Set-Up & Trouble Shooting

Learn how to set-up your Cuckoo Clock, German Incense Smoker & German Christmas Pyramid

How to get your Cuckoo Clock Started

Unpacking the Clock:

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us through our website using our Contact Us Page.

Night Shut-Off:

In most cases, the cuckoo call can be turned off manually using a switch on the side or underneath the clock case. If the switch for the manual switch-off is in the down position, in most cases the cuckoo will call day and night. To turn the cuckoo call off, flip the switch up.

Most of our 8 day clocks with music are equipped with an automatic night shut-off feature. During the night, the clock operates normally but the cuckoo and music are off between 9pm and 8am. Quartz clocks have a light sensor on the outside of the clock case. The cuckoo and music are turned off automatically as soon as it gets dark.

Automatic Night Shut-Off:

The on-off switch lever is either located on the left side of the housing or a stick is located on the bottom of the clock case. You can use it to control the cuckoo call and the music as follows:

↖ Up position - Manual On: If the shut-off lever is moved all the way up or the stick on the bottom of the housing is pushed all the way up your clock is in the operating position.

↤ Middle position - Automatic: If the shut-off lever is in the horizontal position or the bottom stick is in the middle position, the clock is in the fully automatic position. In this position, the cuckoo call and the music is discontinued from 9:00 PM to 8:00 AM.

↙ Down position - Manual Off: If the shut-off lever is in the bottom position or the stick on the bottom of the case is pulled all the way down. In this position, the cuckoo call and music is totally shut-off.

Please do not operate the off-on lever/stick while the cuckoo is calling or music is playing!

Winding your clock:

If you have a 1-day movement, the clock weights should be pulled up once a day. If you have an 8-day (1 week) clockwork, the clock weights should be pulled up once a week.

How to wind: When pulling on the chain to pull a weight up, you may push up the weight very lightly to relieve the chain of the weight while you are pulling the chain. In order to keep from putting too much pressure on the clockwork, please pull the weights up slowly, evenly, and without a jerking motion.

When the clock is operating, its weights move steadily downward. Only if you shut off the music and/or cuckoo, then the weights for those functions will not move.

How to Set-Up a German Incense Smoker

A smoker must be supervised at all times. Never leave it alone while it is still in use.

Lift the upper part of the smoker and set it aside. Light an incense cone until it glows and smokes. Put the incense onto the metal disc fixed upon the smoker's socket. Finally place the smoker's upper part back on the socket.
Never move the smoker while the incense inside is still glowing.
The incense-fire should die down completely. Wait at least ten minutes after the smoke has stopped leaking from the smoker.
Empty the smoker into a fire-proof container (such as an ash tray) or into a fire-proof waste bin. Do not put the ashes into your household waste, as it may catch fire.

Keep the smoker and the incense in a dry, temperature-resistant room. Avoid exposing the smoker to damp climate.

How to Set-Up a German Christmas Pyramid

Instructions/ Safety notes:

To ensure problem-free operation, choose a draft-free horizontal surface on which to set up the item.

Make sure the spindle is vertical. To ensure problem-free operation, the lower tip of the spindle must be inserted in the bearing seating located on the floor.

Use only high-quality pyramid candles that will burn down at the same rate

Please remember that this is a decorative item and not a toy. It should only be used under the constant supervision of an adult. Ensure adequate safety distances to e.g. curtains, furniture, upholstery and other flammable objects.

*We and our manufacturers assume no liability for damages caused by improper use or through nonobservance of our operating instructions.

How to troubleshoot your Cuckoo Clock

Your Clock Does Not Run or Keep Time

(2:30 min - easy)

The Cuckoo Is Not Calling

(1:10 min - easy)

Troubleshoot Clock Hands and Number Of Calls

(4:15 min - easy)

The Music Does Not Work

(2:50 min - advanced)

General Care and Maintenance

Cuckoo clocks do not need very much regular care. Modern movements are sophisticated, easy to maintain and durable. To clean the clock please use a soft dry paint brush. Please have the movement checked and oiled at regular intervals of approximately 3-4 years by a clock maker.

You can prolong the lifetime of your cuckoo clock by using it at standard room temperature. Temperatures below 5 °C (40°F), high humidity of the surrounding air, too much dust or dampness may damage your clock.

Please do not hang the cuckoo clock directly above an open fire place as the very dry and warm air might distort the wooden parts and the oil in the bearings of the clock movement might dry up. Minor damage on the wooden parts and carvings due to transport may occur sometimes and can not be avoided. Please repair such minor damages yourself by using wood glue and a felt-tip pen in the appropriate color.

Please note: Mechanical Cuckoo clocks are delicate products and should not be used as a toy by a child. Chains may break and weights may fall down if too much force is used.

Troubleshooting Tips

Clock is running too fast:

Move pendulum down.

Clock is running too slow:

Move pendulum up.

Cuckoo does not call:

Shipping clips have not been removed.
Night switch off is set to OFF.
For clocks with automatic night shut-off, the clock is set to the night phase (where the cuckoo and music do not play).
Remove shipping clips and gong paper.
Turn night shut-off setting to ON.

Clock makes a slight noise (on a regular basis) about 5 minutes after the actual clock strike at the hour:

A technical function in the clockwork is preparing the clock to strike/cuckoo.
This is a normal function and not a defect.

Clock does not strike exactly on the hour/ half-hour:

The minute hand was not installed correctly on the clock face.
Allow the clock to strike the hour and then stop the pendulum.
Using flat-nosed pliers, loosen the screw on top of the hands, along with any other accompanying disks, noting how they were assembled.
If the minute hand (long hand) is not riveted to the square rod, adjust the minute hand, replace the screw and test to see if the time is now correct.
If the minute hand is riveted to the square rod, adjust the square rod with the flat-nosed pliers to adjust the minute hand, replace the screw and then test to check the time.
Repeat this step patiently until the correct position is found.

Clock stops running after a short running time or only runs if pendulum is not hung at angle on the wall:

The connection between the pendulum and the clockwork is not properly aligned.
Slant the clock to the right or left on the wall to hear in which position the clock ticks evenly.
Take the pendulum off; gently bend the pendulum stick (where pendulum is hung up on) in the direction that the clock is hanging (clock hanging to the left, bend to the left, hanging right, to the right).
Bend until you feel resistance and then gently bend just a bit more.
Hang the clock back to its straight position, hang the pendulum up and check how it ticks.
Repeat this procedure until clock is running evenly.

Gong sound is tinny:

There's not enough space between the gong spring and the hammer.
Open the back of the clock and push the hammer head of the gong hammer back (in the direction of the clockwork) by about 1 mm or less than 1/16 of an inch.
If the gong spiral is too close to the back plate, carefully pull it out by a small amount.