Design
This mantel clock from the 1960s is a fine example of clock design from East Germany.
The wide, gently curved wooden case has a warm, glossy finish. Its outward-rising sides and softly curved upper and lower edges give the clock its distinctive shape. A narrow cream-coloured frame surrounds the open dial.
Gold-coloured hour markers and elegantly shaped hands stand out against the wooden surface. The small trademark of Uhrenwerk Weimar appears at the lower right. Four angled, light-coloured feet accentuate its 1960s styling.
The unusually wide shape and combination of wood, cream and gold lend the clock an elegant appearance.
Technology
Mechanical movement with a Bim-Bam chime on three chime rods. On the hour, the clock strikes the corresponding number of hours; on the half-hour, it strikes once.
Manufacturer
VEB Uhrenwerk Weimar
Weimar
· Thuringia
· Germany
The history of the Weimar clockworks began on 1 July 1950 with the founding of VEB Feingerätewerk Weimar. At first, just 24 employees made alarm-clock glasses and office supplies. Production of the “Weimar Wecker” alarm clock began as early as 1951, marking the factory’s entry into clockmaking.
Over the following decades, the factory became an important part of East Germany’s clock industry. Alongside mechanical and later quartz-controlled clocks for the home, the factory also produced precision mechanical instruments, exposure meters and components for clock production.
From 1967 the factory belonged to the Ruhla clock and machinery combine. Particularly during the 1960s and 1970s, it produced numerous wall, table and mantel clocks, ranging in design from simple everyday objects to decorative home accessories. Unusual models with torsion pendulums and glass domes were also part of the range.
One interesting chapter was its cooperation with Swedish furniture retailer IKEA in the 1980s. The Weimar factory made wall clocks for IKEA, including the “Myndig” model. In this way, clocks made in East Germany found their way into homes in the West.
With a workforce of around 2,000 towards the end, Uhrenwerk Weimar was an important part of the East German clock industry. The state-owned enterprise came to an end in 1990 amid political and economic changes. The name Weimar nevertheless remained associated with clockmaking.
