Copyright The Straw Shop
According to an article entitled “A History of Picture Postcards” published by Seneca N.Y., picture postcards were popular souvenirs at two events at the end of the nineteenth century, the Dedication of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France on March 31,1889 and the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, Illinois, USA, also called the World’s Columbian Exposition. Their popularity carried over into the twentieth century a fact that makes this article possible. Postcards could be printed by anyone and became very popular with the public. The postcard’s printed information, if any was given, varied, or was repeated by publisher, meaning that rather than intended for historical documentation they were for sale and enjoyment. Using the photographs reproduced on postcards The Straw Shop learned of a remarkable German item made of rye and oat straws in the early 20th century.
The subsequent discovery of additional postcards and newspaper articles led to the unearthing of more than one remarkable story about these items.
Research of English language newspaper articles showed that reporting of these objects was often used as page fillers. This means the published date of an article might not be current, it could be a repeat of an earlier article, either in that newspaper or in another, or is being published much later that when the original event occurred in Germany. One example was an article printed in 1935 then reprinted annually until 1947 in the same newspaper. Despite the possible unreliability of these sources to provide accurate dating, The Straw Shop introduces two stories, the first of a successful inventive challenge, and the second about a group who continued the work.
THE FIRST STORY
OTTO WEGENER
Master Shoemaker Otto Wegener lived and died in the city of Strasburg, in the historic region of Uckermark in northeastern Germany (1869-1945).
Otto Wegener might be described as a mechanical whiz. As a child he made his own toys, mouse traps that reset themselves, a wooden lightweight-wheeled vehicle, called a velocipede that was propelled by the rider, devices for mailboxes, wooden locks and more. According to the Strasburg Museum’s account of Wegener’s life, this young creative thinker, after succeeding at making his velocipede, set his sights on building a clock. While learning his trade as a shoemaker from his father, Master Shoemaker August Wegener, Otto kept his inventive focus on building a clock. After spending years calculating, envisioning, collecting and sorting materials to make his clock a reality he finally embarked upon his dream at the age of 23 in 1892 and worked on it in his leisure time.
Over the course of 15 years between 1892-1907 he accomplished his vision and goal when his working clock became a reality. Using only rye and oat straws he had made a working clock! Wegener’s clock is described on a postcard as the first working clock of any kind “…entirely made out of straw, from the smallest wheel and minute hand to the base and the walls and is unique in its design. The clock is 170 cm high and 65 cm square (5′.5″ high and 25″ square). The wheels and chains, the weight and clock face with numbers, hands and pendulum, of which it has eight and which move all consecutively, all of that is made of natural straw. The connections are straw pins.” The clock face was described as very detailed and made of light-colored oat straw. The entire clock weighed approximately 2.kg or approximately 4 pounds 4 ounces. He used thousands of pieces of rye straw, to make his clock, at times ingeniously inserting straw into straw to create strength. He knew the silica in the plant would aid strength in movement of parts, creating a time piece that required no additional maintenance to function. According to the Strasburg Museum his clock ran for six hours before needing to be re-set.
When his working grandfather-sized clock was revealed in 1907 his invention, described as an “Art Clock” or Kunstuhr in German, immediately found its way into Berlin’s “Exhibition of Inventions” in 1907 and then into the attention of world news where mention of his clock was repeated for many decades following its first appearance. His amazing creation was placed on continuous exhibition moving by rail throughout Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Belgium and beyond. It created a sensation in world news publications, newspapers, magazines, watch maker periodicals, science and mechanical monthly magazines and others. All said his unheard of working invention was amazing to see. His working clock brought immediate attention to the 38 year-old inventor Otto Wegener as well as to the City of Strasburg and Germany.
His invention was so unique it became the subject for postcards which were published by several companies for various exhibitions. Two very different photographs appear of his clock on postcards.
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Straw Clock Otto Wegener front view, The Straw Shop Collection
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Straw Clock Otto Wegener clock side view, The Straw Shop Collection
The first photograph view is the front of the clock, the second is a side view of the clock. The original photographs of the clock itself were then reprinted, some circulating with a photographic insert of Wegener’s image and text added. The date of when the photograph of Wegener was added to a postcard image is unknown. The additional wording to the photograph translated from German reads: “The Original Art Clock, Unique in its construction, built entirely from straw: 1892-1907 by Shoemaker Otto Wegener, Strasburg, Uckermark”. The second postcard’s description is the same but for addition of the word “Seitenansicht” (side view). From its completion and introduction in 1907 until the day it was destroyed in August 1928 during railway transit, it had kept perfect time for more than 20 years. Mr Wegener’s great nephew attempted to repair the piece in the 1950s but ultimately the family donated the non-working clock to the City of Strasburg in 1994. It has been on display since 1999 at Strasburg’s local history museum, Heimatmuseum Strasburg, where it may be seen today. It is a remarkable example of a straw art piece preserved a century later.
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Otto Wegener straw “Art Clock”, courtesy Strasburg.de
THE SECOND STORY
THE MAKERS OF GOSLAR
The Straw Shop discovery of other postcards shows that Wegener’s invention appears to have inspired others. Based on the current information these other straw clock makers are presented in their assumed order. This information could be updated by receipt of more evidence which The Straw Shop would welcome.
AUGUST LEHRKE
More than 200 miles away from Strasburg in the city of Goslar a former railway worker, or as he is sometimes described former railway worker official, by the name of August Lehrke introduced his straw clock in 1910!
It is fascinating that a railway worker would begin to make a clock out of straw of all materials. Due to his profession and train route, it is possible he may have been familiar with the Master Shoemakers in Strasburg and saw Wegener’s clock in progress. On July 1,1927 an article, “An Odd Use for Straw”, appeared in The Hinckley Times (Hinckley, Leicestershire, England). August Lehrke is described as “a Swiss expert of the material from which to make a clock.” When his clock appeared in 1910 Switzerland had been enjoying a long history of exporting a variety of straw products, including the straw hat style called Röhrlihüte exported for the boater hat craze in men’s fashion (1870-1940). His familiarity with that type of straw work would have helped him better understand Wegener’s construction of a clock while recognizing the material it could be made from. It’s possible he simply constructed a straw clock independently but what would have been his motivation? He began making his clock in 1903 presenting it to the world after seven years of construction. He is also the first straw clock maker recorded in the city of Goslar.
His clock is also described on postcards as an “art clock'” (kunstuhr). One postcard’s inscription reads: “The illustration overleaf presents: The original art clock, which in all its parts, from the smallest wheel and the minute hand to the base and the walls, consists solely of straw and is unique in its construction. It is a grandfather clock, 170 cm high and 65 cm square (5′.5″ high and 25″ square), The wheels, the chain, the weight, the dial with numbers and hands, the pendulums, of which it has eight and which all move one after the other (the latter can also be regulated), everything is natural straw, without any modification. The connections are straw pins. After its completion, this real clock was discussed in detail in the German, Paris and New York trade newspapers.” August Lehrke’s clock was reported as running for five hours before requiring resetting.
In Goslar three straw clocks are attributed to August Lehrke. Information collected from postcards shows each of his clocks with two views of each clock, front and side. In 1912 one of his clocks was documented on a postcard with a photograph by Herm. Stumm of Goslar. Later postcards showing Lehrke’s clocks do not credit a photographer.
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Aug-Lerhke Art Clock 1903-1910 creation, front view, The Straw Shop Collection
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Aug-Lerhke Art Clock 1903-1910 creation, side view, The Straw Shop Collection
His next clock is called Clock with Second Hand. Do the dates 1924 and 1926 appearing near the clock face indicate its construction dates? A 1927 advertisement for movie fillers appeared in “Pathe Pictorial the world’s pre-eminent interest, under the title of Curiosities” describes the clock as 6 feet tall after three years of construction. The article includes the front view photograph of this clock. How long the clock ran before needing resetting is unknown.
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August Lehrke Straw Clock with Second Hand, The Straw Shop Collection
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Lehrke Straw Clock with Second Hand, side view, The Straw Shop Collection
He then embarked on what is believed to be his third clock. The postcard photograph of his third clock translates as “The NEW 24 hour clock made of straws, front view. Height 170mtr (5.5Ft) Width 04 mtr (1.3ft) Depth 45mtr (1.47ft), Builder August Lehrke, art clock owner, Goslar”. It is approximately the same height as his first creation. Another postcard of the front of the ‘”24 hour clock reads“: “Unique in all the entire earth. The famous Goslar 24 hour clock made of straws only at Marktkirchhof 4. The 24 hour clock was a new straw clock feature that would appeal to a consumer. He designed this clock with several decorative features making it quite ornate.
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August Lehrke 24 Hour straw clock postcard, The Straw Shop Collection
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Lehrke 24 hour clock, front view, The Straw Shop Collection
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Lehrke 24 hour clock, side view, The Straw Shop Collection
1926 advertisement for Goslar Original Straw Clocks – Lehrke,The Straw Shop Collection
An advertisement in a 1926 publication was revealing. Advertised on page 89 of “Deutschlands Städtebau Goslar” (Germany’s Urban Development Goslar) book it shows Lehrke’s first two clocks captioned as “The Art Clock” and “Clock with Second Hand”. This confirms his second clock existed by 1926. The title of the advertisement may begin to explain Lehrke’s creations. The top of the page translates to “Goslar Original Straw Clocks and 200 year old Twelve Apostle Clock”. The bottom line of the advertisement reads “View the clocks at any time of the day. These clocks are only displayed at Marktkirchhof 4, opposite the town hall stairs.” Is “Goslar Original Straw Clocks” a business of some sort? Was the production of straw clocks part of an urban development idea to be identified with Goslar? When this development program began is currently unknown. All three clocks by Lehrke were displayed in Goslar at Marktkirchhof 4.
A newly formed industry of skilled workers is also implied in an article appearing in the “Okmulgee Daily Democrat” in Okmulgee, Oklahoma November 12, 1926, “Straw Clock Berlin: A clock made of straw is the latest sample of skill from workmen in the town of Goslar, Harz Mountains. It is six feet high and needs to be fixed only once a day. Even the pendulum is made of straw.” The words “latest sample of skill from workmen”, may imply there is more than one maker, in the town of Goslar. Is this article referring to Lehrke’s 24 hour clock not seen in the advertisement, or another maker’s clock? Following Lehrke’s 1910 contribution, a creative industry of “Goslar Original Straw Clocks” began to appear, along with other makers. It is currently unknown if any of Lehrke’s clocks exist today.
HUGO WEITZMANN
The reverse side of the shown postcard description translates to read, “Hugo Weitzmann’s Art clock made of straws (Own work). Just pinned together without binder. Frame dial, hands, weight chain, gear train and pendulum made of straws. After One-time elevator takes about 4 hours. Biggest attraction.” Another postcard of just the clock reads: “Goslar near the imperial family. Art clock made of straws. Without binder, just pinned together, frame dial, hands, weight chain, gear train and pendulum made of straws. After being wound once it runs for about 4 hours.” When this four-hour running clock was made or where it was exhibited is unknown. Another postcard of his clock, commonly appearing minus the maker’s image, was published and sold in Goslar. One of these postcards observed by The Straw Shop is dated July18,1920 (18.7.20). IF the 1920 dated note on the postcard helps to date this postcard’s photograph, then Hugo Weitzmann could have been a contemporary of August Lehrke. For the moment the story of the man and his clock remain unknown.
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Hugo Weitzmann Clock, Courtesy delcampe.net
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Hugo Weitzmann Clock, postcard back, Courtesy delcampe.net
KARL REICHART (OR REICHERT?)
An American newspaper, “The Miltonian” of Milton Pennsylvania, reported on December 2, 1926, “Berlin Germany: A clock made entirely of straw recently exhibited required two years for the making. Karl Reichart is the maker. It is nearly six feet high and keeps good time.” Another article, from The Wewoka Capital-Democrat (Wewoka, Oklahoma), also appears December 2, 1926, “Berlin Germany – a clock made entirely of straw recently exhibited required two years for the making. Karl Reichert is the maker of this unique bit of workmanship. It is nearly six feet high, of the twenty four hour type and keeps good time.” The maker’s name is spelled differently in the articles. Was the reported “twenty four hour type” a description the public was aware of in 1926 when it came to straw clocks? No associated image or additional description of his straw clock is known currently. Might the aforementioned newspaper article be describing his clock as he too was also one of the skilled workmen of Goslar? In 1927 his clock is mentioned once more in an article from “The Richmond River Express” of Casino, New South Wales, Australia reads, “A watchmaker, named Karl Reichert, of Goslar, Hanover (Germany) has just completed after two years a clock made of straw. Not only are the face and hands made of straw, but also the frame, the pendulum, and the works. The clock keeps perfect time.” It is currently unclear which name spelling is correct. First reported in December 1926 as “recently exhibited” appears to indicate that it was built no earlier than 1924. Now we know that both Lehrke and Reichart (Richert) produced a 24-hour working straw clock.
AUGUST AHRENS
The third maker also created three clocks. Only one photograph of each clock is currently known.The date of when these photographs were taken is unknown. No information thus far has been found about when they were constructed, how long the clocks ran, or about the maker.
August Ahrens’ design is completely different from the grandfather-shaped clock Wegener made, or any of Lehrke’s or Weitzmann’s clocks. It is more sculptural in appearance and taller. The following images show two different Eiffel Tower clocks he made. One postcard describes his Eiffel Tower Clock (which we have identified as being without railings) as measuring 2.4m tall. (7′ 8”). The second Eiffel Tower Clock (identified as being with railings) measures 3m high or 9′ 8″. Both clocks have two clock faces. Ahrens showed his Eiffel Tower Clocks at both known Goslar straw clock locations, the Goslarer Kunstuhren-Museum (Goslar Art Clock Museum) based at Marktkirchhof 4 and the second his business, “Aug. Ahrens Publishing House at Marktkirchhof 2”, that acted as a second show room of straw clocks in Goslar, where coincidentally he published postcards of his straw clocks. Ahrens’ clocks were all photographed by Herm. Stumm of Goslar, the same photographer credited on the postcard of Lehrke’s first “Art Clock”.
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August Ahrens Eiffel Tower Clock without railings available at Marktkirchhof 2, The Straw Shop Collection
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August Ahrens Eiffel Tower Clock with railings available at Marktkirchhof 4,The Straw Shop Collection
Straw clock Berlin Radio Tower built by Aug, Aherns, Goslar, The Straw Shop Collection
The third clock attributed to August Ahrens is The Berlin Radio Tower clock. The Berlin Radio Tower itself was constructed between 1924 and 1926 suggesting this clock was made after 1926. Of the three clocks Ahrens made The Straw Shop poses the possibility the Eiffel Tower Clock style was made first, since it was a recognized icon. The similarity of structure and design is apparent when his three clocks are seen together. This is understandable since once mastered it was easily replicated and the same structural techniques could be applied to The Berlin Radio Tower clock. A date stamped postcard,11-9-30 (September 11, 1930) bears the simple caption “The Berliner”, was photographed and printed by 1930. To date only this postcard, showing one view of this clock, has been found.
Described on the postcard as “The Berlin Radio Tower straw clock. Built Aug. Ahrens. Goslar am Marktkirchhof 2”.
Ahrens’ Berliner straw clock postcard mailed in1930, Courtesy eBay
A straw Eiffel Tower clock is mentioned on April 18, 1962 in “The Times Recorder” of Zanesville, Ohio in an article entitled “Timely Competitors”. It reads “Two other museums are in heavy competition in the display of old and odd time pieces. In Goslar, in the Harz Mountains huge clocks weighing several hundred pounds stand opposite timepieces made completely of straw, the two clocks measure some nine feet and are almost exact replicas of the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Radio Tower in Berlin. All wheels in the clocks are made of straw. The weights driving the clocks hang from straw ropes.”
Perhaps they still exist. Were both clocks on display made by Ahrens or might one clock be the work of another maker?
KARL KLAPPROTH
Straw clock, Goslar, Eiffel Tower straw clock, builder Karl Klapproth, The Straw Shop Collection
Another Goslar maker appeared, and he too made an Eiffel Tower clock. One very noticeable feature is the square-shaped face of the clock itself. The postcard’s description reads:
“Eiffel Tower straw clock. Made only from straws. Height of the clock is 2.50 m, Built October 1935 to April 1936 by Karl Klapproth, Goslar, H, Marktkirchhof 2”
(Height 2.50 m = 8′ 20″). Marktkirchhof 2, is the address of Aug. Ahrens’ publishing house and straw clock showroom.
This is the only image found of either the maker or his clock and unfortunately no other information has been found. Perhaps he’d had the opportunity to learn about clock making from the local seasoned straw clock professionals of Goslar either Ahrens, Weitzmann, Reichart or Lehrke. Having a tutor would explain the speed of his construction as would access to other working models that could be studied for reference.
UNKNOWN MAKER
The Straw Shop located another Eiffel Tower clock.The information on the postcard does not reveal the maker.The back of the card reads, “Straw art clock Paris “Eiffel Tower” height 3m. Exhibition in the Goslar Art Clock Museum in Goslar, Marktkirchhof 4, opposite the Town Hall stairs.” (3m = 9.8 ft.)
Eiffel Tower straw clock maker unknown, The Straw Shop Collection
A curious feature of this clock is that it too has a square clock face like Klapproth’s clock. Due to the described height of nearly 10 feet, it is unlikely to be Reichert’s unseen “nearly 6 foot” clock. It’s possible Klapproth made more than one Eiffel Tower clock just as Ahrens had. To date its maker remains unidentified. It appears Ahrens’ successful sleek design was popular as as many as four Eiffel Tower straw clocks were offered in Goslar!
Newspaper reports about straw clocks being made ceased after 1936. There was an article on March 7,1972, (reprinted 1992) that appeared in “The Columbia News” of Columbia, Kentucky which reported seeing them 36 years later:
“In Goslar, Wuppertal and Tribert are clock museums which exhibit some of the world’s oldest offbeat timepieces. Wuppertal claims the oldest one, a waterclock still working and dating from 1400 B.C. Goslar has two straw clocks.”
Do the clocks exist in Goslar in a museum today? If so, where and who made them? Do any exist in private collections? To date The Straw Shop has been unable to make contact with anyone in Goslar in order to collect more information.
Original research first led The Straw Shop to a German phrase “kunstuhr aus strohhalmen” or “art clock made of straws”. In homage to Otto Wegener, who appears to be responsible for the term that is the title given to this article. Otto Wegener’s genius clock invention rightly drew worldwide attention. It also caught the attention of five men and inspired them to produce at least nine more clocks of straw that appeared in the city of Goslar. The known Goslar maker names, their occupations and number of clocks they made are:
August Lehrke (Railway Worker Official) three clocks
August Ahrens (Publisher) three clocks
Karl Reichart/Reichert (Watchmaker) one clock
Karl Klapproth (unknown) one clock
Hugo Weitzmann (unknown) one clock.
UNKNOWN MAKER
An additional Eiffel Tower photograph has been located.The back of the postcard reads “old historical original Goslar art clock, Marktkircchof 2″ the front of the card translates to:”Original Straw clock, Eiffel Tower”. The reverse also notes: “With hour, minute and second hand, built in 21/2 years of work”.
Eiffel Tower Clock no rails maker unknown, postcard, The Straw Shop Collection
There may have been others who were not recorded on postcards or whose postcards have not yet been found. Thanks to these picture postcards we have a record of a straw phenomena covering more than a quarter century (1910-1936) that is virtually unknown a century later. It happened uniquely and solely in the city of Goslar giving Goslar the distinction of being the only place in the world where working straw clocks were made and sold. These stories are fascinating straw art use stories that should not be forgotten.
A rare photograph of Otto Wegener next to his clock appeared in a 1926 press release which discussed upcoming plans for his “Art Clock” to be shipped to England and then onto The United States for exhibition and possible sale, however the journey never occurred.
The only known clock still in existence and to be on display is quite fittingly the first clock by Otto Wegener which is on display in Strasburg, Germany. The 1926 photograph of Otto Wegener standing next to his clock concludes this article.
Otto Wegener and “Art Clock”, Courtesy TopPhoto
The Straw Shop acknowledges the importance of picture postcards as a research tool, without them this article could not exist. The rare postcard of Hugo Weitzmann and his clock is gratefully included from delcampe.net. ToPhoto is also acknowledged for the photograph of Otto Wegener and his clock as seen in 1926, as is eBay for the date stamped card photo. Abe Books was also a valuable source. It goes without saying, The Straw Shop is indebted to Heimatmuseum Strasburg.
Copyright 2024, Jan Huss, The Straw Shop
-ADDENDUM 2025-
Following the publication of this article, through a series of emails, The Straw Shop was introduced to DGC or Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Chronometerie e.V. The aim and task of the German Society for Chronometry is to research and document time measurement.
Librarian Dr. Bernard Huber after reading this article and graciously sharing straw clock references had this to say. “Your publication is the first and only one which is written. Therefore, I am absolutely happy that we now have this information for our library.” He then graciously shared an auction description that appeared in 1994:
“THE TWO FAMOUS GOSLAR ART STRAW CLOCKS IN THE SHAPE OF THE EIFFEL TOWER AND THE BERLIN RADIO TOWER
Both clocks are made entirely of straw. Their builder, the railway worker August Lehrke from Goslar, built the two clocks around 1920 and housed both in his private museum:
563 ART STRAW CLOCK IN THE SHAPE OF THE EIFFEL TOWER on wooden pedestal (8244) H 300 cm 2,500. Table 40
564 ART STRAW CLOCK IN THE SHAPE OF BERLIN RADIO TOWER (8245) H 300 cm 2,500. Table 40”
A photograph of the clocks appeared in the auction catalog corroborating the1962 article ‘Timely Competitors‘ description of the two straw clocks seen in a Museum in Goslar: “the two clocks measure some nine feet and are almost exact replicas of the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Radio Tower in Berlin”. and here they are pictured for auction. Despite the auction description supplied by the seller to the auction house, the two clocks were made by August Ahrens as documented above.This historical footnote correction is due. It is credible the wrong clockmaker named August is attributed as the maker by the sellers. Was the Goslar Art Clock Museum at Marktkirchhof 4 dismantled in 1994?
Goslar clocks auctioned, Courtesy Dr. Huber
August Ahrens made 3 clocks as did Lehrke, but of the two men, August Lehrke was better known- being the first maker in Goslar. We discovered an article that mixes up the two men named August beginning correctly crediting August Ahrens for the 2 clocks shown in the article (and in the photo here) but finishes the article talking about August Lehrke and his clocks confusing the reader. Lehrke’s private clock collection is unknown.
The height of each clock, Ahrens Eiffel Tower (without railing) Clock (on pedestal) and his Berlin Radio Tower Clock being 300cm (9’8”) is new information. Dr. Huber reported the clocks were auctioned again in 2007 by the same auction house as in 1994. Beyond the two clocks still existing in 2007, their present location as of this addendum is unknown.
An additional reference shared suggests Lehrke’s first clock “Art Clock” was destroyed in WWII. Of the 9 clocks made in Goslar, 2 are still known to exist as late as 2007.
The Straw Shop successfully contacted the City of Goslar’s Museum. After researching the town’s records, we were advised by Dr. Jan Habermann, Scientific Head of the Imperial Palace of Goslar and Goslar Museum, Department of Culture: “I completely looked through all relevant museum documents as well as the documents of the paintings-and-picture-magazine. The Goslar straw clocks don’t appear here with a single syllable.”
As of this 2025 addendum no straw clocks remain in Goslar,Germany.
It’s entirely possible this novel straw clock story was not thought to be significant historically to be recorded as part of Goslar City history at the time. It is hoped this article might restore a piece of Goslar and German history otherwise lost.
Special thanks to Dr. Bernard Huber of Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Chronometerie e.V. and Dr. Jan Habermann, Scientific Head of the Imperial Palace of Goslar and Goslar Museum, Department of Culture for their invaluable assistance enabling this addendum.
Copyright 2025, Jan Huss, The Straw Shop