The Müller & Schlenker clock factory was founded in Schwenningen in 1879 by Johannes Müller and his wife, a daughter of clock dealer Erhard Schlenker. Initially making wall clocks and alarm clocks, the company grew into an important manufacturer in the German clockmaking industry. By around 1900, it employed more than 100 people. Eugen Schlenker, a son-in-law, joined the management in 1905. With further family members entering the business, it was converted into a joint-stock company in 1918. That same year, Müller & Schlenker began producing wristwatches, expanding its existing range. The company grew substantially over the following decades. It employed around 450 people in 1928, approximately 500 ten years later, and about 600 in the 1960s. In addition to wall clocks and alarm clocks, it made table clocks, mantel clocks and other domestic timepieces. Its clocks became particularly well known under the brand name EMES, derived from the initials M and S of Müller & Schlenker. The trademark was registered in 1938. The business later operated as Emes GmbH & Co. Timepieces sold under the EMES name reflect the long tradition of clockmaking in Schwenningen, where generations of craftspeople produced mechanical clocks for everyday use and domestic interiors.