At the present, the Republic of Austria represents a very small
geographical part of the former Austrian-Hungarian Empire which
ended with World War I in 1918.

Clock and watchmaking in Austria was undertaken by craftsmen
organized into guilds with very restrictive by laws.  The Guild
Masters accepted applicants with traditional craft, family,
ethnic and religious backgrounds.  The archives in Graz/Styria,
Austria recorded that the Clockmaker Guild barred, punished and
jailed persons in the 14 century for making clocks without
proper credentials.  The Guild Masters regulations in the city
of Vienna awarded the degree "Common Master", differing from
the title of "Viennese Clockmaker Master".  Some clockmakers
and watchmakers received the title of "By Her Imperial Highness
Court Appointed" or " By Her Highness Privilege", or Protected
by Privileged Guild Relationship".

During the middle of the 17th century, France strongly inspired
the Austrian clockmaking/watchmaking trade.  Emigrants from
Switzerland and France opened watchmaking shops in Vienna,
producing pocket watches, travel alarms clocks, astronomical
clocks and other timepieces with elaborate exterior gold and
silversmithing for a well-to-do clientele.  In general, Austrian
clockmaking and watchmaking did not differ from the applied
technology common in the European countries.

Two independent clock manufacturers started a very promising
enterprise.  One manufacturer linked a clock/watchmaker college
to his place of business,  The "OSTEREICHISCHE UHRMACHERSCHULE
KARLSTEIN" (Austrian Horological College Karlstein) located in
Karlstein on the River Thaya.  Herr Hurt Dietschold from Dresden,
Saxonia, educated at the famous Watchmaker School of Glashuette,
Saxonia, Germany, was appointed director in 1879.

The other entrepreneur from the Black Forest purchased a
prestigious clock manufacturing plant, the "Resch Gebruder"
Uhrenfabrik (translation is "The Brothers Clock Factory") in
Ebensee located in North Central Austria.  Lorenz Resch was
appointed Jeweler of the Austrian Imperial Court.  In 1862, he
started a modest clock manufacturing plant, and in 1871 moved to
Ebensee.  Shortly before the new Ebensee facility began operations,
Lorenz passed away.  His three sons continued his business.  The
Gebrueder Resch clock factory became a most respected Austrian
clock manufacturer.  In the year 1901, the Junghans Clock factory
of Schramberg, Germany, purchased the plant, and marketed clocks
under the name "Remember".  After World War I the economic and
political conditions in Austria were not favorable, and the new
line of clocks did not sell well.  Finally in 1921 and 1922, the
Junghans enterprise was forced to sell all their holdings.

After WW I clockmaking was not a viable enterprise and came to an
end in Austria.  After WW II a few short lived clock factories in
Karlstein-Thaya tried to regain the Austrian clock market.
However, Germany industries and others took over the market with
mass-produced inexpensive clocks, while the Swiss captured a good
share of the Austrian watch market.


COPYRIGHT - Union-Horlogere, Clock & Watch Trademark Index
European Origin, Georg Jacob  G.M.B.H. Leipzig.
Writing by Karl Kochmann

Tim Sweet
TIMEKEEPR2@AOL.COM
M.O.S.T (MY OWN SWEET TIME) WATCH COMPANY.
14002 Tuckey Lane
El Paso, TX, 79927
(915) 852-2409  (See my add in the MART)

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