Obama and anti-abortion Democrats led by Rep. Bart Stupak. The third-term congressman said he apologized to Stupak and regretted that his outburst was misinterpreted as a direct reference to the lawmaker.

One Texas Democratic congressman, Rep. Chet Edwards of Waco, voted against the legislation.

Congressional Democrats from Texas who backed the measure said in a joint statement: “This pivotal moment in our nation’s history will deliver affordable, accessible health care coverage to all Americans, and this plan will take a stand against rising premiums in Texas which have doubled over the past decade.”

The Texas AFL-CIO hailed the bill’s passage. The group’s president, Becky Moeller, criticized Texas Republican leaders for “just sloganeering over ‘states’ rights.”

“And a leadership that would sue to stop health care reform at the drop of a hat might want to explain its priorities,” she said in reference to Abbott’s threatened lawsuit.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the legislation would cut deficits by an estimated $138 billion over a decade. The legislation includes more than $400 billion in higher taxes over a decade and cuts more than $500 billion from planned payments to hospitals, nursing homes, hospices and other providers that treat Medicare patients.

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By Myron Kukla | The Grand Rapids PressFebruary 28, 2010, 1:30AM

Mark Copier | The Grand Rapids PressOn time: Dan Winebrenner is opening Holland Clock Co. in downtown Holland. The shop will specialize in sales and repair of European clocks.HOLLAND — If you think there’s something cuckoo in Holland these days, there is.

Former electrical engineer Dan Winebrenner is opening Holland Clock Co., a store specializing in new and previously owned cuckoo clocks, at 210 College Ave.

“This is something I’ve always wanted to do,” said Winebrenner, who has been doing clock repairs full time out of his home since 2006. “As a kid, I was fascinated by grandfather clocks and cuckoo clocks in our home and would sit for hours watching them run.”

A former electrical control designer for Fogg Filler Co., Winebrenner learned the ins and outs of clock repair from books, videos and trial and error.

The new store will specialize in selling traditional cuckoo clocks in the leaf and bird
design, the farmhouse style or “hunter” design in prices ranging from $30 to $100 for miniature clocks and $150 to $1,500 for regulation-size clocks.

“Cuckoo clocks do have the bird that pops out of door on the hour to do the cuckoo call, but there’s also ones with people dancing and music,” said Winebrenner, noting that cuckoo clocks have their modern origin from clockmakers in Germany, where they became fashionable in the late 1700s and early 1800s.

Winebrenner said the store will carry a variety of clock lines, including Schneider, Romba as well as some clocks from the Netherlands. The store will also do clock repairs.

“I picked downtown Holland for the store location because it gets a lot of foot traffic and a lot of tourist visitors through the year,” said Winebrenner, who previously sold clocks at the Blue Star Antique Pavilion.

Antique reseller Max Bush said Winebrenner has been repairing his clocks for four years.
“I know when Dan fixes a clock, it will work,” Bush said.

Holland Clock Co. will be open from noon to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Winebrenner does not have a store Web site, but he can be reached at info@hollandclockcompany.com.

E-mail the author of this story: lakeshore@grpress.com

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