Museum piece
The symmetrically designed wooden case is topped by a gently curved hood that frames the round dial. Its warm wood grain is complemented by softly shaped side sections and small carved details. The brass-coloured dial features black Arabic numerals and an outer 24-hour scale. The most striking detail is the raised relief ornament in the centre: it forms a sculptural frame around the hands’ axis and gives the dial depth and an elegant decorative character.
Inside the case is a mechanical pendulum movement with a Bim-Bam strike on three chime rods. It strikes once on the half hour and counts the hours on the hour. After the case and movement were cleaned and oiled, the clock has kept very accurate time. Its observed rate variation is no more than one minute per week—a remarkably good result for a clock of this age.
We found this clock at an outdoor flea market, in a box of assorted discarded items. It was covered in a brown layer of grime, and the dial had become heavily tarnished. We bought it, then cleaned and oiled the case and movement. Today it stands in our dining room. To us, it is a reminder that with patience and care, an unassuming flea-market find can once again become a valued part of everyday life.
Manufacturer
Leipzig · Saxony · Germany
Berger & Würker was founded in Leipzig on 1 February 1885 by Rudolf Louis Berger and Otto Heinrich Richard Würker. It was best known as a wholesaler of clocks, clock parts and watchmakers' tools; its range also included gold and silver goods and cutlery. The company was based at Katharinenstraße 22.
Rudolf Louis Berger had been active in the clock trade since 1871. His expertise and visits to clockmakers across Germany quickly helped him build a large customer base. Otto Heinrich Richard Würker had spent a long time abroad and had gained experience in France and in North and South America. He managed the company's internal operations. In 1893 Würker retired; Rudolf Berger brought his older brother Otto into the business as a partner. Rudolf Berger later continued the company alone.
Alongside wholesaling, Berger & Würker had its own clock production by the 1880s. The company sourced movements from makers in the Black Forest; larger clocks often used movements from the Lenzkirch clock factory. Its range included various domestic clocks and so-called “Phantasie” alarm clocks. English-style clocks were also made for export.
In 1905, the firm advertised a watchman's time recorder based on its own patent. It celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1910. In 1913, it received the Saxon State Prize at an exhibition for a clock that is not identified in more detail in the surviving account. Before the First World War, its trade included Parisian pendulum clocks, travel alarm clocks, clocks by Furtwängler, as well as records and gramophones.
In the 1920s, Berger & Würker was listed mainly as a clock wholesaler. In 1933, it acted as general representative for Kienzle clocks. It became a limited partnership in 1948 and was deleted from the commercial register on 22 May 1967.
The B & W and B.W.L. marks are associated with wall and longcase clocks. The B.W.L. mark was registered on 17 September 1912.