5.1

Benedikt Faller’s (1791 - 1850) Workshop in Gütenbach

The clock industry of the Black Forest had been organized as a cottage trade for some time. Although division of labour began on a broad scale as from the 18th century, there still were no factories. Every master artisan remained independent, working in his own workshop.

Making wooden clocks was one of the few professions available to the self-employed in the 18th century. Nearly all others were subject to stringent guild regulations limiting the number of master artisans.

Over the course of the 18th century, increasingly more inhabitants of the Black Forest began making simple wooden clocks. They set up their workshops in the home. These master artisans employed a few journeymen and usually had some apprentices as well. Their training was not regulated. A clockmaker could train as many apprentices as he wished. There also were women who worked as master clockmakers.