Gustav Becker Clocks, by Tran Duy Ly Published 1993 by Arlington Book Company, Inc., 2706 Elsmore Street, Fairfax, VA. 22031-1409 - Phone 703-280-2005 8 1/2 x 11 - 000 pages - 000 B & W illustrations in high gloss enamel text. Smyth sewn Hardbound $00.00

Tran Duy Ly created this book to meet the need for information concerning the products of the Gustav Becker company, a successful German firm from 1850 to 1935. Most of the contents shows the clocks which were available in 1912, when the firm was producing almost four hundred models. Undoubtedly, many of these were identical to designs used in previous years, so that the book really represents the range of clocks which grew out of the weight-regulator business from 1880 to the start of World War I.

Gustav Becker (1819-1885) was a dedicated and successful German clockmaker. In 1850, thoroughly trained in clockmaking in Germany and in Vienna, he established a small clockmaking shop in Freiburg, Silesia (not the Black Forest Freiburg.) He struggled to produce clocks with an unskilled labor force until a design award in 1852 gave him the prestige to attract the quality of workers needed for success in this new industry. The firm prospered, and won many quality and performance awards worldwide from the 1860' s to the 1890' s Until about 1880, virtually all Gustav Becker clocks were weight powered regulator wall clocks similar to the one shown on this book's cover. Then, spring powered clocks were introduced and many new styles followed. Almost four hundred models are pictured in the text. Several million clocks were produced and sold by the end of the trademark's use in the mid 1930's.

Gustav Becker died in 1885, but the strength of his enterprise carried his name forward. The trademark and production survived an 1889 consolidation of Freiburg clockmaking companies into the "United Freiburg Clock Manufacturing Company Inc., formerly Gustav Becker". In 1926, this firm combined with the Junghans clockmaking company, and the Gustav Becker trademark continued until about 1935.

This volume demonstrates the great variety of clocks, (and a few watches) manufactured by Gustav Becker. The clear pictures and current value estimates will be useful to potential purchasers or appraisers of Gustav Becker and similar German clocks. Equally important, the many views of movements, dials, hands, weights, gongs, and pendulums will help determine authenticity.

The text is organized alphabetically by clock type, beginning with Alarm clocks. Regulators, both weight and spring powered, are to be found in the Hanging Clocks section.

Tran Duy Ly's excellent books are essential resources for purchase and/or restoration of collectible clocks. Whether you collect or research, you need this well laid out and very informative book. There is nothing like it available elsewhere

DOUGLAS G. COWAN Cincinnati Ohio

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