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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket watch

Pocket watch by Actien-Gesellschaft für Taschenuhren-Fabrikation in Furtwangen

Partially verified

This pocket watch, identified as number 104, is an early production piece attributed to the Actien-Gesellschaft für Taschenuhren-Fabrikation based in Furtwangen. The museum-held object dates to approximately 1855. Its construction features a standard pocket watch configuration with an enamel dial displaying Roman numerals for the hours and a subsidiary seconds dial at the six o'clock position. The exterior case dimensions are recorded by the German Clock Museum as 7.00 cm in height, 4.80 cm in width, and 1.40 cm in depth. It is currently preserved in the permanent collection of the German Clock Museum (Deutsches Uhrenmuseum Furtwangen). The specimen serves as a documented example of the production output associated with this specific joint-stock company.

Front view of the pocket watch showing the dial, hands, and subsidiary seconds.
Front view of the pocket watch showing the dial, hands, and subsidiary seconds. — German Clock Museum via Europeana. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
orbiscollectibles.com
Category
Pocket watch · Pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Actien-Gesellschaft für Taschenuhren-Fabrikation in Furtwangen
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
/1406/Museu_ProvidedCHO_museum_digital_29712__technical_number_
Source-reported date
circa 1855
Source-reported place
Germany
Source-reported serial
104

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

Identity and Origin

The pocket watch is identified by the German Clock Museum as a production piece by the Actien-Gesellschaft für Taschenuhren-Fabrikation, located in Furtwangen. This company represents a specific attempt at mid-19th-century industrial watch manufacture in the Black Forest region of Germany.

The museum records this specific object as inventory number 104. The provenance is established by the object's presence in the permanent collection of the Deutsches Uhrenmuseum Furtwangen, which serves as the primary repository for regional horological history. The dating of the watch to circa 1855 aligns with the period of activity for this company.

Evidence for this section
  • “Actien-Gesellschaft für Taschenuhren-Fabrikation in Furtwangen, circa 1855”
  • “Pocket watch no. 104, Actien-Gesellschaft für Taschenuhren-Fabrikation in Furtwangen, circa 1855 (Deutsches Uhrenmuseum Furtwangen)”

Physical Configuration

A smaller subsidiary dial for seconds is located at the lower portion of the main dial.

The dimensions of the timepiece are documented as 7.00 cm in height, 4.80 cm in width, and 1.40 cm in depth. These measurements capture the overall size of the case, including the bow.

Evidence for this section
  • “height: 7.00 cm, width: 4.80 cm, depth: 1.40 cm”

Museum Documentation

The object is indexed within the Europeana digital framework under the identification code /1406/Museu_ProvidedCHO_museum_digital_29712__technical_number_. This digital record serves as the official link between the physical item in the German Clock Museum and the academic documentation provided by the institution.

As noted by the museum records, the institution provides the technical data including measurements and the specific association with the Actien-Gesellschaft für Taschenuhren-Fabrikation. The museum confirms the item is a pocket watch, and the cataloging follows the standardized identification for museum collections.

Evidence for this section
  • “Europeana id /1406/Museu_ProvidedCHO_museum_digital_29712__technical_number_”
  • “These details come from the holding museum's own record”

Open research questions

  • What is the specific material composition of the case (e.g. silver, brass, or nickel) beyond its appearance in the image?
  • Are there any visible hallmarks or maker marks inside the case or on the movement plate that further corroborate the Furtwangen factory attribution?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Pocket watch by Actien-Gesellschaft für Taschenuhren-Fabrikation in Furtwangen
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerActien-Gesellschaft für Taschenuhren-Fabrikation in Furtwangen“Actien-Gesellschaft für Taschenuhren-Fabrikation in Furtwangen”
Serial number104“Pocket watch no. 104”
Datecirca 1855“circa 1855”
InstitutionGerman Clock Museum“German Clock Museum”
Height7.00 cm“height: 7.00 cm”
Width4.80 cm“width: 4.80 cm”
Depth1.40 cm“depth: 1.40 cm”

Visible details

  • Enamel dial with black Roman numerals
  • Subsidiary seconds dial at the six o'clock position
  • Circular silver or silver-toned case with a round bow
  • Blued steel hands for hours, minutes, and seconds

Research qualifications

  • Material composition of the case is not explicitly confirmed in source
  • Operational condition of the internal movement is not reported

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

Consulted source

Pocket watch, Actien-Gesellschaft für Taschenuhren-Fabrikation in Furtwangen, circa 1855

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 041f541457

Terms in this record

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

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