Description of the attraction
The Clock Museum is a museum located in one of the oldest houses in Vienna, Obizzy Palace, in the first district. In May 1917, the city council took over watches from the collection of Maria von Ebner-Eschenbach and high school teacher Rudolf Kaftan (1870-1961). It was decided to establish a clock museum in the Obizzi palace, which the city bought in 1901. The museum was inaugurated on May 30, 1921, showing the townspeople about 8,000 watches.
During the era of National Socialism, Jews were deported from Vienna, including the watchmaker Alexander Gross, who collected a large collection of watches in a tiny shop on Vipplingerstrasse. Gross and his wife emigrated to the United States, and his shop was closed. The museum bought 70 watches from Alexander at the price of 885 Reichsmarks. During World War II, the museum was closed and the collection was moved to castles in Lower Austria. Part of the watch was lost during travel.
Today, the museum exhibits over 1000 specimens on three floors.
One of the oldest exhibits is a tower clock from the first half of the 15th century. Another important exhibit is the clock from St. Stephen's Cathedral. In addition to tower clocks, the museum displays mantel, floor and wall clocks, as well as a large collection of pocket clocks. The museum is especially proud of its unique pieces: the Caetano astronomical clock, made in 1769, the porcelain grandfather clock of the famous actress Katharina Schratt. Many watches are still in working order.
