Expert: William J Perkins - 2/25/2009

Question
I've recently begun restoring old German Black Forest cuckoo clocks I pick up on ebay. Many are described as "vintage".

Could you tell me of a resource that would help me determine the year, or even decade, in which these clocks were manufactured?

All movements show a manufacturer.  The most typical of the movements I have are stamped simply “Hubert Herr Triberg Germany”. But few of them have a serial number.

Though a publication that provided information by manufacturer and serial number would help. I'm really looking for a reference that utilized an assay of materials, design, manufacture technique, &etc., to guide one through a process of elimination to narrow down a date.

I've been Googling for answers on this, but with no luck.

I'd appreciate any suggestions you may have.

Respectfully,

Steve

Answer
The perfect answer to your needs is a book by Karl Kochmann titled "The Black Forest Cuckoo Clock".  This is becoming a rare book,  I have seen a listing on Ebay and once in a while Amazon or ABE.  If you see one grab it!  Quoting from Karl's forward, "This fifth book captures not only the historical past of the Black Forest Clockmakers, but also provides technical information, details, diagrams, and other documents that provide a better understanding of the function of the cuckoo clock."  Regards WJP