Clocks, Clocks, Clocks

The German Clock Museum's Collection is likely the most diversified clock collection in the world, including many renowned and rare timekeeping instruments. Comprising around 8,000 clocks and watches, the Museum holds a broad-scoped collection. It also has a large technical library and a comprehensive archive of trade literature.

History

1852 Robert Gerwig, Director of the Grand Ducal School of Clock-Making of Baden, starts collecting Black Forest gear clocks made of wood.

1874 Permanent exhibition of the historic clock collection along with clocks from current production in the newly built Trade Hall of Furtwangen.

1925 Adolf Kistner's first catalogue of the collection lists over 1,000 items.

1959 New museum building integrated in the State Engineering School - Staatliche Ingenieurschule (today: Furtwangen University - Hochschule Furtwangen).

1975 Purchase of the renowned Hellmut Kienzle Clock Collection. Hence, renamed „Deutsches Uhrenmuseum Furtwangen“ in 1978.

1992 Opening of today's museum building.

Today The German Clock Museum is a popular tourist destination in the Black Forest.


Single-Pointer Travel ClockPresumably Wroclaw, 1552Details

Rock Crystal Pendant Watch and CaseAntwerp, c. 1600Details

Wooden-Gear Clock with Astronomical IndicationsThe Black Forest, c. 1750Details

Copernican PlanetariumKornwestheim, 1774Details

Precision Regulator with Compensated PendulumEichstätt, c. 1775Details

Marine Chronometer No. 16John Arnold, London, c. 1783Details

Astronomical-Geographic ClockSt. Peter, Black Forest, 1787Details

Pocket Watch with Chronometer EscapementF. Gutkaes, Dresden, c. 1820Details

Wooden Wall Clock with Painted DialBlack Forest, c. 1830Details

Pendulum Clock with Electromagnetic DriveAlexander Bain, England, 1840'sDetails

Wall Clock in "Station-House Style"Furtwangen, c. 1853Details

Pocket Watch, "La Prolétaire"Roskopf, La Chaux-de-Fonds, c. 1870Details

Alarm Clock in a Metal CaseJunghans, Schramberg, c.1890Details

Escapement with Free-Floating Spring-Impulse Escapement, PrototypeSigmund Riefler, Munich, 1890Details

Rolex Oyster WristwatchRolex, Switzerland, 1927Details

Quartz Crystal Oscillator of a Quartz WatchBerlin, c. 1934Details

"The world´s first electric watch"Hamilton, USA, 1957Details

The First Quartz WristwatchSeiko, Japan, 1969Details

Prototype for a Low-Priced Quartz Watch MovementGebr. Staiger, St. Georgen, 1970Details

Receiver for the DCF-77 Time SignalPhysikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (National Metrology Institute), Braunschweig, 1973Details