Friday, February 13, 2009

Emilian Wehrle Rooster Clock



This next clock in the collection is a Emilian Wehrle Rooster clock. Also known as a "Hahnen-Uhr" in German. The Wehrle Rooster awakes on the hour, or on demand...with three loud distinct calls. Cock-A-Doodle-Do!!!

While Emilian Wehrle was not the inventor of the Rooster clock... he was the first to perfect it. He created a apparatus that mimics the call of the Rooster without horns or air. Instead Wehrle used a serrated wheel that rides a small reed. This friction in variable pressures and speeds created a correct Rooster call.

He was issued a patent in 1884 for his design (Apparat Fur Schallerzeugung #32141). Production started shortly after this date. Because of their high cost, and the loud and obnoxious call of the Rooster every hour they were not an immediate success.

By Emilian Wehrles death in 1896 very few were made, and fewer have survived.

The Rooster clock is one of the Rarest clocks ever produced by Wehrle. We are honored to have one in our collection.

The example shown here is a 8 day shelf clock in a wonderful walnut case with matching bracket. This clock was retailed by Camerer, Kuss & Co. in England.
Because of the awful noise it produces every hour, we do not regularly run this piece... but we are happy to have it in the collection.



Best,

Justin

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