A Family Portrait of the PERROT TURMUHREN firm

Johann Immanuel Perrot,
Founder of the Tower Clock Firm (standing in the center of the photo)

The family business founded in 1860 now rests in the able hands of its fifth generation.

The 146 year history of a family firm is an amazing accomplishment, especially when one considers the various risk factors involved as well the ever-changing world of modern technology.

With this in mind, as well as the rich legacy handed down by its forefathers, it is the premier responsability of the present family clan to continue on and successfully lead the enterprise into the future.

Such a successful and fully respected PERROT dynasty was rendered possible through the efforts and sacrifices made by its previous generations. Without the Good Lord overseeing land, people and its talented craftsmanship, all efforts leading to success would have been fruitless. The ever-present second name of Immanuel (God is with us) found in the names of the successive PERROT generations attests to all of this.

Johann Immanuel Perrot

Johann Immanuel Perrot (15.05.1835 - 30.04.1898) was born as the seventh child in his family. Johann studied to become a locksmith. After completing his studies, he travelled extensively before working for the tower clock firm of Mannhardt in Munich. This ultimately enabled him to establish his own firm in 1860.

Heinrich Immanuel Perrot

Heinrich Immanuel Perrot (24.12.1864 - 04.01.1948) Heinrich Immanuel also learned the tower clockmakers' trade. But, above all, he was an inventor. He was the first man in the former German Empire to have developped and constructed an electro-mechanical chimeworks and winch principle for tower clocks.

A certificate signed by Hermann Hesse

From June of 1894 until September of 1895, Hermann Hesse, the world-famous writer, worked for the PERROT family firm. Several mentions of his rich and longstanding contacts with the PERROT Family are cited in his various writings. Heinrich Perrot is referred to as the "Bastian Perrot Inventor from Calw". In his written work entitled "Das Glasperlenspiel", he fondly looks back to the development of a chimework by Heinrich Perrot.

Walter Immanuel Perrot

Walter Immanuel Perrot (30.08.1895 - 06.11.1978) decided to become a mechanic in his father's firm after having completed his basic schooling. After World War I, he successfully attended a Training School for Master Clockmakers in the Black Forest town of Schwenningen.

In 1954, Walter Perrot innovated and developped a new concept in chimeworks. Such a prototype was installed at Leutenbach for the Protestant Church. Accordingly, this model became a success story for many years to come.

"All three of these individuals did have one thing in common: they were very original people sculpted out of the same block of wood, were convinced of their substance and were very proud of this. They were outstanding designers and technicians. Nevertheless, their originality did set them apart from other people. With all their achievements, their contribution to the environment as well as to their own society in particular was both rich and eventful.
Heinrich I. Perrot, 1985

Five Generations of the Perrot Family Dynasty