Grandfather Clocks

When Americans think of German clocks, the first thoughts are usually of "Tales From Vienna Woods" or of The Black Forest are first to come to mind.   Germany has a fine history of clock making that goes back to the very beginnings of clockmaking.

If you will remember,  spring-driven clocks were developed during the fifteenth century. At the very beginning of the sixteenth century, in 1504, the first portable timepiece ( a watch) was invented by a rather colorful character named Peter Henlein.  Henlein invented the mainspring that drove that first watch. in Nuremberg, Germany. This event marked the beginning of the prominence of twin towns of Augsburg and Nuremburg.  That part of southern Germany is known as Bavaria  and became known as the German clock making center during the sixteenth century.

The first spring-driven table clocks of the era were either drum-shaped or square boxes with the dial located on the top. The German clock works were sophisticated enough to include a fusee to control the power of the mainspring. Since German clock makers came from the ranks of jewelers, silversmiths and goldsmiths, the German clocks of the sixteenth century had ornate metal cases. These German clock cases typically featured a cast scene of exotic animals like an elephant or monkey. The dial of German antique clocks used just a single hand to indicate time marked in Roman numerals for 1 to 12. You will remember that parts of Europe did not adopt a standardized 12-hour day until later.