German grandfather clock

Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 5:40 pm     Post subject: German grandfather clock

I have a German grandfather clock made of oak. It is about 6'10" high and 18" wide. On the back of the movement there is a circle with the letters BWL with the L being below the BW. The serial number is 55342 and to the left are the letters KG. The clock has two weights The glass opening to the face is circular and is convex. Would like to know who manufactured the clock and when it was made.
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Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 7:50 am     Post subject: German grandfather clock

The trademark logo (BWL) is not one I recognize immediately and unfortunately my list of German trademarks is in one of my clock books in storage at the moment. However, from your description your clock sounds similar to a great many clocks produced in Germany, with this style being manufactured from the teens until the early 30's. Apparently the style was very popular since it seemed to be copied by almost every manufacturer in that country. Cases, usually made of oak, could be flat or arch (dome) top with plain or bevelled glass door panels. Movements were 8 day weight wound, sometimes with decorated brass weight shells and pendulum bob. 10 or 12" round brass dials with bold arabic numerals were common. Movements were hour/half hour strike on single gong, bim-bam strike on 2 gongs or multiple rods, or Westminster chimes (3 weight models). There were of course variations to the basic style but those I have described were most common and frequently seen on auction sites today.