North Coast Imports's /design Line featured in ReadyMade Mag!

Thanks to the creative people at ReadyMade Magazine for noticing our ClassicSpace cuckoo from our NEW /design line.

Recap on the /design Series

Fans of North Coast Imports already know about our new and exciting /design series clocks, but we've been adding materials to the website that you need to know about.

Check out http://tinyurl.com/classicspace on our www.northcoastimports.com/design site for a new video of these great clocks.







related articles: DESIGN

Memorial Day Clock

Happy belated Memorial Day. As usual, we at North Coast Imports spent a good part of our holiday thinking up ideas for new kinds of clocks... it's what we do!



This is a special variation on our "ClassicSpace" series (found at www.northcoastimports.com/design) with American Stars and Stripes. The "ClassicSpace" series already has a heavy American influence. The natural elements mixed with the machined simplicity definitely fits in an American aesthetic.

The "ClassicSpace" clearly fits an American tradition with its visible wood grain (natural materials) and natural power. A mechanical clock is a perfect example of a machine running on renewable energy. The only power required to run this clock is gravity! There are no batteries, no electricity, no heat... it will even run in the dark.

All of our clocks are packaged in recycled materials!

This clock would fit perfectly in a modern decor... the natural wood slat style easily matches either a Frank Lloyd Wright inspired interior, or a Danish Modern environment, as well as a Mission or Craftsman home... the possibilities are endless, and there are many more styles to chose from.

If you haven't already, take a moment to browse our new line of clocks found at www.northcoastimports.com/design. There you can find more examples of re-imagined timepieces for modern tastes.

The New /design Line!

We are very pleased to announce an entirely NEW line of quality timepieces to the North Coast Imports lineup. Visit www.NorthCoastImports.com/design today to browse many new clocks, designed specifically for the high-style/high-design modern tastes.

Long associated with a very traditional decor, the Black Forest cuckoo clock is undergoing a transformation. Simple and clean lines combine with master craftsmanship to create something for the modern home.

Visit our new site to see colorful new models with a fresh perspective on a clock as a delightful kinetic sculpture that also happens to tell time.

There are also several models called ART CLOCKS which are one-of-a-kind inspirations by Black Forest artists. These special clocks are presented as collectors items and include painterly and artistic creations signed by the artist. There are dozens to choose from.

...and check out these fantastic woodcuts! These special clocks feature an entirely new and creative design with very intricate filigree. Birds and flowers are interwoven into a tapestry of ornamentation.

Even industrial design is included in this broad new range of fine timepieces. Be sure to check out our new additional website, detailing all of these models and more, at www.NorthCoastImports.com/design

Rat Eater part 2

I thought I would do a quick follow-up post on the delicious Rat Eater owned by our friend and collector J. Miller.  This information and material is copied from the previously-mentioned discussion at the NAWCC forums...

Apparantly it was quite common, during time of war, for soldiers and citizens to be driven to eating rats - especially during sieges.  There are some accounts (during the Franco-Prussian war) of rat-sellers and one American journalist even writes about the best rat recepits and the comparisons between dog, cat, and rat meat.

Here is a painting by  of a "Rat Seller"(c.1870)

Here is an account from 1871 by an American journalist, shut in in Paris during the Franco-Prussian war

...and another account of eating rats in Metz c. 1814

Rare Black Forest Clocks

We are always happy to hear from our friend J. Miller. He's got quite a collection of rare and unusual antique Black Forest Clocks. He most recently acquired an exteremly rare piece from the 19th Century, and there is only ONE of these known to exist in the world.



This "Rat-Eater" is a very rare example of a set of German automata known as "Dumpling Eaters." For whatever reason, the clockmaker here decided to make the figure eat rats instead of dumplings or sausages.



(see more pictures on our Flickr photostream here )

There is also a very fascinating discussion about the clock here. Apparantly there are several interesting accounts of eating rats during wartime.

The rat eater isn't a clock you can run out and buy, but North Coast Imports is pleased to offer automata that eat dumplings and drink beer. Rombach und Haas has the only original Black Forest clock that eats dumplings or drink sips of beer, counting the hour and half hour.

New Catalog Preview

You saw it here first! North Coast Imports is pre-releasing our NEW Cuckoo catalog #56. You can download a PDF of the 40-page, pre-print, rough draft here:



Please keep in mind that this is still a rough-draft copy. It's colors are not very sharp, and there are a few pictures missing. We were so excited, we wanted to put out an advance copy, but for full details and pics visit our main website at http://www.northcoastimports.com/ All of our cuckoo clocks are up there, even with movies of each clock!

To have and hold your very own copy of the catalog you can print out the PDF!

Update on the "Eleventy-First"

Many of you already know about the very popular clocks produced by Rombach und Haas to celebrate their 111th anniversary. There were only 111 of each of these made, and most of them are gone.

North Coast Imports has secured a VERY limited number of the 12-111 and 44-111 models. If you were thinking about owning one of these fine and rare clocks, this could be your last chance. As you know, these are very collectable and sought after around the world.

New Chimneysweeps!

We are proud to introduce a new musical cuckoo clock. This charming Chalet has fresh lines and colors. The chimneysweep hopps in and out of his chimney - startled by the cuckoo call. There is also a music box that plays, and the waterwheel turns.

Fans of North Coast Imports already know about the charming version without music (the 1216) now we are pleased to announce that we can offer a larger version with music too! (see model number 1316)

Update on the "Eleventy-First Birthday" Clocks

The clockmakers of Rombach und Haas celebrates its 111th anniversary this year in the best way they know how. They are making four limited-edition cuckoo clocks.

These beautiful Black Forest clocks are a charming and beautiful way to celebrate the long and distinguished heritage of Romba clocks. There will be only 111 of each of the four models and each will be inscribed with a number of production.

These clocks are still available, except for the one-day musical model (24-111). This clock is very similar to model numbers 1385 and 1389, of which are in good supply.

New ways to learn about NCI...

North Coast Imports has lots of new things on the web. In addition to working on a new facelift for our website we are now have a page on Squidoo.com , Myspace and Flickr.

Of course, if you haven't already seen our YouTube page you should do that soon. We are always adding new movies of all our clocks there.

In case you don't get enough cuckoo in your life, we offer the following two ringtones FREE OF CHARGE. Just download the proper file into your phone and hear a North Coast Imports ring every time someone calls! Both of these files are taken from the Rombach und Haas Glass Bell Cuckoo model #3400 or #3402 found on page 22 of our orange Cuckoo Catalog #50. The "Glass Bell Cuckoo" is a pure recording of the clock striking and calling and the "Cuckoo Ring Tone" is conglomeration of sounds based on that cuckoo call (put together by myself).

Glass Bell Cuckoo
mp3
amr
qcp
mmf

Cuckoo Ring Tone
mp3
amr
qcp
mmf

How cuckoo clock music is supposed to work

Below you can watch a movie (visit our YouTube channel!) with a cuckoo music box functioning properly. Sometimes minor adjustments need to be made to the two arms connecting the clock mechanism to the music mechanism. As you watch the video, pay attention to the two black arms that reach in from the left side. One on top and one in the middle (touching the spinning fan-fly or governor).



In the first part of the video you see one cuckoo call and music right away. The second part shows how the music mechanism is first started by the cuckoo mechanism, held while the cuckoo calls, and then released to allow it to play.

The thicker, black metal arm on top unlatches the music drum and the music mechanism so that the drum starts to turn. It is abruptly stopped however by the second, thinner wire that touches the brass fan-fly. This stopping wire remains in place until the cuckoo bird has finished its call.

If this second wire didn't stop the fan-fly from spinning, the music would play while the cuckoo bird calls and cause cacophony.

Once the bird has finished the call the wire gets out of the way, allowing the fan-fly to spin and the music to play.

As the tune reaches its end, the black metal finger on top should be far enough away from the music box arm below it to allow the latch to fall in the hole and stop the music.

Watch the video again:



This video is provided as an example of how this SHOULD work. If you make adjustments to your cuckoo clock music make sure that they are INCREMENTAL adjustments. The tiniest change in the placement of these two arms will be all the adjustment you should make. Any adjustments to either the clock or the music mechanism should be done by a trained professional. The gears, teeth, and wheels inside either mechanism are very delicate and precise. Please don't try to make repairs to either mechanism, but you may try to make tiny adjustments to the two wires that connect the two mechanisms as described above.

NOTE: The movie here shows a music mechanism in an 8-day cuckoo clock. This is important because most 8-day clocks don't allow the music to play on the half-hour.

NOTE: The clock featured in this movie is the 2005 award winner of the VDS Clock of the Year. This clock was produced as a limited edition of only 111 pieces for the 111th anniversary of Rombach und Haas.

A few pieces are still available:

Unpack your Black Forest Clock, or Cuckoo Clock

Here are a few words on unpacking your new Black Forest clock. The pictures below are of a Rombach und Haas "Dumpling Eater," but the instructions can also be applied to unpacking almost any Black Forest clock - including Cuckoo Clocks!

North Coast Imports, Inc. is proud to use recycled and/or renewable materials in packaging. Enjoy the old-world charm as you unpack your new clock. These cherished pieces are lovingly packed by the careful clock makers in the Black Forest in Germany.



After carefully cutting the tape and opening the top of the box (find the top by paying attention to which way the lettering is facing on the ends of the box) lift the cardboard flap to reveal your exciting new timepiece.



Using two hands, carefully lift the top of the clock out first and sliding the clock upward and out of the cardboard surrounding the bottom of the clock.



The Dumpling Eater figure may have a plastic bag rubber-banded around. Carefully remove the rubber band and bag being careful not to disturb the delicate figure's moving arm.



There may be another rubber band around the figure itself. Use great care to remove this band.



Remove the back of the clock. You will have to push aside the metal latch and pry the door open (from the top) with a pen or screwdriver. It should come open easily.



Once the back is removed take a moment to admire the fine craftsmanship of the mechanical movement inside. This solid brass and steel mechanism is made according to hundreds of years of practice and modifications.

During shipment the pendulum leader (circled in red) may have jostled to the side. You should be able to easily push this leader back so that it falls through the slot - see following picture.





On the back of the clock you can remove the paper which deadens the sound of the gong during shipment. This paper may have already been knocked loose and might be floating around in the back of the case. It is not a problem. The paper does not protect the clock from any damage - it only keeps the clock silent during shipment.



Pictured above you can see a bag that bundles the chains together. Again, this bag does not protect the clock from damage. If this bag has fallen loose in the box no harm has come to your clock. Now is the time during unpacking when you can untwist the wire from around the bag. For now, let the chains hang free without the bag, but leave the wire threaded through the chain links.



The untwisted but still-threaded wire will allow you to handle the clock more easily before you hang it.

Now would be a good time to hang the clock. If the clock is an 8-day (as the dumpling eater is) you should find a stud and anchor a good-sized screw in at an angle. Hang the clock so that it hangs flat against the wall. In order to get a full run out of your chains you should hang the clock high enough so that the chains are just barely touching the floor. If you don't have room to let the chains hang all the way down it won't hurt the clock but you may find yourself winding the clock more often. Here is a good article on how to hang your weight-driven clock.



Clock packaging uses every millimeter of space. Be sure not to throw anything away because it might contain something important! This also points out why it is imperative to always double-box clocks for shipment. There is not enough soft packaging in the factory box to withstand domestic shipping.



Unwrap the pendulum.



Find the weights.





Once you have the clock securely hung you can remove the wire threaded through the chains. This wire was threaded through the chains to keep them from falling back into the clock and jamming the movement.



You will probably have to remove labels and tags that are hanging below to allow for a free swing of the pendulum.



Hang the weights on the BRASS HOOKS.



Hang the pendulum on the pendulum leader that falls through the slot.

This article was meant to give you a pictorial introduction to unpacking your clock only. Be sure to pay close attention to the instructions that came with the clock for other aspects of owning a mechanical clock. You can also frequently check this site for updates and helpful articles for the continued care of your timepiece.

ENJOY!