“Engel-Weihnachts-Geläut, Posaunenchor mit der Geburt
Christi (Angel-Christmas Chime, Trumpet Choir with the
Nativity ” No. 0 (39 x 16 cm.)

In 1905 Walter Stock, of the firm of Adrian & Stock, took out a series of patents on his design for a “Geläut,” or chime, showing virtually all the familiar elements of today’s Christmas candle chimes. His specific patents include the “floating angels” carrying bell-clappers, the trumpeting angel at top, and the collapsible tripod candle-and bell-holders, which were designed to fold into a relatively small box. Shown below is the earliest Stock design produced from the 1905 patent. Elaborately designed and lovingly made, it features die-cut candle supports of nickel-plated tin, a lithographed nativity scene in low relief (this deluxe example includes an added group of figures in the foreground, giving a 3D effect), and a large and imposing set of gilded angel figures.

The launch of this chime was announced with some fanfare, as demonstrated by this 1906 advertisement from the magazine Berliner Illustrierte. The ad describes the chime in detail, praising its novel design, sturdy construction, and easy assembly.

The box is printed with the splendid name of this inaugural effort: “Engel-Weihnachts-Geläut, Posaunenchor mit der Geburt Christi,” (“Angel-Christmas Chime, Trumpet Choir with the Nativity.”). The box also carries the Adrian & Stock name and logo, a practice which was soon discontinued for most of the Stock line of chimes. As we’ll see, many elements of later “Swedish pattern” candle chimes derive directly from these early 20th century Stock models. While impressive, the angel figures on this first Stock chime were heavy, and tended to unbalance the mechanism. This example no longer works, and the design may always have been finicky: the angels were drastically reduced in size and weight within a few years of this production. (This example includes the rare instruction sheet, also illustrated below, at the far right.)  

“Engelsgeläut” (Angel Chime) No. 1/4 (31 x 16 cm.)

By 1910 Adrian & Stock had embarked on a full line of angel chimes, with the original “Posaunenchor mit der Geburt Christi” chime, redesigned and simplified, designated as “No. 1” of an expanding series. (Note however that Adrian & Stock’s numbering system changed over time, and that this chime is also found as “No. 4,” and “No. 610”)  As redesigned, the angels are smaller, the candle holder is reduced to a simple platform, the bell supports are cheaply formed of wire, and the nativity scene is printed flat, on a single sheet of tin. A variant of this chime, offered without the lithographed nativity scene, is labeled “No. 4½” in Stock catalogues of the 1920s. Note that the box bears no maker’s name. Also shown is a picture of this chime taken from a 1927 German Christmas catalogue, priced at 1 Mark 5 Pfennigs.

“Weihnachtsgeläute” (Christmas Chimes) No. 5 (32 x 18 cm.)

By the 1920s, the original Stock Engelgeläut had diversified into a range of forms.  This festive model (“No. 5” in the Stock catalogue) is one of the most elaborate. It features two pairs of chimes, and an impeller incorporating a ring of lithographed angels, and a banner announcing in German, “Glory to God in the Highest.”   The colorful lithographic nativity scene is adapted from the “Krippe mit Engelgeläut” model (No. 2B).   Also shown is a woodcut illustration of this chime reproduced from a 1929 Adrian & Stock catalogue.

“Weihnachtsgeläute” (Christmas Chimes) No. 5A (32 x 18 cm.)

 
A simpler version of No. 5, with only two chimes, and using the standard Stock impeller and angels.Some boxes for this chime incorporate the rarely-seen stamped Adrian & Stock logo, partly visible at upper right in the photo second from the right, below. Because Adrian & Stock distributed their chimes through a number of different Solingen firms, the Stock name and mark is generally not found on the pieces, or their packaging. Also shown on the far right is a No. 5A used as a Christbaumspitz, or tree topper, reproduced from Schulte-Kellinghaus. 

“Engelsgeläut” (Angel Chime) No. 3 and 3A (33.5 x 15 cm.)

Two examples of the standard “cheap” chime offered by Stock in the 1920s, one with a lithographed Nativity scene in the central star ornament (No. 3), and one with a Father Christmas or “Weihnachtsmann” figure accompanied by angels (No. 3A).  Note that the Father Christmas chime has angels in silver, while the Nativity version has them in gold: another common production variant. Also shown is a woodcut of the Nativity chime, reproduced from a 1929 Adrian & Stock catalogue.  Compare the design of these smaller, simpler Stock  chimes with the first example illustrated under “Swedish-Pattern Angel Chimes.” It is clear that post-World War II Swedish manufacturers adapted elements of Stock’s design to produce the “Swedish pattern” angel chimes so popular in America. 

 A number of these later Stock chimes, with original boxes and in brilliant, unused condition, have appeared recently on eBay. They are “new old stock” reputedly acquired some decades ago from one of the last employees at the Walter Stock factory in the 1930s. 

“Engelsgeläut” No. 3A

“Engelsgeläut” No. 3

“Krippe mit Engelgeläut” (Nativity Scene with Angel Chime)
No. 2B (32 x 22 cm., base = 22 x 8 cm.)

Among the rarest and most interesting of the Stock Christmas chimes is this elaborate combination “Krippe mit Engelgeläut” (Nativity scene with angel chime). Unlike most of the Adrian & Stock chimes, this item was intended for tabletop use only, or for display beneath a Christmas tree. Candles ingeniously suspended behind the façade power the impeller, which moves not only the angel choir, but also a carousel of the Three Kings below, so that they seem to pass in procession before the Holy Family. (A cheaper version was also available which omitted the moving figures.)  Originally produced ca. 1910, this particularly fancy variant from the 1920s features a colorful ring of lithograph angels instead of a plain impeller, and a base designed as a holder for candy or chocolate. The name of the wholesaler (bicycle manufacturer August Stukenbrok) appears on the box, but the Stock name does not: a marketing ploy which allowed Stock to expand their market for these and other toys. This example includes the very rare original instruction sheet. Also shown is a picture of another version of this chime, reproduced from a 1927 German Christmas catalogue, priced at 1 Mark 95 Pfennigs.

“Knusperhäuschen” (Gingerbread House) (26.5 x 22 cm., base = 22 x 8 cm.)

Also dating from the 1920s, this Stock chime features the story of Hansel and Gretel, and here the impeller powers a tableau in which the old witch chases the children in and out of the Gingerbread House. Like the preceding, this chime also has a candy-box base. The base is usually found in plain green; this desirable variant has an attractive lithograph pattern of grass, flowers and mushrooms. This example is in pristine condition, with a fine original box — a rare survival. Also shown is a reproduction from the 1910 Stock toy catalogue, showing an earlier, non-chiming version of this toy.