Lauffer mantle clock

[jcavin]

I have two identical K Lauffer German mantle clocks, dating around 1925-30 I believe. Can anyone shed any light on this manufacturer? I can find nothing on the web.

 

[JTD]

Welcome to the notice board.

Karl Lauffer was a clock manufacturer in Schwenningen (Germany)who made all sorts of different types of clock. I will have to look in a reference book to find the exact dates, but he was certainly manufacturing clocks during the years you mention.

I will see what I can find tonight.

JTD

 

[jcavin]

Thanks. I am particularly interested to know if they made their own movements or used someone else's. These two have great loud clear chimes (someone in the house says too loud) that I love to hear, and they keep very good time.

 

[JTD]

Well, I had a look as I promised.
In Schmid's 'Lexikon der deutschen Uhrenindustrie', which is a very useful textbook, you will find a detailed entry for Karl Lauffer.
Here are a few of the points listed in Schmid's book:
Karl Lauffer (who lived 1893-1954) was a trained clockmaker who started manufacturing in 1919. Unusually for those days he sold to customers direct, not through wholesalers or specialist shops. It is not recorded what his company was making during the second World War, but in 1945 the factory was badly damaged by bombs. Production started again in 1947 but Lauffer was only allowed to export to France at that time. In 1948 he was again allowed to sell on the home market. Production finally stopped on 31st July 1970.
It seems clear from the entry in Schmid that K. Lauffer was using his own movements.
Hope this may help.
JTD

 

[jcavin]

Thanks so much for the effort to find the info.

 

[Albra]

Hello,

can you show us pictures of your karl Lauffer-movements? I haven´t seen yet.

Regards Albra

 

[jcavin1]

I'll try and get some photos. They are a relatively easy movement to re-assemble which is nice. Shafts are just long enough to make it simple, unlike some. Usual self-adjusting design, heavy plates.

 

[Joo]

the holder of the pendulum is broken.. where can I find a new one ??

 

[soaringjoy]

Yes indeed, Lauffer had salesmen running around all
over the place...
another manufacturer doing the same, was
Suevia, Sindelfingen.

If I remember it right, one of Lauffer's trademarks was "DILAU",
as in "Die laufende Uhr" an Idiom on his own name, translates
to "the running clock".
On their winding keys, they sometimes used that phrase with
a running, clock-faced comic figure.

Jurgen

 

[Joo]

Thank you, but is there any website where I can buy this online?
And do you have any idea about its price?

 

[soaringjoy]

Buy what online?
The "Lexikon" or the pendulum leader?
Jurgen