How to Adjust a Cuckoo

Clock Music Box

by
William J. Bilger
 How to Adjust a Cuckoo
Clock Music Box
by
William J. Bilger

Published MMXII

Published by The Blue Parrot Publishing Company, Ormond Beach, FL.

Copyright 2012 William J. Bilger. All rights reserved. No part of this publication
may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by
any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior
written permission of the author.

Printed in the United States of America.

How to Adjust a Cuckoo Clock Music Box

General:
Many competent clock repairers can repair the movement portion of a cuckoo clock but
when it comes to adjusting the music box for proper operation they are at a loss. Adjusting the
music box on a cuckoo clock to where it repeatedly and consistently operates correctly at the
appropriate times is probably the second
most misunderstood aspect of cuckoo
clock repair, second only to whether or
not the clock should play music on the
half hour, which will be addressed later.
In order to properly adjust a cuckoo
clock music box the repairer must know
how and why it does what it does when
it is supposed to do it.

Music Box:
The music box is separate from
the time and strike train in as much as it
has its own weight to power it. However
it is connected to the time and strike
train by an ingenious linkage of levers FIG. 1
and cams. The music box operates the
same as the strike train. That is, it goes
from a locked position, to warning (cocked), then running and finally back to the locked
position. The complete sequence of events for a cuckoo clock with a music box is, first the strike
train goes into warning, then the music box goes into warning, then the clock strikes. When the
strike train is finished striking it locks and then the music box is activated. After the music box
plays its tune it too is locked into position. Now both the strike train and the music box are
locked and ready for the next sequence of events. That is all there is to it. It is as simple as all
that.

The two most common methods of mounting the music box in a cuckoo clock are either
roof mounted or side mounted. The operation of a roof mounted music box will be discussed
first.
Roof Mounted Music Box:
The roof mounted music box is controlled and operated by only two wires. Looking into
the back of a roof mounted cuckoo clock with its mish-mash of wires and levers it seems like a
complex Rube Goldberg type device. However if you separate out the different component
parts into their individual pieces it is an easy mechanism to understand. Therefore, if you take
the time to understand how these two wires work in conjunction with each other you will be
able to decipher and master all roof mounted cuckoo music box operations. There are only two
wires to be concerned about. If you know where to look for these wires and if you know what
their purposes are the mystery of how the music box operates will be solved.

FIG 1 is a schematic of a music box and cuckoo clock movement shown from the back of
the clock looking in. Wire #1 and wire #2 are the two wires mentioned earlier. There is always a
wire that pulls the stop pin out of the drum stop hole. That is wire #1. There is also always
another wire that intercepts and interrupts
the music box fan. That is wire #2. FIG 2 is a
detailed drawing of a standard music box. Fig
3 is a blown-up drawing of the 4 armed
bellcrank (shown in FIG.2) for clarity. FIG 4 is a
drawing of the side of a music box showing the
drum and drum stop hole. Notice in the
drawing that the drum has only rotated a few
degrees and the stop lever is not in the hole
but riding on the side of the drum. The stop
lever is held against the side of the drum by
the return spring M FIG. 2. FIG 5 is a diagram
of the two principle arbors, again shown from
the rear of the movement looking in, that
activate the
Figures 2, 3, 4, 14 & 15 FIG. 2
music box.
A Fan Hook
The two
B Mounting Screw
C Fan arbors shown have a collet attached to the end with a screw.
D Locking Pin Attached to one collet is a wire (B FIG 1) and attached to the
E Figurine other collet is a lever (A FIG 1). The wire attached to the collet
F Pull Lever is wire #2 described earlier. On the opposite end of the arbor
G Figurine Wire & carrying the collet with wire #2 is the lift lock lever as shown in
Bracket B FIG 6. The other arbor, (A FIG 1) which has a lever attached
H Wheel with Notch to it on the back side, has the rack stop lever attached to it on
I Chain Wheel Pulley the front end A FIG. 6. It is this lever on the back end of this
J Drum arbor that will interact with wire #1. A in FIG 1, 5, & 6 is the
K Tines same arbor. The same is true for B in FIG 1, 5, & 6.
L Spring Anchor
M Spring For the purpose of this booklet it is assumed the reader
has a grasp of the operation of the rack and snail system. As a
 refresher the major components are shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 6
is a diagram of the front of the clock movement. A is the
lift lock lever, B is the rack stop lever, C is the mounting
arbor for the rack, D is the warning stop pin tab, E is the
locking tab, F is the third wheel, G is the rack stop locking
tab, H is the rack, I is the snail, J is the minute arbor lifting
cam, H is the gathering pallet.

The operation of the music box although triggered

FIG. 3 by the actions of the time and strike train is a completely
independent train and is powered by its own weight just

like the time and strike trains are powered by

their own individual weights.
The operation of the music box starts
after the strike train has gone into warning.

The minute arbor lifting cam has rotated

clockwise lifting the lift lock lever A FIG. 5 which
has also lifted the rack stop lever B FIG 5. Once
the rack stop lever has been lifted high enough
the stop pin on the third wheel will be released
and the train will begin to run. This is the
warning run. The run is short lived. It only lasts
for about ½ revolution of the third wheel. Once FIG. 4
the stop pin on the third wheel has been
released the third wheel will rotate
approximately one half of a revolution until it is
interrupted by the locking tab on the lift lock
lever E FIG 6, which has been lifted by the
action of the minute arbor lifting cam. The
strike train is now in warning.

As the lift lock lever and the stop rack

lever continue to be lifted by the action of the
minute arbor lifting cam, the arbors on which
they are attached have been rotating
clockwise as seen from the back of the clock
looking in. (See FIG 5) Attached to the end of
the rack stop lever arbor is a lever with a hole
in it (A FIG 1). The wire #1 goes through this
hole as shown in FIG. 7 As the rack stop lever
FIG. 5 arbor is being rotated clockwise the wire #1 is
being pulled to the right causing the 4 armed
bellcrank (FIG 3) to pivot
counterclockwise around its
mounting screw (B FIG 3). As the 4
armed bellcrank pivots around the
mounting screw the locking pin is
pulled from the hole in the drum
gear, simultaneously the fan hook
(A FIG 3) on the opposite end of the
4 armed bellcrank is moved aside
releasing the music box fan (C FIG
2). The music box begins to run
since it is powered by the third
weight on the chain pulley.

However the drum gear only

turns far enough past the drum pin
hole to insure that the pin cannot FIG. 6
reenter the hole. The gear is
stopped when wire #2 moves into
place to impede the fan. Wire #2 is attached to the end of the rack stop lever arbor B FIG. 5 that
protrudes through the rear plate. The wire is rotated clockwise, as viewed from the rear, as the
rack stop lever is lifted by the lift lock lever A FIG. 5 which in turn is lifted by the rotation of the
minute arbor lifting cam. Once the fan is arrested and kept from rotating by wire #2 the music
box is in warning.

Throughout all this the minute arbor lift cam has continued to rotate. Once the cam has
rotated to such a position where the tab on the lift lock lever drops off the high point of the
cam, the locking tab E FIG. 6 releases the stop pin on the third wheel. The strike train is now
running causing the gong and bellows to sound. When the strikes train has completed striking
the requisite number of hours, the rack stop lock tab H FIG 6 will fall under the end of the rack.
The warning stop pin tab D FIG. 6 on the rack stop lever will intercept the stop pin on the third
wheel and stop the strike train. The strike train has completed the required number strikes and
is now in the locked position.

As the rack stop lock tab G FIG. 6 falls under the end of the
rack, the arbor on which the rack stop lock lever B FIG. 5 is
mounted on is rotating counterclockwise (as viewed from the
rear). As mentioned earlier wire #2 attached to the end of this
arbor that protrudes out of the back plate. As the arbor is rotating
counterclockwise and wire #2 is moving to the left, the wire clears
the fan A FIG. 2 and the music box is free to operate. The music
box is playing. The drum will rotate until the stop pin goes in the
FIG. 7 first available hole on the drum. When the lock pin goes in the
first available hole the fan hook is moved into position to stop the
fan. It is the fan hook impeding the fan that stops the music box and not the lock pin entering
the hole in the drum. This locks the music box. Both the strike train and the music box will
remain locked until the start of the next strike sequence. The purpose of one or two holes in
the drum is addressed in the section on adjusting for playing music on the half hour.

Adjusting Roof Mounted Music Box:

The above description is how it is supposed to work. There are some adjustments that
need to be precisely made in order for it to operate so flawlessly. In theory the operation of the
music box is quite simple once the theory is understood. However putting the theory into
practice can admittedly be a very frustrating and time-consuming task. And yet other times it
can be a very simple and straight forward task. First of all, before you start, make sure you
understand the why and how of what you are trying to accomplish.

DO NOT USE ANY TRIAL AND ERROR

METHOD. To do so will only exacerbate the
situation and make it virtually impossible to
get the music box properly adjusted.

There are three important

adjustments to be made. It all starts after
the strike train goes into warning. If the
strike train fails to go into warning go no
further until the problem is resolved. The
first adjustment to make is the relationship
between lever A and wire #1. Lever A must
be adjusted so that it pulls the lock pin from
the drum and the fan hook away from the
fan. It should be adjusted to where it pulls FIG. 8
on wire #1 as close as possible to the end of
the lifting of the lift lock lever. Lever A does
not need to pull the lock pin very far from
the drum; only far enough to release the pin from the drum.

Look at FIG. 5 again. This view is from the rear of the clock. It shows the lift lock lever
riding on the minute arbor lifting cam. The time shown on the clock is approximately 15
minutes to the hour and the strike train is locked.

FIG 8 is another view of FIG 5 but this time the minute arbor has rotated lifting the
lift lock lever which in turns lifted the rack stop lever. The third wheel is released and
recaptured putting the strike train into warning. When the lift lock lever and the rack stop lever
were lifted their arbors rotated clockwise (as seen from the rear). Lever A and wire B attached
to these levers also rotated slightly clockwise.
 Notice in FIG 9 the minute arbor
lifting cam has rotated a little further than in
FIG. 8 but not yet to the point to where the
lift lock lever would fall off the cam. Lever A
and Wire B have also rotated further.
To adjust the music box for
proper operation first remove any weights.
This will prevent the strike train and music
box train from running if accidently triggered.
Then turn the minute hand arbor until the
strike train goes into warning as in FIG. 8 and
then turn it a little further as in FIG 9. From
this position move lever A as close as
possible to the bend in the wire. See FIG 1
FIG. 9
and FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is for illustration purposes
only; the lever should be closer to the bend.

Getting the lever positioned up against the wire bend can be difficult. The best way to
do it is to loosen the screw on the collet on lever A and move the lever into
position. However the screw is small and almost inaccessible and the space
to work in is small. Another method of adjusting the lever is to just bend the
lever into position. This works well if it isn't too big of a bend. Be careful
bending the lever as you don't want to break it. A third method of getting
the lever into position is to just put a new bend in the wire closer to the
lever. The problem with this method is that if you have to make
readjustments you can wind up with a wire with a lot of kinks in it. FIG. 10

When adjusting the music box make sure you use the hour cam on the minute arbor
lifting cam. This should insure the music box will only be activated on the hour. The hour cam is
longer than the half hour cam on the minute arbor lifting cam as shown in FIG. 10.

To set the music box to play on both the hour and the half hour use the half hour cam
on the minute arbor lifting cam to initially position lever A. Whether or not a cuckoo clock
should play music on the half hour is discussed later in the booklet. The second important
adjustment to be made involves the wire on lever B. As lever A has been rotating clockwise so
also has lever B. The wire on lever B needs to be bent in such a fashion that it intercepts the fan
and stops it from rotating which effectively stops the music box. Let’s
recap: lever A has unlocked the music box and the drum and fan are
turning. The wire on lever B intercepts the fan and stops the music
box. The music box is now in warning. Lever B stopping the music box
happens almost simultaneously as lever A releases the stop pin from
FIG. 11 the drum. This allows the drum to just rotate far enough to where the
lock pin cannot renter the hole on the drum.
 Depending on how the wire on lever B was originally
configured the wire will either cross the fan in a horizontal or vertical
manner. See FIG. 11. Adjust the wire to where it is clear of the fan
when the strike train is locked, but overlaps the fan when the strike FIG. 12
train is in warning. The easiest way to do this is to put the strike train
in warning and then adjust the wire to where it overlaps the fan
about one-sixteenth to one-eighth of an inch. If the wire is
configured in a horizontal manner position the wire to the top of the
fan. If the wire is configured in a vertical manner position the wire to the left of the fan blade as
you look in from the back of the clock. As the strike train is striking the wire on lever B will
flicker back and forth or up and down. This is caused by the action of the rack stop lever on the
opposite end of the arbor containing the wire on lever B being raised up and down by the
action of the gathering pin raising the rack one tooth at a time. See FIG. 12.

Now for the third and final adjustment. When the lock pin is pulled from the lock hole
on the drum this also pulls the fan hook away from the fan blade. With the lock pin riding on
the side of the drum the fan hook should be as close as possible to the fan blade without
touching it. There should be a small plastic tube on the end of the rack hook. If there is no
plastic tube on the end of the rack hook a metal upon metal sound can be heard when the fan
hook intercepts the fan in order to stop the music box. The addition of the plastic tube helps
muffle the metal on metal sound. If there is no plastic tube installed on the fan hook then by all
means install one. A good candidate for this job is a piece of the plastic tube used for ink refills
for ball point pens. Another source for small plastic tubing is either your local hobby/craft shop
or a plumbing or auto supply house. Some repairers like to use the plastic tube on the fan hook
to adjust for the proper clearance between the hook and the fan blade. The plastic tube can
always be cut and sized to fit the job. Other repairers prefer to bend the end of the fan hook to
make the adjustment but the fan hook doesn’t appear to be a piece designed for bending and
looks like it could very easily break. If you do decide to bend the fan hook use small incremental
bends until you have it properly adjusted.

Once you have made all three adjustments as described test the unit. If it doesn’t
operate as it is supposed to do study each step to see where the problem is. If any adjustments
are to be made, make small incremental adjustments one at a time, and then retest. Do not
make multiple adjustments and then test because if it still doesn’t operate correctly you will
not know which adjustment caused what.

Side Mounted Music Box:

The side mounted cuckoo music box operates on the same principle as the roof mounted music
box; that is, the strike train goes into warning, the music box goes into warning, the strike train
runs and then locks, the music box runs and then locks. However some of the component parts
are situated differently, the main difference being lever L replacing wire #1. See FIG. 14.
 FIG 13 is a schematic of a side
mounted music box and movement. Notice
there are two arbors A & B that control the
operation. FIG. 14 is a drawing of a typical
side mounted music box. Notice E, G, & H
are missing when compared to the music
box FIG. 2. FIG. 15 is a blown up drawing of
the four pronged bellcrank used with the
typical side mounted unit.

Just like the roof mounted version

it all starts with the strike train going into
warning. Refer to FIG.1 and compare it
FIG. 13 with FIG. 13. Levers A & B are the same
levers in both drawings. In the side
mounted version lever A is bent around
the side of the case to push down on L FIG.
14. The wire on lever B is also bent around the side of the case to be positioned to interrupt the
music box fan.

The rest of the operation is exactly the same as the roof mounted version. The strike
train goes into warning, lever A FIG 13 presses down on L Fig 14 which pulls the stop pin from
the drum. The drum begins to rotate until the wire on
lever B interrupts the fan on the music box stopping the
music box from running. The side mounted music box is
now in warning. The strike train will begin striking once
the lift lock lever falls off the minute arbor cam on the
center wheel and will lock upon completion of the strike
sequence. When the strike sequence has ended lever B
moves aside and lets the music box run. The drum will
rotate until the stop pin goes in the first available hole
on the drum. When the lock pin goes in the first
available hole the fan hook is moved into position to
stop the fan C FIG. 14. It is the fan hook impeding the
fan that stops the music box and not the lock pin FIG. 14
entering the hole in the drum. This locks the music box.
Both the strike train and the music box will remain
locked until the start of the next strike sequence. The purpose of one or two holes in the drum
is addressed in the section on adjusting for music on the half hour.
Adjusting the Side Mounted Music Box:
There are three important adjustments to be made. It all starts after the strike train
goes into warning. If the strike train fails to go into warning go no further until the problem is
resolved. Once the strike train goes into warning lever A continues to rotate clockwise pressing
down on lever L FIG 14 just enough to pull the stop pin from the drum and the fan hook away
from the fan. This unlocks the music box and the drum and fan will start to rotate. Adjusting
lever A is the first of the three important adjustments. Lever A should be adjusted to where it
presses down on lever L just far enough to release the lock pin. Lever L does not need to be
pushed down too far.

First remove any weights as this will prevent the

strike or music box train from running if triggered. Then
put the strike train into warning. Then carefully turn the
minute hand arbor a little further as in FIG. 9. From there
position lever A FIG. 13 as close as possible to lever L FIG.
14. Read the section on adjusting roof mounted units to
see how this is accomplished.
FIG. 15
The second important adjustment to make is to
be sure that the wire on lever B intercepts the fan on the
music box and puts the music box into warning. Again,
refer to the section above describing the roof mounted
movement.

The third important adjustment to make is the adjustment of the fan hook A FIG. 14.
Read the portion in the roof mounted music box section above that relates to the fan hook. It is
the same for the side mounted version.

Variations:
A variation of the side mounted music box is where there is only one lever used coming
off of the movement. The lever used would correspond to lever B in FIG 13. Lever A is
incorporated into this lever. See FIG 16 for a drawing showing how this is accomplished.
Although I have not seen this configuration in roof mounted cuckoo clocks I wouldn’t be
surprised to have one come across my bench.

This is an interesting variation. Note that the one arm is attached to the back end of the
rack stop lever arbor. This is the arbor designated B in FIG 13. Somewhere between the arbor
and the end of the lever there is a wire attached to the lever. This wire has the same purpose
and function as the wire on lever B in the side mounted version. Its job is to intercept the music
box fan and hold it in warning. At the end of the lever there is another arm bent in such a
fashion that it can press down on lever L on the music box. This arm corresponds to lever A in
the description above about the side mounted music boxes. This arm is marked A in FIG 13 The
major difference between this one armed lever music box and the more common side mounted
unit is significant and can lead to problems
in adjusting it if the difference is not
understood.

In the more common side mounted

version the first thing that happens is that
lever A pulls the lock pin from the drum.
Then the wire on lever B moves into
position to block the fan. In the one armed
version the first thing that happens is that
the wire on lever B moves into position to
block the music box fan, then lever A
pushes down on lever L to pull the lock pin
from the drum. This is completely reversed
from the more common side mounted
music box.

You may also run into a variation in

FIG.The
the four armed bellcrank. Some have a slot instead of a pivot hole. 16 four armed bellcrank
will slide back and forth within the limits of the slot. When the music box is being stopped the
hook goes into the hole in the drum. This drags the four armed bellcrank forward until the fan
arm intercepts the fan and locks the music box. Make sure the drum doesn’t rotate too far with
the hook in the hole because this will jam the hook in the hole and the music box will not be
able to be released. Adjust the four armed bellcrank to where it only moves about half the
length of the slot before the fan is stopped by the fan hook. This is an easy adjustment to make
using the plastic covering on the fan hook. Cut the plastic tube to a length that will stop the fan
before the four armed bellcrank slides too far.

There are other variations that you will run across but most of them are cosmetic in
nature and have no significant impact on the operation of the music box. If you understand the
how and why a music box operates then you won’t have any trouble when you encounter a
variation. Remember the strike train goes into warning, the music box goes into warning, the
strike train strikes and then locks, the music box plays and then locks.

Critical Considerations While Adjusting

There are three critical areas to be aware of when adjusting a cuckoo music box.
Adjustment #1 Lock pin release. Whatever method is used to release the lock pin from
the drum, whether it is wire #1 in the roof mounted version or lever L in the side mounted
version, the pin must be released as close as possible to the top end of the lift of the lift lock
lever. The reason for this is that this decreases the amount of time between the fan being
released and the time it takes for the wire on lever B to intercept the fan and stop the music
box. If the time between the fan being released and then intercepted is too long the music may
start playing before it should.

Another consideration is to keep the movement of the lock pin lever as short as
possible. The lock pin lever should just move enough to release the lock pin from the hole. This
will help prevent the music box from playing on the half hour when it shouldn’t.

Adjustment #2 Fan Hook. The hole in the drum is situated at

the end of the tune. Therefore the drum must be stopped
immediately after the lock pin enters the hole. The fan hook needs to
FIG. 17 be situated as close as possible to the fan blade to minimize the
amount of time it takes to intercept the fan blade. If the fan blade is
not intercepted in a timely manner, the drum will continue to turn,
the locking pin may ride up out of the hole onto the side of the drum,
and the music will continue to play. Another possibility is that the drum continues to turn
wedging the lock pin in. It is possible the lock pin is held so tightly that it cannot be released at
the next strike sequence.

Adjustment #3. Lever B. As it was said before when holding

the music box in warning the lever with the wire will bob up and
down or left to right. The lever must be adjusted to where it will keep
the fan blocked while still bobbing. FIG 17 is the proper adjustment. If
the wire is on again off again as in FIG 18 the music will play every FIG. 18
time it is off.

When making these fine adjustments do so incrementally and test and then if necessary
make another incremental adjustment and retest. Do not make multiple adjustments and then
test to see what happened because you won’t know what adjustment caused what.

Playing Music on the Half Hour

The music will play for either one complete revolution or a half revolution of the drum.
This is determined by the number of stop holes in the drum gear. If there is only one stop hole
then the drum will play for one revolution of the drum. If there are two holes spaced 180
degrees apart from each other then the music box will play for ½ a revolution. In either case the
music box will play for as long as it takes to reach the next stop pin hole. If there are two stop
pin holes on the drum that means the music box plays two different tunes. First it will play one
tune and the next time the music box is activated it will play the other tune. It will continue to
alternate between tunes like this for as long as the cuckoo clock will run.

Some people think that if there are 2 holes on the drum that that means the cuckoo is
supposed to play one tune on the hour and another tune on the half hour. This may or may not
be true. The one and only deciding factor whether a music box is to play on the half hour or not
is the fall of the weights. If all the weights fall evenly then whatever the clock is doing is correct
See A FIG 19. However if the music box weight lags significantly behind the time and strike
weights then that signifies that the clock should play music on the half hour. See B FIG 19. If
the music box weight falls significantly further than the time and strike weights that means the
cuckoo should just play music on the hour. See C Fig 19.

A FIG 19 shows all three weights falling evenly. Whatever this clock is doing, either
playing music on the hour and half hour or just on the hour, is correct because the weights are
falling evenly. B FIG 19 shows the music box weight not falling at the same rate as the time and
strike train weights. This clock should be adjusted to play music on the half hour. C FIG 19
shows the music weight falling faster than the time and strike weights. This clock probably plays
music on the hour and half hour and should be adjusted to play music only on the hour.
When setting up a cuckoo clock to test how the weights fall let the clock run for at least
twenty-four hours in order to get a good run.

Unfortunately when you first

acquire a cuckoo clock you have no idea
what the builder had in mind. You don’t
know if he designed it so the music box
would play on the half hour or not. If the
drum has two tunes on it you don’t know if
the designer wanted the tunes to be
played alternately on the hour or one on
the hour and the other on the half hour or
if some later day repairer added a two
note music box. So the only criteria to use
in deciding whether or not a cuckoo clock
should play music on the half hour is the
fall of the weights.
Most eight day cuckoos do not play
music on the half hour. If music is to be FIG. 19
played on the half hour it is most likely a
one day cuckoo.

Automata and Animation:

Animation is defined as the act, process, or result of imparting life, interest, spirit,
motion, or activity to an item. An automaton (automata is the plural of automation) is defined
as a mechanical device operating under its own hidden power. Even the most casual of
observers would agree that a three weight cuckoo clock has plenty of both.

As we mentioned earlier some cuckoo clocks have a second door next to the cuckoo
door. This door is for a figurine to come out of while the music box is playing. The figurine is
either a young girl on a swing or more often a man playing a xylophone. Usually on a two door
cuckoo clock the music box is roof mounted. FIG 20 is a blown up schematic of how the figurine
 is activated. As the music box is playing the cam wheel F
rotates, the wire D in the cam notch E is lifted and rides on the
periphery of the cam wheel. As the wire is lifted to ride on the
cam’s periphery it rotates around a pivot point pushing the
second door open and allowing the figurine to emerge. Fig. 20
shows the figurine first in the
locked position, FIG. 21 shows it
being lifted on the rounded
FIG. 20 portion of the cam, FIG. 22 shows
it riding on the periphery of the
cam and then FIG. 20 shows it back to its original locked position.
The cam wheel is synchronized with the music box gear. Once the
music box gear has made a complete revolution the cam wheel
has also completed a complete revolution. When the cam wheel FIG. 21
has made a complete revolution the wire riding on the periphery
of the cam falls into the notch on the cam. This allows the spring C FIG 20 to pull the figurine
back into the case and pull the door closed behind it.

Rotating Platform:
One of the more common animations for a three weight
cuckoo clock is a music box with a rotating platform. As the platform
rotates the dancers also rotate. A common version of this is the side
powered unit meaning that the operating mechanism for the
rotating platform is attached to the side of the movement. See
FIG. 22
picture next page.

As in any three weight movement the action starts with the

strike train going into warning, then the music box goes into warning, then the strike train
strikes and then locks, then the music box plays and then locks.

When the strike train went into warning the minute arbor continued to rotate lifting the
lift lock lever and the stop lock lever. Note there are Pinocchio like extensions added to the lift
lock lever B FIG 23 and the rack stop lever C FIG 23. As the lift lock lever is being lifted by the
action of the minute arbor lifting cam the end of lift lock lever B is pushing up on the release
lever A FIG 23 which pivots around its mounting rivet D FIG 23. In doing so it lifts the stopping
tab E FIG 23 from the locking notch F FIG 23 on the lock wheel G FIG 23.

When the stopping tab is free from the notch a spring H FIG 23 on the end of the arm
pulls the blocking tab I FIG 23 forward which releases the fan J FIG 23. Tab I is a movable tab
which pivots around a rivet. The music box and rotating platform are now free to run as they
are powered by the weight on the chain pulley K FIG 23. This run is short lived.
 The minute arbor
lifting cam was still turning as
all the above was going on,
lifting the arm C FIG 23 on
the rack stop lever into the
path of the fan stopping the
fan. The music box and
rotating platform are now in
warning.

Meanwhile the time

train has continued to run,
and the minute arbor lifting
cam has continued to turn.
FIG. 23
When the tab drops off the
minute arbor lifting cam the
strike sequence begins.
When the strike sequence is
completed the lock tab L FIG.
23 falls beneath the rack M
FIG. 23.
When this happens the extension C FIG. 20 on the rack stop lever drops down releasing the fan
and the music box is now playing and the rotating platform is rotating.

When tab E is lifted clear of the lock notch on the lock wheel it rests on the rim of the
lock wheel. As the music box plays and the rotating platform rotates the lock wheel also
rotates. After the lock wheel has completed a complete revolution the lock tab is again aligned
with the lock notch. The lock tab enters the lock notch
Figures 23 & 24 aided by a spring pushing down on the lever. This spring
A Release Lever is behind the rivet D FIG 21. FIG. 21 is a blown up side
B Extension Lift lock lever view of the release lever A FIG. 20.
C Extension rack Stop Lever
D Rivet
Once tab E is in the lock notch further rotation of
E Locking Pin
F Notch the lock wheel causes the blocking tab I to rotate into
G Locking Wheel the path of the fan stopping the rotation of the fan and
H Spring effectively stopping the playing of the music box and the
I Blocking Tab rotation of the rotating platform. The music box and
J Fan rotating platform are now in the locked position awaiting
K Chain Weight Pulley the next strike sequence.
L Locking Tab Rack Stop
M Rack Another version of a music box with a rotating
N Minute Arbor Lifting Cam platform is shown in FIG 25. This is chain driven by a
O Music Box chain on a second chain wheel C FIG 25. The chain is
P Drive Shaft laced around the sprockets D FIG 25 to the platform
drive E FIG 25. It is triggered and operates the same as the above described music box with
rotating platform. FIG. A is the music box, and B is the music box
chain wheel driven by the third weight.

There are too many versions of animation and automata

to describe them all. Suffice to say that many times there is an
additional chain pulley wheel on the music box arbor like that
described for the rotating platform, or there may be a wheel
with a notch cut into it like that described for the two door
cuckoo clock. The extra chain wheel pulley or the wheel with a
notch in it can be installed on either the roof mounted music
box or a side mounted music box. From there all sorts of
FIG. 24
animation and automata can be designed. The possibilities are
only limited by the designers’ imagination.

It should be noted that not all animation and automata are powered from the music
box. Some animation and automata are powered from the lift levers for the bellows or even the
hammer lift lever. I have one cuckoo which has two loggers sawing a log. The activating lever to
cause the saw to go back and forth is connected to the verge. Consequently as long as the clock
is running and the verge is swinging back and forth the loggers’ arms will go back and forth in
synch with the verge giving the appearance of non-stop sawing.

A Picture of a Cuckoo Clock

Movement with a Side Powered
Rotating Platform
FIG. 25

Good Luck with Your Cuckoos