Description
The Hönes 696T cuckoo clock brings together three animations in a Black Forest chalet: the woodcutter swings his axe, the mill wheel turns and the dancers move on the balcony. Its musical mechanical movement runs on three weights.
Three weights, a music box
Made by Hönes in Titisee-Neustadt, this cuckoo clock runs on a mechanical 1-day movement. The three pine cone-shaped weights must be wound daily by pulling on the chains. One drives the going train, another the cuckoo mechanism and the third the music box.
On the half hour, the cuckoo calls once. On the hour, it counts the hours. In both cases, the music takes over: the dancers turn, the mill wheel starts to move and the woodcutter swings his axe. To understand how the music box drives the figurines, see our guide to musical cuckoo clocks.
An animated Black Forest chalet
The walnut-stained chalet is made and carved by hand. Its shingle-covered roof shelters the cuckoo door and a balcony where two dancers in traditional costume stand. The windows with green shutters and the flower boxes complete the scene.
On the left, the mill wheel turns under a small lean-to, while the woodcutter works on the right, surrounded by logs and planks. In the centre, the round dial shows Roman numerals.
Water mills and sawmills long marked the valleys of the Black Forest, where clockmaking developed as a winter activity.
