Gustav Becker Clock Company History

Antique Clocks Guy Reference Library

 Gustav Becker RA Regulator Clock - Antique Clocks Guy - Reference Library

 Gustav Becker 2 Wt Vienna Regulator - Antique Clocks Guy - Reference Library

Gustav Becker - Fancy RA Regulator - Antique Clocks Guy

 Gustav Becker Bracket Clock - Antique Clocks Guy - Reference Library

Gustav Becker 2-weight - Antique Clocks Guy

 Gustav Becker 2 Wt Serpentine Vienna Regulator - Antique Clocks Guy - Reference Library

Gustav Becker 2 Wt - Antique Clocks Guy

Gustav Becker 1-wt Vienna Regulator ~ Antique Clocks Guy

Gustav Becker Ornate Free-Swinger ~ Antique Clocks Guy

Gustav Becker Brass Mantle Clock - 20" high ~ Antique Clocks Guy

Gustav Becker Movement Logo from a Lantern Clock - Antique Clocks Guyfrom Lantern Clock

Gustav Becker Anchor Logo Movement Mark ~ Antique Clocks Guy

Gustav Becker Anchor Logo Movement Mark ~ Antique Clocks Guy

Gustav Becker Movement Mark ~ Antique Clocks Guy
c.1878
(click to enlarge)


Gustav Becker Engllish Export Logo - Antique Clocks Guy

Back of Becker Case
c.1891
(click to enlarge)

Becker Export Logo

Gustav Becker English Export Logo

(click to enlarge)

Gustav Becker - Case Back Stencil ~ Antique Clocks Guy


Gustav Becker Label ~ Antique Clocks Guy

Gustav Becker 30-hr Novelty Clock ~ Antique Clocks Guy

Austria & Germany

Gustav Becker Photo ~ Antique Clocks Guy

One of the better quality/best-known German clockmakers from the mid to late 19th century was Gustav Becker. Born in 1819, Becker trained as a clockmaker in Germany and Austria. In 1850 he opened workshops in Freiburg, Silesia, Germany in 1850. Initially, Becker struggled with untrained help, but won the "Medaille d’Or" for design at the 1852 Silesia Trade Exposition. Becker incorporated that first medal and his initials, G.B., into his trademark and, as you will see below, into many components of his clocks, from movement mounts to wall standoffs to beatplates and pulleys.

This award gave him the recognition that he needed to attract skilled craftsmen to his workshops. Numerous awards and certificates followed, from trade expos as far-flung as Australia and as close to home as Vienna. He was very adept at leveraging this new-found notoriety to the benefit of his business enterprise.

Gustav Becker Factory Drawing - Frieburg/Silesia ~ click to enlarge ~ Antique Clocks Guy

Gustav Becker Factory Workers ~ Antique Clocks Guy
Gustav Becker Factory Workers

Becker clocks are not too difficult to identify. Until 1880 and the introduction of the spring driven mechanism, almost all of Gustav Becker’s clocks were weight driven Regulator wall clocks. Becker’s clocks bear his trademark and serial number on the dial and weights are usually marked with his initials. Serial numbers reference the year of manufacture, so determining age is made very simple. An excellent resource for this information and more is available in the book "The Gustav Becker Story", by Karl Kochmann, and "Gustav Becker Clocks", by T.D. Ly.

Gustav Becker Dutch Agent Advertising ~ Antique Clocks Guy

Dutch Agent's Ad for Gustav Becker Clocks

After the introduction of the spring driven mechanism, a whole new variety of clocks was made possible. The Becker workshops at their height produced more than 400 varieties of clocks. The cases of these clocks reflect the furniture trends of the day and range from very simple to elaborately ornate. The casework is extraordinarily well done and often incorporates hand carving. Germany has never lacked for skilled carvers and the talent of the region’s artisans is evidenced in the Becker clock cases.

Gustav Becker Crown Eagle (ground-up/composited walnut shells) ~ Antique Clocks Guy

Becker clocks weren’t limited to wooden wall clocks, though. Everything from anniversary clocks to wristwatches is available with the Becker trademark.

Gustav Becker clocks are known for their quality workmanship and the Becker name on a clock will make it more valuable than lesser-known maker’s clocks of similar quality. These collectible works of art are not as expensive as their furniture counterparts and can range in price from $500 to $5,000 and more. Although Gustav Becker only lived until 1885, clocks bore his trademark until 1935. The Junghans Company absorbed Becker, Lenzkirch, Hamburg American, etc. into a clock company that continues in business to this day.

Gustav Becker Beat Plate with Anchor Logo ~ Antique Clocks Guy

Beat Plate with Gustav Becker Anchor Logo

Gustav Becker Wall Standoffs with Anchor Logo ~ Antique Clocks Guy

Wall standoffs with Gustav Becker Anchor Logo

Gustav Becker Pulley with Anchor Logo ~ Antique Clocks Guy

Pulley with Gustav Becker Anchor Logo

Gustav Becker Movement Mount with Anchor Logo ~ Antique Clocks Guy

Movement Mount with Gustav Becker Anchor Logo

Gustav Becker Advertisement ~ Antique Clocks Guy

Movement Stamp and Serial No. ~ Gustav Becker 2-Wt Vienna Regulator ~ Antique Clocks Guy
click to enlarge

Gustav Becker Serial Numbers
(Freiburg only/not Braunau - see logos table in right column)

Year
Serial No.
Year
Serial No.
1850
480
1890
800,000
1860
4000
1892
1,000,000
1863
10,000
1900
1,500,000
1865
15,000
1913
1,850,000
1867
25,000
1923
1,860,000
1872
50,000
1925
1,945,399
1875
100,000
1926
2,244,868
1880
260,000
1927-1935
Unknown
1885
500,000


 Gustav Becker Chiming Bracket Clock - Antique Clocks Guy - Reference Library

 Gustav Becker Chiming Bracket Clock - Antique Clocks Guy - Reference Library
(movement of clock pictured above)

Gustav Becker Marketing Sign

Gustav Becker Marketing Sign

Gustav Becker Open-Well Clock (easily mistaken as Lenzkirch) ~ Antique Clocks Guy
Gustav Becker "Open-Well" Clock
(reminiscent of/easily mistaken for Lenzkirch)

Gustav Becker 2-Wt Vienna Regulator, c.1874 ~ Antique Clocks Guy
Gustav Becker 2-Weight, c.1874
owned by the famous (retired) Air New Zealand pilot
Paul Philips


We are looking for photos of GREAT Gustav Becker clocks,
many of which are much nicer than those shown in the side columns.
If you have a Becker-marked clock that is in excellent
physical condition and would like to share it with the world,
or if you have Becker-related advertising or otherwise related,
please send us a note.

 

Antique Clocks For Sale

 Gustav Becker 400-Day Clock - Antique Clocks Guy - Reference Library

 Gustav Becker 2 Wt Vienna Regulator - Antique Clocks Guy - Reference Library

Gustav Becker 2-weight, c.1890 - Antique Clocks Guy

Gustav Becker - Ornate 2-weight - Antique Clocks Guy

 Gustav Becker Chiming Bracket Clock - Antique Clocks Guy - Reference Library

 Gustav Becker Shelf Clock - Antique Clocks Guy - Reference Library

Gustav Becker Beehive Chime Clock - Antique Clocks Guy

 Gustav Becker RA Regulator - Antique Clocks Guy - Reference Library

 Gustav Becker "Swinger-Style" - Antique Clocks Guy - Reference Library

 Gustav Becker 2 Wt Vienna Regulator - Antique Clocks Guy - Reference Library

 

 Gustav Becker 3 Wt Standing Regulator - Antique Clocks Guy - Reference Library

Gustav Becker Ornamental Bracket Clock ~ Antique Clocks Guy

Gustav Becker - 1912 Catalogue Cover ~ Antique Clocks Guy

Gustav Becker Dog Clock ~ Antitque Clocks Guy


Gustav Becker Logo Marks Chart ~ Antique Clocks Guy
Gustav Becker Logos
(click to enlarge)

Gustav Becker Alarm Clock, c.1931 ~ Antique Clocks Guy

Gustav Becker Alarm Clock, c.1931 ~ Antique Clocks Guy

Gustav Becker Alarm
circa 1931

Gustav Becker Alarm Clock for the Russian/East European Market ~ Antique Clocks Guy

Gustav Becker Alarm Clock for the Russian/East European Market ~ Antique Clocks Guy

Gustav Becker Alarm
for the
Bulgarian Market
Originally sold in
Gabrovo in mid-north
Bulgaria
(click to enlarge)

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