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The installation of the world time clocks from the Kienzle company in the city roundabout in Schwenningen was dismantled this year for the 40th anniversary. In Würzburg, on the other hand, the history of what was once the largest German watch manufacturer lives on in a prominent place.
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VS-Schwenningen – For many citizens, the clocks in the city roundabout, which was built in 1980 on the site of the former Mauthe clock factory, meant something like the real symbol of the city: thanks to the world clock installed in 1981, history could be understood as well as cosmopolitanism, because Kienzle was already a global player when the term didn’t even exist.
Mechanical clocks run reliably
For the Kienzlerians there is now consolation: Ute and Stefano Birner let the clock history of Schwenningen live on at their jewelry store at the first address in Würzburg, close to the cathedral. “The house was built by Franz Endres in 1960, and the Kienzle world clock was part of the planning from the start,” reports Birner, who took over the business a good 20 years ago.
Since then, for a good 60 years, the mechanical watches have been doing their job reliably. As a watchmaker, Birner has not yet had to carry out any repairs on the mechanical movements, although the mother watch failed last year at the beginning of the pandemic. But now an electronics company has succeeded in installing a new controller. “Every minute there is an impulse to the 14 clocks, which then jump forward one minute,” said the delighted jeweler couple.
Times from Würzburg to Rio de Janeiro
14 clocks are installed on the facade above the shop window, especially when walking from the cathedral in the direction of the Main, the large dials are a defining feature of the town. The two clocks with red hands announce the Würzburg time, i.e. CET. In addition, the clocks show the time in Hawaii (with only an “i” on the clock), Mexico, Tehran, Dakar, Bombay, Beijing, Sydney (written as “Sidney” on the clock), New York, Moscow, Tokyo, Santiago and Rio de Janeiro.
Both the locals in Würzburg and the tourists pay close attention to the clocks, the couple reports: “Sometimes people come in the door and say, Mexico is going wrong.” In the past, in the original, “Kienzle WELTZEIT” was read in large letters on the facade. This historical advertisement with the name in the eye-catching cursive was dismantled a few years ago during a redesign.
There is no threat of dismantling
The watch ensemble as a conspicuous eye-catcher does not threaten to dismantle it for the time being, because the Birners are aware of both the historical significance and the reputation of the installation as advertising: “That’s why we invested in the repair,” say the watch experts.
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