Clock · Baby alarm clock

Baby alarm clock with monkey barber

Partially verified

This baby alarm clock, produced by the Union Clock Company in Furtwangen around 1900, is a specialized timepiece featuring a mechanical automaton element. The clock is characterized by a paper dial depicting a humorous scene of a monkey acting as a barber, shaving a man seated in a chair. A key mechanical feature of the design is the integration of the figure's animation with the movement's regulation; specifically, the back-and-forth swinging movement of the monkey's arm is linked directly to the oscillation of the clock's anchor. Currently held in the collection of the German Clock Museum, the object serves as an example of early 20th-century novelty timekeeping produced in the Black Forest region.

Front view of the Union Clock Company baby alarm clock showing the 'monkey barber' dial illustration. — German Clock Museum via Europeana. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source: orbiscollectibles.com
Category: Clock · Baby alarm clock
Maker / attribution: Union Clock Company
Reference: Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier: /1406/Museu_ProvidedCHO_museum_digital_19531__technical_number_
Source-reported date: c. 1900
Source-reported place: Germany

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Visual and Mechanical Design

The clock is defined by its novelty paper dial, which presents a narrative scene of a monkey performing the role of a barber. The scene itself, titled as a 'monkey barber' motif, portrays the monkey positioned to the left, leaning over a seated man to provide a shave.

Functionality is tied to the movement, as the clock incorporates an automaton feature. The animation is not independent but relies on the primary timekeeping escapement. The movement of the monkey’s arm is mechanically synchronized with the rhythm of the clock's anchor, creating a repetitive motion as the clock operates. The case itself follows a standard alarm clock configuration with an exposed bell mounted at the top.

Evidence for this section

“The paper dial shows a man being shaved by a "monkey barber".”
“The back-and-forth swinging of the arm is linked to the movement of the anchor.”

Provenance and Identification

This specific timepiece is preserved in the permanent collection of the German Clock Museum in Furtwangen. The museum record provides formal documentation for the object, identifying the maker as the Union Clock Company and dating the manufacture to approximately 1900.

The object is recorded under a specific museum accession identifier within the Europeana database, which confirms its status as an institutional holding. The documentation provides precise physical dimensions, noting the clock's height, width, and depth, facilitating its classification as a 'baby alarm clock' within the context of early 20th-century German horological production.

Evidence for this section

“Baby alarm clock with moving figure "monkey barber", Union Clock Company, Furtwangen, c. 1900.”
“The museum record gives measurements height: 17.00 cm, width: 10.50 cm, depth: 6.50 cm”

Institutional Records

The identification of the piece is maintained by the German Clock Museum, which categorizes the item as a Babywecker, or baby alarm clock. The institution's records serve as the primary source for technical details, including the geographical origin in Furtwangen.

While the records are internally consistent, the museum notes the object's specific title and physical parameters.

Evidence for this section

“Baby alarm clock with monkey barber, Union Clock Company, Furtwangen, c. 1900, Union Clock Company, 1900 is held by German Clock Museum”
“Babywecker mit Affenbarbier, Union Clock Company, Furtwangen, um 1900”

Open research questions

Are there variations of this 'monkey barber' dial scene produced by the Union Clock Company?
What specific type of metal is used for the alarm clock housing and bell?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Baby alarm clock with monkey barber
Field	Source-reported value	Source quotation
Maker	Union Clock Company	“Union Clock Company”
Origin	Furtwangen	“Furtwangen”
Date	c. 1900	“c. 1900”
Height	17.00 cm	“height: 17.00 cm”
Width	10.50 cm	“width: 10.50 cm”
Depth	6.50 cm	“depth: 6.50 cm”
Mechanism	Anchor-linked automaton	“The back-and-forth swinging of the arm is linked to the movement of the anchor.”
Institution	German Clock Museum	“German Clock Museum”

Visible details

Paper dial featuring an illustration of a monkey barber shaving a man
Metallic clock case with an external top-mounted alarm bell
Auxiliary small seconds dial located at the bottom of the main dial
Spindle-style feet and top ring for portability

Research qualifications

The mechanical linkage between the arm movement and anchor requires verification beyond the museum description
Material composition of the case and internal components is not specified in the provided records

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

Baby alarm clock with monkey barber, Union Clock Company, Furtwangen, c. 1900, Union Clock Company, 1900

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 29b841dff4

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.