CUCKOO CLOCKS:
The modern cuckoo clock is available in musical and non musical
versions. The musical version has several variations. The music mechanism
can be mounted on the side of the case (usually on the right looking in the back)
or on the top inside just below the roof.
All of these versions are available with count wheel mechanisms in one
day or eight day versions. Most of these (with count wheels) that are musical have
a worm gear drive governor with a large vertical fan mounted on the movement. be
cautious of these , they tend to bind up often and won’t tolerate much wear. The
music sounding part is mounted on the side usually and has only brass drum and
the steel fingers there being no need for a governor assembly.
Commonly the roof mount mechanisms are 1 day units. There are 2 basic
types of shutoffs: one that simply moves in and out of a hole in the side of the drive
gear on the melody sounding drum, and another that has a graduated slot that the shutoff lever is moved out of and above a ridge on the drive gear so it holds the shutoff
open until the valley comes back around and the shutoff lever drops in and the tab
hooks the fan. On this type the secret is that the lock lever must snap out and up from
the shutoff hole to keep it going. These are usually either 22 note or 18 note units.
All of the music mechanisms have small dampers cemented to the bottom
of the fingers on the sounding bar. These dampers must come in contact with the small
pins on the brass drum the instant before the pin comes in contact with small finger
on the sounding bar as the music mechanism is in operation. The purpose of this is
to prevent a squeaking sound from occurring as the pin contacts the finger while it is
still vibrating from the last stroke. If these dampers are missing or defective they
must be replaced or the music mechanism will squeak. That is it. There is no other
way, Do not attempt to oil the sounding fingers ; this will not stop the squeak without
causing the sound to deaden, and will eventually thoroughly gum up the mechanism
and ruin it.