Design
The round dial with its slender hands is set in an open gold-tone frame. Twisted side supports and spherical elements define the clock’s Art Deco style. The torsion pendulum is visible below the dial, protected by a glass dome.
Museum piece
KUNDO Anniversary Clock in Art Deco Style, circa 1960
- Manufacturer
- Kieninger & Obergfell – KUNDO
- Date
- circa 1960
- Period
- A lighter touch: the 1950s and 1960s
- Clock type
- Anniversary clock
- Movement
- Mechanical Kieninger & Obergfell (KUNDO) annual clock movement with torsion pendulum
- Chime
- No chime
- Style
- Art Deco
- Dimensions
- × ×
- Weight
Where it is now
Has found a new home
Country
India – West Bengal
Technology
Anniversary clocks—also known as 400-day clocks—are among the fascinating constructions of traditional clockmaking. Their finely adjusted movements need winding only once a year. This technical achievement made them special from the outset, and they continue to fascinate today. The slow, even rotation of the four-ball pendulum has an almost hypnotic quality. Instead of the brisk ticking of an ordinary clock, the passage of time here feels calm and unhurried.
Inside is a mechanical movement with a torsion pendulum. Rather than swinging from side to side, the pendulum slowly rotates around its vertical axis. This highly energy-efficient design allows the movement to run for a long time on a single winding.
Manufacturer
Kieninger & Obergfell – KUNDO
St. Georgen · Black Forest – Baden-Württemberg · Germany
The history of the Kundo clock brand began in 1899 in St. Georgen in Germany’s Black Forest. Johann Obergfell established a business there making clock movement components; he is also credited with developing the spiral gong. In 1918, Obergfell entered into a partnership with Georg Kieninger. The company Kieninger & Obergfell developed the Kundo brand, whose name derives from the initials K and O.
Kundo became especially well known for mechanical anniversary clocks with torsion pendulums. Thanks to their low energy consumption, these so-called 400-day clocks needed winding only about once a year. After the Second World War, they found customers around the world. Distinctive markings include the decorative Kundo lettering and the manufacturer's name Kieninger & Obergfell.
Johann Obergfell was succeeded by his son Reingold, who expanded anniversary clock production. Reingold's son Herbert took over in 1956. Under his leadership, electromechanical and electronic clocks became increasingly important. Transistor-controlled pendulum clocks appeared from 1956 onwards, followed by further electronic and quartz-controlled timepieces, including the Kundo 2000 ele-Quarz.
Another production site was established in Mariazell in 1964. In 1980, Kundo joined forces with Staiger, leading to the creation of Uhren Technik Schwarzwald (UTS). As technology evolved, the company's focus gradually shifted from traditional domestic clocks to other precision mechanical and electronic applications. Its history continues today under the Kundo xT name.
Kieninger & Obergfell should not be confused with the Kieninger Clock Manufactory founded by Joseph Kieninger in Aldingen in 1912. Georg Kieninger and Joseph Kieninger belong to two distinct company histories.