He is Singapore's only authorised cuckoo clock repair specialist – and a 'restorer of memories'
Michael Cheah, founder of The Cuckoo Haus, has been repairing cuckoo clocks full-time for almost 10 years. Many customers have even come to Singapore from around the region, just for his rare expertise.
Michael Cheah at The Cuckoo Haus, where he works on repairing cuckoo clocks. (Photo: CNA/Grace Yeoh)
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To the average ear, the difference between tick-tak-tick-tak and tak-tak-tak-tak is likely inconsequential, if at all noticeable.
But being able to diagnose the issue with a faulty cuckoo clock, based on its sound, is partly why Michael Cheah has been touted as the "go-to guy" for repairs by his customers in Singapore and the region, including Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, the Philippines and India.
Cheah is in demand, firstly, because he’s great with his ears and hands, possessing specialised technical skills.
Plus, The Cuckoo Haus, which he founded and runs full-time, is the only cuckoo clock service station in Singapore authorised by the Black Forest Clock Association.
The reputable association, better known as VdS or its German name Verein die Schwarzwalduhr, issues authenticity certification to member organisations for their cuckoo clocks.
The highly sought-after seal is given to mechanical clocks, not quartz clocks or those running on solar energy. The clock must be made entirely of wood – except for their movement, the mechanical system that powers a clock – with all essential parts produced in Germany’s Black Forest region, the birthplace of cuckoo clocks, and meet the stringent quality controls set by the association.
Most importantly, though, his customers, consciously or otherwise, are hoping that he will restore their precious memories. For many, the clock is not just a clock.
The sentiment may seem whimsical to others, but it mirrors his own passion for the niche profession he discovered by accident in 2010.
A CHANCE CALLING
It's rare enough to own a cuckoo clock, let alone be a specialist in them, especially in Singapore. So it’s little wonder Cheah is often asked, with a mix of curiosity and incredulity, how he even realised this could be a job.
“By chance”, the 58-year-old believes – similar to the serendipity of customers stumbling upon his business after searching high and low for a cuckoo clock repair specialist.
While he conceptualised The Cuckoo Haus in 2009, he only incorporated it the following year as a retail business. He was going through a major life transition at the time, and was seeking a new challenge.
Having previously worked for a German company in construction and machine manufacturing for over a decade, he landed on cuckoo clocks – a cultural icon of German craftsmanship.
