Working Blackforest Cuckoo Clock

Growing up in the Black Forest region, the cuckoo clock was more than just a decorative item – it was a symbol of tradition and craftsmanship. My grandfather owns one, my father wants one, and I built one myself.

To reflect the spirit of the Black Forest, I included a few iconic elements: the famous Black Forest cake, a deer representing our beautiful woodland wildlife, and a vine plant as a personal nod to my grandfather, who owns the first cuckoo clock I ever saw.

Rather than recreating the precise mechanics of a traditional cuckoo clock, my main focus was on bringing the cuckoo to life in a consistent and reliable way. That's why I decided to power the clock by hand instead of using the usual counterweight mechanism.

You can bring it to life by turning the water wheel; the hour and minute hands move independently, and every time the minute hand reaches the full hour, a cuckoo appears twice.

Technic Prototype Showcase: