German vs. Austrian Regulators
In addition to the above styles, there are inherent differences between the Vienna Regulators made in Austria and Germany. In part, these are the differences between clocks made by individual makers with their apprentices, and the clocks made in Factories.
As one gets to know Vienna regulators one starts to notice specific features--the detail in the hands, the way the escapement is made, the way the mechanism is mounted to the back board, the use of serial numbers... It is these features that can guide one in recognizing the German from the Austrian makers.
Of course, if there is "Wien" on the dial, this makes it real easy, but beware of "fakes" and "marriages".
Please realize that one needs to speak in generalities as one outlines the differences between Viennese and German clocks. There are exceptions to everything that will be pointed out below.
There were more Vienna regulators made in Germany than in Austria. But, since the German factories only began producing clocks after 1850, nearly all of the true Biedermeier and earlier clocks came from Vienna or other clock-making centers like Prague, Linz, or Budapest.
In general the Viennese clocks had hands with finer detail than the corresponding German hands. Viennese clocks tend to have thinner columns on the Alt Deutsch clocks, tend to use more seat-boards/slotted wooden supports, and single-piece verges in the escapement.
German clocks tend to be more massive, use stouter hands, rarely use seat boards, favoring instead the four-posted key-hole mounts or the brass seat plate that slot into brass brackets attached to the back board. Mechanisms often have adjustable verge pallets.
German clocks are typically factory-made pieces, with serial numbers and trademarks on the back plates. On the other hand, with the exception of the "Remember" clocks, very few Austrian clocks have markings on the back plates.
The German factories often included subsidiary seconds dials at the top of the dial. These "second" dials were typically installed on eighty-beat movements with thirty-tooth escape wheels. This resulted in a second hand rotating 1 1/3 times per minute, or taking 45 seconds for a revolution. The Viennese did not typically do this.
In summary, the clocks made in Germany represent mass production that was the direct result of the industrial revolution. Gustav Becker copied many of the American methods; Lenzkirch copied many of the French methods. Their combined output dwarfed the output of all of the Austrian makers.
The Remember (Gebruder Resch) clocks are Austria’s response to the Industrial Revolution producing very high quality factory clocks--easily on a par with the best clocks out of Germany.
The Austrian clocks reflect the best the old world apprentice system could produce--clocks made by individual makers who put their names on the dial and their best workmanship and attention to detail into the clocks they produced.