Old Black Forest Cuckoo Clock Musical Movement Tune Identification

[cpark099]

I have an old Black Forest 2 door musical cuckoo clock from approximately the late 1950s. I took it to a local clock repairman to have it cleaned and serviced as the pendulum would stop after running a short time. When I called to ask about the prognosis of the clock, the repairman told me that when he removed the music movement to service the clock, teeth on the comb started falling off and it would need to be replaced with the one-size-fits-all Edelweis/Happy Wanderer movement (the only one made now, I'm told). I stated that this was unacceptable as the tune it played was very special to me and my family not to mention the fact that it worked fine when I dropped it off -- we had even played it twice in his shop we I dropped it off! He said if I provide him with a recording of the tune, he could seek identification. I found a snippet of the clock running from a 1980s video recording, but probably not enough to identify the tune. I picked up the musical movement from the repairman today and found that literally half of the teeth on the high register were broken off! It will still play the tune, but it is barely recognizable now with so many teeth on the comb gone. Does anybody have any ideas of ways to identify or locate a replacement comb or musical movement for these clocks? By the way, this movement has the seated man with the zither attached. Also, there was no sticker anywhere on the clock stating the original tune.

[Dick Feldman]

Welcome to the message board.

Since the drum determines the tune played, a replacement comb would serve your needs. Unfortunately, I do not know of anyone that sells only combs for music movements. The chances of finding the same comb on a new music movement are slim to none.

When I Googled repair music movements, I found the following: http://www.musicboxrepairs.com/ . You might try them. There is a phone number listed on their web page. I have never had any dealings with this company and my suggestion is not a recommendation. It may be possible to have someone make a new comb for your music movement, if you have enough money.

If you search long enough, you should be able to find a complete clock on eBay or at a yard sale, etc. With luck, you may be able to salvage a comb in that way.

My experience with cuckoo clocks with the music movement in the attic is that the comb teeth do not “just fall off.” Some physical act broke them off. Likely this occurred when someone got rough when the clock movement was removed from the case.

Every one of that type cuckoo clock that I have seen in the last years has had the same serious problem. I have found the time/cuckoo movement to be worn to the point that friction has overcome the power supplied to the movement. The normal solution for wear is to replace the movement with new (Likely yours is a Regula 25, which is still manufactured). I have also found the music movements to suffer from wear. With those, I bush both ends of the drum arbor and install a new governor. In addition, I replace the bellows tops (bellows) as the paper likely has deteriorated with time. I think you will also find the plastic hands on your clock have deteriorated and should be replaced.

Best Regards,

Dick

[Dick Feldman]

When I checked one supply house, I found the replacement music movement may be an 18 note or a 22 note. They did not specify any choice of tunes.

In addition, your music movement played only one tune and any replacement should do the same.

Best,

Dick

[Bill Stuntz]

There are (were) 18 teeth on his comb. But there's no guarantee that they would necessarily be same 18 notes. I have no idea whether there's a standard, or not. Maybe one of the cuckoo experts will know. The other consideration if you are going to try to keep the same drum and replace the comb is the tooth spacing. It's gotta match if the right drum pin is going to pluck the right tooth.

[cpark099]

Thank you for the ideas! At this point, I am looking for any possible ways to begin the search/recovery of the song this clock played. I will pursue any possible leads. I have no confidence that this is going to be accomplished by my repairman, even though he has promised to do just that. Had I any inkling this was going to happen, I would have made a recording of the clock prior to taking it it for repairs. This is very upsetting as I did not have any issue with the music portion of the clock and specifically told the repairman to leave that portion of the clock alone. He has plainly stated that he needed to remove the music movement in order to work on the rest of the clock, thus resulting in its 'inevitable' destruction.
If I could identify the name of the tune, I feel I would at least have a foothold on beginning the daunting task of finding another movement. I can play the basic melody of the song on the piano, but that still does nothing in the way of getting a name for the song. I've found that often times musical movements even when working perfectly are very loosely inspired by the melody of their namesake.

[Bill Stuntz]

Can you record yourself (no matter how badly/well) playing the basic melody & post it somewhere for us to hear? That would be a GREAT starting point. Almost certainly one of us will be able to name it. Or maybe you can listen to music box recordings on sites that sell music boxes and identify it that way.

Is there any manufacturer's name on the music box? Sorry If you've slready answered that - I didn't bother looking back for it.

[shutterbug]

How about recording your piano version on an MP3 and uploading it for us?

[Bill Stuntz]

shutterbug: Great minds....

[shutterbug]

We must have hit "enter" at about the same time

[Bill Stuntz]

I feel GOOD that I can actually contribute something useful to a thread. Even as a newbie.

[Mike Phelan]

If you can get another identical musical movement, why not just swap the comb or the pin barrel?

As for identifying the tune, look up a catalogue that sells movements for musical boxes to get a list of tunes, then google for them so you can play? A bit long winded, but must of these tunes awe well-known.

[Dick Feldman]

I was searching the part archives this morning and found a comb that may fit your needs.

Send an address to fourburros@AOL.com and I will mail it to you. I did not have time to count teeth, but I think it has 18.

This may be your answer.

Best,

Dick

[Tinker Dwight]

Hi
There is often a sticker on the back of the case with the name
of the tune.
Tinker Dwight

[shutterbug]

If you can get another identical musical movement, why not just swap the comb or the pin barrel?

As for identifying the tune, look up a catalogue that sells movements for musical boxes to get a list of tunes, then google for them so you can play? A bit long winded, but must of these tunes awe well-known.

I've suggested that before, but most who responded didn't think it would work .... that the comb is made for the song. I'm not convinced of that yet. Anyone have experience with switching just the combs?

[harold bain]

I've had good luck switching combs from one to another without worrying if the tune was the same. As long as the comb has the right number of teeth and the same profile (they look the same), it should work.