Arthur Rank Hospice Charity Logo Arthur Rank Hospice Charity

This one got away

But don't worry, we still have an incredible selection of pre-loved bargains waiting for you to discover!

Discover now

01223 242684 /ArthurRankHospiceCharity @ArthurRankHouse @arthur_rank_hospice
Arthur Rank Hospice Charity Logo
  • Mayak Serdobsk Cuckoo Clock - Made In USSR, Triangular, 40cm Tall, Spares Repair 1
    Open Full-Size Image
  • Mayak Serdobsk Cuckoo Clock - Made In USSR, Triangular, 40cm Tall, Spares Repair 2
    Open Full-Size Image
  • Mayak Serdobsk Cuckoo Clock - Made In USSR, Triangular, 40cm Tall, Spares Repair 3
    Open Full-Size Image
  • Mayak Serdobsk Cuckoo Clock - Made In USSR, Triangular, 40cm Tall, Spares Repair 4
    Open Full-Size Image
  • Mayak Serdobsk Cuckoo Clock - Made In USSR, Triangular, 40cm Tall, Spares Repair 5
    Open Full-Size Image
  • Mayak Serdobsk Cuckoo Clock - Made In USSR, Triangular, 40cm Tall, Spares Repair 6
    Open Full-Size Image
  • Mayak Serdobsk Cuckoo Clock - Made In USSR, Triangular, 40cm Tall, Spares Repair 7
    Open Full-Size Image
  • Mayak Serdobsk Cuckoo Clock - Made In USSR, Triangular, 40cm Tall, Spares Repair 8
    Open Full-Size Image
  • Mayak Serdobsk Cuckoo Clock - Made In USSR, Triangular, 40cm Tall, Spares Repair 9
    Open Full-Size Image
  • Mayak Serdobsk Cuckoo Clock - Made In USSR, Triangular, 40cm Tall, Spares Repair 10
    Open Full-Size Image
  • Mayak Serdobsk Cuckoo Clock - Made In USSR, Triangular, 40cm Tall, Spares Repair 11
    Open Full-Size Image
  • Mayak Serdobsk Cuckoo Clock - Made In USSR, Triangular, 40cm Tall, Spares Repair 12
    Open Full-Size Image

Description

Mayak clocks were, as the name suggests, originally made at Mayak in the USSR's Chelyabinsk Oblast, a region with a long tradition in clockmaking. During the early years of the Second World War, the entire industry was transplanted to Serdobsk over 1300km to the West where the clockmakers were ordered to switch their operations over to producing machinery in support of the war effort. This upheaval must have been enormously stressful for the workers and their families, but in the long run they'd have been thankful: between 1945 and 1948, Mayak was turned into a vast nuclear reprocessing site which today covers 90 square kilometres and where, over the years, a series of disasters, leaks and the deliberate dumping of some 76 million cubic metres of highly toxic and radioactive materials have turned the local countryside into one of the most dangerously polluted sites on Earth.

Prior to the War, the clockmakers at Mayak had also made knitting machines; afterwards, now part of State Watch Factory No. 4, they concentrated solely on making clocks and watches but retained the name Mayak as a reminder of their history. Initially, the factory produced millions of cheap, basic wall clocks which could be found in apartments throughout the USSR but from the middle of the 1950s they also made more traditional, higher-quality clocks for export to the United Kingdom (along with a Meccano-style clock in kit form called The Young Clockmaker, marketed in the UK by the Codeg toy firm) where they also sold well; especially the cuckoo clocks with which the company's name is most associated in the Westy - by 1981, they had made 100 million cuckoo clocks, and cuckoo clocks remained their best-selling line until the factory closed down in 2004.

We're not entirely sure when this cuckoo clock was made as we can't be certain that the code on the back is a date, though it looks very much like one - if it is, the clock was made in 1974; the donor who gave it to us believes she has had it since the 1980s. We can be sure it's an export model because the company logo by the 5 o'clock on the face is Mayak in English, rather than Маяк in Cyrillic script. It's very different to the typical Swiss/Austrian style of cuckoo clock with carved birds, oak leaves and ivy most commonly seen in the UK, being larger with less carving and a triangular shape; instead of carving, it has pressed copper panels on the front featuring a geometric design which may be based on traditional art from Mayak or Serdobsk - this pattern is repeated on the pendulum bob, while the apex of the triangle has more pressed copper with a pattern to mimic roof shingles. The clock face, with Roman numerals, is a very 70s trapezium shape but the hands are a more old-fashioned design. Though the clock case looks like varnished wood, a look around the back reveals it's actually veneered chipboard, while the panels at the back are a light-coloured wood most likely pine or larch. Inside, the mechanism is basic but looks to be of reasonable quality and is mostly made of brass. Both bellows are in good order.

The most important part of any cuckoo clock is, of course, the cuckoo. This one lives behind a circular plastic door with more of that geometric pattern. Like most cuckoo clock cuckoos, he looks absolutely nothing like a real cuckoo and is more like a cartoon character with a long black beak, hand-painted black and grey plumage and very big eyes; unlike most, he bobs up and down when he cuckoos (incidentally, we know he's a he because only male cuckoos cuckoo - female cuckoos have a completely different call!).

Please note the damage to the door depicted in the final photo - the top bracket, through which a thin wire passes to form a hinge attaching the door to the case, has worn through so that the door is attached at the bottom only. This will be very easy to fix, requiring only a tiny piece of plastic to be glued on, or an entirely new door could be fabricated either with a 3D printer or, to make the clock look even better than it does now, carved from wood. Otherwise, the clock is in good condition and its previous owner tells us it works; however, due to a small amount of damage and missing weights we're listing the item as spares or repair. The case is in good order with only a few light scuffs at the corners but no serious scratches, rot or other problems and all the parts are tightly joined together. The face is in excellent shape, as are the decorative panels and the pendulum which is stored inside the case. The chains are in place but, as stated above, the weights have been lost - fortunately, it would have been fitted with the traditional pinecone-shaped weights which are very easy to buy (it requires two, one to operate the clock and one to operate the cuckoo - you can remove the cuckoo weight if you want him to stop cuckooing).

Dimensions (W x D x H): 32.5 x 12.5 x 40cm (13 x 5 x 16 inches)
Weight: 3.5kg (7.7lb)

Due to the nature of this item it is not always possible for us to identify any missing parts.
For this reason we ask that you please check the pictures carefully, as these show everything that is included.

This item has been very kindly donated to the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity.

Arthur Rank Hospice Charity supports people in Cambridgeshire living with an advanced serious illness or other life-limiting condition and those who need end-of-life care. Our ‘Outstanding’ services are provided free of charge to patients and their families. Our aim is to provide the highest quality care, helping them to make every moment count.

100% of the money raised from this sale will go to the charity.

Our sales team do their best to check each item and ensure that the description and pictures provided are as accurate as possible.

Feedback is extremely important to the charity so if you are not fully satisfied with your purchase please give us a chance to resolve any issues by contacting us prior to leaving feedback.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us via eBay messages, we will make sure that your message is responded to promptly, usually within three working days. Messages sent over the weekend will be responded to on the next working day.

If this item is not quite what you were looking for but you would still like to help our cause, please consider providing us with a donation which can be done via our eBay Charity Profile linked below.

Donate via Arthur Rank Hospice Charity Profile

We only accept payments made through one of eBay's many approved methods. Please make sure to complete your payment within 96 hours of winning an item. Once your payment has been received we will dispatch your item as soon as possible, usually within two working days.

Delivery times are calculated in working days (Monday to Friday). If your order is placed after 1pm, the next working day will be considered the first working day for delivery. In case of bank holidays and during the Christmas period where delays are more likely, please allow an extra few days for delivery.

Domestic Delivery

We aim to dispatch orders within two working days. If for any reason there is an unexpected delay in dispatching your order we will make sure to inform you of this as soon as possible.

We use Hermes to deliver the majority of our parcels. If you would like to specify a preferred neighbour, or safe place for the parcel to be left, please leave the details in a message when placing your order.

Some low-value items will be sent by Royal Mail 2nd Class. Some items of higher value are sent by Royal Mail Signed For or Special Delivery, which requires a signature. If you are not present at the time of delivery, a card will be left instructing you to arrange a redelivery, or to collect your order from the local sorting office.

International Delivery

International orders are handled by eBay's Global Shipping Programme.

For full details please see the following eBay help page: Buying internationally with the Global Shipping Programme.

Items can be collected from our Retail Hub at Arthur Rank Hospice Charity, Eastern Counties Leather Industrial Estate, Pampisford, CB22 3EE during our opening hours of 10:00 to 16:00, Tuesday to Saturday. If you would like to collect your item please contact us in advance to arrange this.

Arthur Rank Hospice Charity Retail Hub Sawston Map
Show in Google Maps

Arthur Rank Hospice Charity uses the eBay Returns system to make the process as easy for you as possible. For full details about the process, and for information on how to begin a return, please see the following eBay help page: Return an item for a refund.

Change of Mind

If when you receive your order you are not completely satisfied, you may return the items to us within 30 days for a refund. Returns will be processed within three working days once the goods have been received by us.

Items must be returned to us in the same condition as they were received by you. This includes, but is not limited to: original packaging, original boxes, packaging materials, manuals, blank warranty cards, accessories and documents. We reserve the right to refuse a return or deduct an amount for lost value where the item is returned in a different condition.

We strongly recommend that you fully insure your package that you are returning, as well as using a carrier that can provide you with tracking information or proof of delivery.

Arthur Rank Hospice Charity will not be held responsible for returns lost or damaged in transit.

Please be aware that it is the responsibility of the customer to cover any delivery charges for returning an unwanted item.

Incorrect/Damaged Goods

We try very hard to ensure that you receive your order in pristine condition. In the unlikely event that your order arrives damaged or faulty, please contact us via eBay immediately, this will be given special priority and you can expect to receive a response within 48 hours, Monday to Friday. Arthur Rank Hospice Charity will cover the cost of domestic return postage for any incorrect or damaged items, subject to the cost of the chosen return method being reasonable. Please contact us before proceeding if unsure.

About Arthur Rank Hospice Charity

Arthur Rank Hospice Charity supports people in Cambridgeshire living with an advanced serious illness or other life-limiting condition and those who need end-of-life care. Its ‘Outstanding’ services are provided free of charge to patients and their families. The aim is to provide the highest quality care, helping them to make every moment count.

Around 4,000 patients are cared for each year at the Hospice in Cambridge, the Alan Hudson Day Treatment Centre in Wisbech and in patients’ own homes via the Arthur Rank Community Team. This care supports people to improve their quality of life and fulfil their end of their life choices.

Alongside the care provided by the Inpatient Unit, Living Well services and Hospice at Home teams, patients can access: patient and family support; lymphoedema care; complementary therapy; medical and pain outpatient clinics; and advice from the clinical nurse specialists within the Specialist Palliative Care Home Team. Programmes are practical, holistic and tailored to the individual patient, family member or carer and may also include rehabilitative support, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and psychological support.

It will cost £10.5 million in 2021/2022 to run services, which are provided free of charge to patients and their loved ones. Contracted services from the NHS are budgeted at £6.98 million, meaning that £3.52 million needs to be raised through donations, fundraising activities and trading. The Charity is extremely grateful to the local community for the continual dedication, commitment and generosity they show in supporting towards meeting this target.