Hello Christine,
Thank you for sending in this mantel clock to mearto.com for an appraisal.
TITLE:
Mahogany (or mahogany veneered) primary and beechwood secondary, Art Deco era, dual steel springs, eight-day time and hour and half hour chiming (perhaps quarterly), dome top style mantel clock, unsigned by the clockmaker, made in Germany, circa 1925-1930.
DESCRIPTION:
Case: 9” high x 7” wide x 5” deep this is a dome top style mahoganized mantel clock made in the late Art Deco era and unsigned, as most German clocks were following World War I when German clockmakers did not believe that the English speaking ‘Allied’ countries would not purchase German made products. The case appears to be mahogany or mahogany veneered
With the doe of the case enclosing the glazed brass dial bezel while the sides of the case fall vertically to the canter base moulding sitting on wooden block feet that run the depth of the case. The glazed brass bezel is hinged on the left and opens from right to left, the opposite (generally of American clocks). The feet and bottom of the case at the back resemble beechwood which was a commonly available wood used in Germany.
Dial: This is a round silvered dial enameled with black upright Arabic hours, open bar minute track, and steel solid “Scottie” hands. The dial has two winding apertures for the time and chime trains, but is unsigned.
Movement: This is a rectangular solid brass plate movement made in the German manner. The plates are connected by tubular pillars at the corners and are screwed together with washers and screws. There is an anchor recoil escapement, flywheel controlled striking and all powered by two coiled steel springs which power the movement for eight days and cause chiming on three rods by three movement hammers, which suggest quarterly chiming of some type. Many were hurly and half hourly strikers, but your example with three hammers and rods suggest chiming. The name stamped in black onto the Chime attachment may be the retailer or the maker of the gong. It is truly not legible although there is a surname that looks a bit like Gutteman, but not certain. There was a Leopold Guttemann who made Electric clocks in berlin in the 1920s, but I do not think that is the maker of this clock. The back plate does not bear a name or logo, only a serial number 315417. A metal pendulum rod hangs from the pendulum suspension at the very top of the back plate, passing through the steel crutch and holding the heavy brass covered bob which swings due to the power of the coiled spring.
If you look at the pendulum suspension which holds a thin small spring, note that it is screwed into the back plate and held with two screws set into a double rounded brass piece. That is only seen in Germany.
The concept of multiple hammers chiming on sets of rods was begun by Junghans early in the 20th century and just about every other common maker used a similar system to enhance the chime on their clocks.
CONDITION:
Case - The façade is in good condition with the base moulding showing some wear. The sides and back of the case have a host of scratches, scuffs and rubs, so overall the case in in fair condition.
Dial: good condition although unsigned with black enameled paint marks around the base of the hands.
Movement: Plates beginning to show signs of oxidation and corrosive changes to the surface. A rather common type of mid -Art deco clock design, but typically German made, not Swiss.
A BIT OF HISTORY:
The woods used were either oak, or some base wood such as gum-wood with or without veneering. Many were stained to resemble mahogany. Factory produced clocks in Germany begins with the formation of the Lenzkirch company in 1851. Between 1860 and 1890 the factory system flourished in local town such as, Furtwangen, Baden (13,500 people employed making clocks in 1873), Schwenningen and Württemberg. The most prominent companies in this region were Junghans, Hamburg American, Mauthe, Badische Clock Factory and Kienzle. By 1900 the work day was reduced to ten hours (prior to 1850, the clock craftsmen worked about 16 hours/day). In 1900 Black Forest production reached 8.5 million clocks per year. By the first decade of the 20th century German clock production, for the first time, surpassed that of England and the U.S.A. Some of the larger and better companies were Mauthe (in Schwenningen), Junghans and the Hamburg-American Clock Company. By the beginning of WWl it is estimated that German clock output was four times that of America. The popularity of German hall clocks or grandfather clocks peaked circa 1910-1915. Following the war, the clock companies never could recover the market that they had dominated in earlier years before the Great War.
A BIT OF HISTORY:
The woods used were either oak, beechwood or some base wood such as gum-wood with or without veneering. Factory produced clocks in Germany begins with the formation of the Lenzkirch company in 1851. Between 1860 and 1890 the factory system flourished in local town such as, Furtwangen, Baden (13,500 people employed making clocks in 1873), Schwenningen and Württemberg. The most prominent companies in this region were Junghans, Hamburg American, Mauthe, Badische Clock Factory and Kienzle. By 1900 the work day was reduced to ten hours (prior to 1850, the clock craftsmen worked about 16 hours/day). In 1900 Black Forest production reached 8.5 million clocks per year. By the first decade of the 20th century German clock production, for the first time, surpassed that of England and the U.S.A. Some of the larger and better companies were Mauthe (in Schwenningen), Junghans and the Hamburg-American Clock Company. By the beginning of WWl it is estimated that German clock output was four times that of America. The popularity of German hall clocks or grandfather clocks peaked circa 1910-1915. Following the war, the clock companies never could recover the market that they had dominated in earlier years before the Great War.
COMPARABLES:
~https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/vintage-german-mahogany-wood-mantel-clock-1323-c-b7c4ec8955 (SOLD IN 2021 FOR $30)
~https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/antique-german-junghans-mantel-clock-548-c-1cc400f85b (SOLD FOR $60 IN 2021)
~https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/german-philipp-haas-sohne-mahogany-shelf-clock-1092-c-bc44d6997f (A bit more elaborate and sold for $80 in 2020)
~https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/3-group-of-german-american-mantel-clocks-1236-c-e74420fa4d Grouping of three German clocks was passed for failing to reach $100 in 2020)
~https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/early-20th-century-mantel-clock-432a-c-f7344f29b5 (sold in 2019 for 20 Australian dollars)
PRICING:
Given its condition and not knowing the clockmaker, this is a rather inexpensive clock to value. In my opinion, this clock in today's clock market (which has fallen severely in the past two decades) would have a fair market value in the range of $50-$70.
I am sorry it could not be a larger amount for you, but that is what commonly made clocks from this era in such used condition sell for today. Thank you for choosing mearto.com for your appraisal.
My best,
David