The Country Needs New Clocks – Design and Contemporary History

Black Forest clocks are a speaking testimony of the prevailing spirit of the times in the Federal Republic of Germany. 

“Progress yes – anarchy no”: The campaign slogan of the Christian Democratic Union party is fitting for the clocks of the 1960s. Despite a modern battery-powered movement, the material for the cases remained traditional: wood and brass for living areas, ceramics for the kitchen.

“Take a Chance on More Democracy”: In the liberal socialist 1970’s clock cases became more colourful and shapes less severe. Thus, as a reaction to the changes in everyday life, many clocks had a wide range of uses: Living, dining and working areas were no longer strictly separated.

According to Helmut Kohl, “The crucial thing is what comes out at the end”. Thanks to plastic injection moulding technology, increasingly more clock cases could be made in nearly any shape and colour as from the 1980’s. These low-priced quartz clocks were a replaceable lifestyle product. Clocks no longer had to last for a lifetime, as was the case before.