Cuckooland: how two Manchester brothers acquired the world’s largest collection of cuckoo clocks Now in their 60s, these brothers have been buying and restoring cuckoo clocks since the 1970s – but that’s only […]

Now in their 60s, these brothers have been buying and restoring cuckoo clocks since the 1970s – but that’s only the beginning of their compulsion to collect

Horologists Roman and Maz Piekarski are the owners, proprietors, and restorers-in-residence of Cuckooland Museum, a collection of over 700 cuckoo clocks believed to be the largest in the world.

The Manchester brothers started collecting clocks about 45 years ago, while in their teens, and have been in their current premises in Knutsford, Cheshire since 1989.

“When I was leaving school, I went to see a careers officer,” recalls Roman.

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“He looked me up and down and said, ‘Ah, you look like building trade to me.’ I said, ‘I don’t think so’.”

A childhood fascination

Roman would like to have been a professional golfer, he says, but he “wasn’t quite good enough.”

“We used to watch the old chap across the road who was a clock-maker. When you’re a kid you are fascinated,” he remembers.

Both brothers trained as clock-makers in Manchester from the age of 15, and became fascinated by cuckoo clocks.

“In those days, everyone wanted battery clocks or electric,” explains Roman.

“Nobody wanted to have to wind up anything.

“We started picking them up from all over the world, quite cheap. This was about 45 years ago.”

More than four decades on, the pair still remember the first cuckoo clock they bought.

“I queued up to look at it at an antiques fair,” says Roman.

“The lady wanted £95 for it, but I only had £80.

“We were near Preston at the time, and were supposed to be going to Blackpool afterwards, but we were so fascinated by the cuckoo clock that we went straight home.

“It went from there.”

Building the world’s largest collection

After renting a shop in Sale, the brothers managed to buy their own premises and became increasingly busy, employing a full team.

“We used to do repairs for the curator of Manchester Museum,” reveals Roman.

“We showed him our first collection in the basement, and he said, ‘My goodness, you’ve got a museum here’.

“Then we started hunting for somewhere to put the collection.”

Roman and Maz found their current premises in 1989 – a former school, with the headmaster’s house at the front.

“It’s been a fantastic home to this day,” says Roman.

“We’ve just had the outside painted green. It looks like something from Alice in Wonderland.”

The brothers had built up a collection of about 250 clocks by the late ’80s, and it has only grown since then.

“Now we have the world’s largest collection of antique cuckoo clocks – over 700,” reveals Roman.

‘Provenance is important’

It is believed that the first cuckoo clock was made in the Black Forest in the 17th century, though its creator is unknown.

“The more your cuckoo clock did, the more interesting it was for the purchaser.” Roman Piekarski, co-owner of Cuckooland Museum

“The oldest clock we have in our collection is 250 years old,” says Roman.

“We know where it was made, and who owned it until we had it. Provenance is important to us.”

The Piekarskis have numerous unusual clocks in their collection, and have sought out and renovated the rarest and most notable examples available.

Before technology advanced, some families considered their cuckoo clock to be the main source of household entertainment, meaning that some models are more exciting than others.

“In the Victorian days (before television and radio), the more your cuckoo clock did, the more interesting it was for the purchaser, especially for wealthy people,” explains Roman.

“It was entertainment at the end of the day, and the more they did, the more they enjoyed them.”

‘Collecting is a disease’

Despite their impressive stockpile, the brothers don’t just collect clocks.

“We have some very nice vintage motorbikes,” says Roman.

“And I like ties. I’ve owned thousands. I once took 400 into a charity shop.

“The thing is, collecting is a disease. I don’t believe you’re a collector until you’ve been doing it for 20 years. Then you can’t stop.”

Cuckooland’s main income now comes from performing clock repairs, a specialist skill that the Piekarskis worry may be on the way out.

“I don’t know what will happen in 30 or 40 years when people want clocks repairing. There won’t be so many skilled repairers left,” admits Roman.

But although they are now in their 60s, the Piekarski brothers don’t have any plans to slow down.

“I’m disabled now, and have to do the Museum tours with a stick,” says Roman.

“But we’ll never retire.”