Lenzkirch, Black Forest, Germany
Lenzkirch Clock Factory
Partially verifiedHigh-quality Black Forest wall, mantel and regulator clocks
History
Lenzkirch industrialised Black Forest clockmaking to a notably high standard, producing movements widely regarded as among the best German factory work of the period before the business closed between the wars.
The company was founded in 1851 in the village of Lenzkirch as a public company to industrialize Black Forest clockmaking through the use of precision machinery. Under the leadership of Eduard Hauser, the firm transitioned from importing raw parts to manufacturing complete movements and clocks, including regulators, in-house. Renamed to Uhrenfabrik Lenzkirch A.G. in 1924, the enterprise faced significant economic difficulties during the Great Depression. The factory was ultimately taken over by Junghans and officially dissolved in August 1929.
The extended history summarises the open references listed under Sources; each statement was checked against the cited passage. Confirm key dates in period documents before relying on them.
Timeline
Lenzkirch Clock Factory's recorded dates, dated events from this profile and its sources, and dated pieces and sales from the object catalogue. Dates are as each record gives them.
1851 · Career
Founded (Lenzkirch, Black Forest)
1851 · Career
The company was founded in 1851 in the village of Lenzkirch as a public company to industrialize Black Forest clockmaking through the use of precision machinery.
circa 1880 · Catalogued piece
circa 1890 · Catalogued piece
1893 · Career
The firm manufactured digital clocks featuring digital cards between 1893 and 1894.
1901 · Catalogued piece
1924 · Career
Renamed to Uhrenfabrik Lenzkirch A.G. in 1924, the enterprise faced significant economic difficulties during the Great Depression.
1929 · Career
The factory was ultimately taken over by Junghans and officially dissolved in August 1929.
1929 · Career
Following a period of economic difficulty, the company was taken over by Junghans and the factory was officially dissolved in August 1929.
Current watchmaking & later fate
- Following a period of economic difficulty, the company was taken over by Junghans and the factory was officially dissolved in August 1929.
As stated in the references listed under Sources, retrieved 2026-10-27. Ownership and collections change; check the maker's own announcements for the latest position.
Key models
- Wall regulators
- The factory gained a global reputation for these precision instruments, which it continued to produce with compensated pendulums until the 1920s.
Major innovations
- Precision factory finishing applied to commercial Black Forest movements
- The firm manufactured digital clocks featuring digital cards between 1893 and 1894.
Known markings
- 'AUG' monogram trademark with 'Lenzkirch'
- Serial number on the back plate
- Early clocks from 1851 were not marked, but a monogram based on initials was adopted around 1871.
- The company introduced a prominent trademark in 1875 featuring the name Lenzkirch accompanied by a pine branch.
Serial numbers
Movements are serially numbered and published tables give approximate years; the trademark style also changed over time.
Collecting significance
Generally better finished than contemporary competitors, which is reflected in sustained collector interest in original, unmolested examples.
Identification and dating notes
- Movements with serial numbers exceeding 1,000,000 were identified with a suffix representing the million count.
In the object catalogue
5 catalogued objects are recorded under Lenzkirch Clock Factory. Attributions are as given by each source and are not independent authentication.
- Lenzkirch Burr Walnut Bracket ClockBracket clock · circa 1880
- Lenzkirch Mantel ClockMantel clock · circa 1890
- Lenzkirch mantle clockMantel clock · circa 1880
- Lenzkirch regulator wall clockRegulator · circa 1880
- Mantle ClockMantel clock · 1901
Provenance
Where the 5 catalogued pieces by Lenzkirch Clock Factory were recorded, with the collectors, owners and sales their records name.
Provenance map
Each piece is linked to the museum, auction house or dealer whose record it comes from, and to any other house or collection its own provenance names. Select a name to see its pieces.
Museums · 1 piece
Auction houses · 1 piece
Dealers & other listings · 3 pieces
Antiques Boutique
Dealer · 1 piece
Lenzkirch Burr Walnut Bracket ClockBracket clock · circa 1880 · Record source
The record names no sale, lot or earlier owner.
Auction history
| House | Sale & lot | Object |
|---|---|---|
| Auktionshaus Wersching | lot 553 | Lenzkirch regulator wall clock |
Each line is copied from the object's source record and is not independently verified. Holders are as recorded when the piece was catalogued: museum objects may not be on display, and sold lots have since changed hands.
Photographs
Photographs are illustrative examples of the type, not necessarily the exact object described. Verify details against the source file page.
Sources & references
- Aktiengesellschaft für Uhrenfabrikation Lenzkirch, Wikipedia (English), retrieved 2026-10-27 (text CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Digital clock, Wikipedia (English), retrieved 2026-10-27 (text CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Aktiengesellschaft für Uhrenfabrikation Lenzkirch, Wikipedia (German), retrieved 2026-10-27 (text CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Black Forest clock industry histories
- Published Lenzkirch serial tables are approximate and incompletely sourced.
Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.