I recently acquired a magnificent 18th century Black Forest musical
clock that I am sure readers of the MMD will find interesting.  This
clock was made circa 1770 in the Black Forest of Germany, and is the
finest example of its type that we have seen.

The clock reproduces one of five different bird songs on the top
of the hour on a rank of 12 pipes.  As the music plays a large Amsel
(blackbird) slowly moves side to side, its beak fluttering in sequence
to the song.  The bird is visible in a large opening in the upper
section of the Baroque gilded shield.

I have taken a short, two-minute video of the clock in action, which
can be seen on the front page of my web site, www.blackforestclocks.org 

It is easy to appreciate this clock when you consider the place and
time it was made.

Justin J. Miller
http://www.blackforestclocks.org/