Collections Carousel – West German Tradition Alarm Clock

Donated in 2013 by Little Falls resident, Alvina Smuda, this large yellow and red plastic alarm clock features both the new age characteristics of mid-century modern design and the rapid increase in the use of plastic as a preferred manufacturing material following the end of World War II. The over-sized (9″ x 9″ x 7.5″) boxy clock was produced in West Germany, the capitalist half of a post-World War II divided Germany and the half that retained the country’s reputation for high quality, well-designed products. The clock’s simple functional design reflects the clean, unfettered, almost space age look of the Cold War era with its shiny hard yellow plastic trapezoidal-shaped sides and bright red clock face. Alvina was probably not thinking about global politics and the history of manufacturing trends when she purchased the clock at a local garage sale. Her purchase nonetheless added to the trail of history belonging to the clock, a trail that currently reaches from Cold War Germany to present-day Central Minnesota.

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