Commerce and trade
In Histories the question of what deserves more recognition remains unanswered. Is it the from decade to decade growing clock production in the Black Forest or the manner in which these clocks were sold in nearly the entire world? In 1810, between 150.000 and 200.000 clocks were produced in the Black Forest, by 1840 even as much as 600.000. In the forties of the 19th century around 5.000 persons were working full time in the field of clocks and accessories. The number of clock traders was far beyond 1.000. The growing business led to problems with transportation. But even more of a problem was the fact, that the traders required a range of different clocks, while very often the clock makers were specialized in a few types only. A new field of activity was created by wholesalers, so called "forwarding agents” or vernacularly named ”packers”, who on their own purchased goods from various clock makers and shield painters and packed these combinations in large boxes. The world could now be supplied with sturdy and inexpensive clocks for general use, made in the Black Forest, without any visible competition.

The Black Forest clock industry
During the mid-forties of the 19th century, the Black Forest clock industry faced a crisis. The ”Grand Duke of Baden Clock Maker School in Furtwangen”, founded in 1850 was to be the rescue line. The plan was, to reduce the multitude of parts with ”sample clocks” and to manufacture in the Black Forest other types of clocks (mantle clocks, pocket watches) while introducing the level of technology to clock makers at other locations.

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