Established 150 years ago - The school for clock manufacturers in Furtwangen by Helmut Kahlert

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One and a half centuries ago, on March 5th 1850, student training and education was initiated at the ”Großherzoglich Badischen” (Grand Ducal) Clock Maker School in Furtwangen. A meeting among experts, invited by Government representatives was the stage for this minor celebration, since permission for public festivities would have required a permit of the Prussian General Command. Baden at that time was still under statute of occupation after only eight months had passed since the capitulation of the revolutionary troops in Rastatt. The decisive stimulation for the foundation of a clock maker school came from the "Black Forest Trade Association for Clock Manufacturing”, which in 1847 combined more than 700 members of 35 communities. The exact aims of such a school were also determined by the representatives of this association. Assistance was expected to increase the working productivity of customary Black Forest weight mechanism wall clocks and suggestions expected for a new, sales promoting clock design, since many customers were tired of the colored painted clock shields. The construction of spring mechanism clocks ("stock clocks"), hitherto the field of only a few skilled masters, was to become more popular. However, major hopes were invested in the production of pocket watches, which were to be newly introduced. Chances to compete with the manufacturers of the Swiss Jura mountains were based on the much lower wages in the Black Forest.

In September of 1847, representatives of the clock trade association in Karlsruhe submitted their petition for a trade school and only two and half years later, in March of 1850 the project was realized and the school was opened, despite the March agitation of 1848 and the 1849 revolution following hereafter. Baden’s claim of being the ”Musterländle” (model state) was actually based on occurrences of this kind. Four communities – Furtwangen, Neustadt, Triberg and Vöhrenbach – competed for the location of this new school. They were prepared to furnish the required rooms and to even take up the heating expenses. But before these neighboring communities could argue among each other, an answer to the question: ”as to how many persons of the clock trade live in each one of the four communities and within a vicinity of a two hours walk?” was demanded by the responsible official at the clock maker meeting in 1849. The decision was clear, Furtwangen with 2018 persons was leading, followed by Triberg with 1377. The location for the new school was herewith decided in a proper manner.

Much to everyone’s surprise, a Black Forest resident and young official of the State Construction Administration, Robert Gerwig of Karlsruhe, was appointed director of the clock maker school. Gerwig’s selection was based on two reasons, the first being a factual one as he was an excellent graduate of the Polytechnic in Karlsruhe and thus familiar with the current technology, and the second was a political one, since the Government had greatly valued the fact that this, for the Black Forest most important position would be held by someone who is a loyal subordinate to the Grand Duke.

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