“In the beginning, the life of men was crude and without form […]” The work of one of the first chroniclers of the Black Forest clock trade begins with this quotation taken from the ancient poet Marcus Manilius. Markus Fidelis Jäck, a pastor in both Gütenbach and Triberg, was fascinated by the skill and diligence of his Black Forest flock. He wrote several articles about the home-based production of Black Forest clocks for a journal of public economy from 1810 to 1815. Even if some of the descriptions have been disputed, he left us the first compendium describing the early clock trade of this region.
The articles were compiled and made into a book in 1826 – an absolute must for the German Clock Museum! Yet for years all of our efforts to acquire one of these rare books were in vain. In his estate, Gerd Bender generously donated his copy of the work to the Museum. Thank you very much!
“Triberg or the Attempt at a Portrayal of Industry and Trade from the Black Forest” by Markus Fidelis Jäck, Constance, 1826, Archive of the German Clock Museum