THE FIRST WATCH FACTORY IN RUSSIA

In October 2000, the leader of Russia watch industry, the First Moscow Watch

Factory celebrated its 70th anniversary. It also was the 70 th anniversary of

Russian watch industry.

Watch industry in Czar Ru ssia consisted just of several small workshops and

enterprises. They usually assembled watches u sing watch parts made

abroad. After the 1917 revolution, the whole watch industry became a part of

the ‘Trust of Precision Mechanics’. They were watch enterprises, work shops,

warehouses of watch parts and half-finished products which belonged to

famous manufacturers such as P. Bure, G. Mozer, Reinin, Dmitriev, etc before

the revolution.

By 1926, the supply of watches and watch parts had run out, however; the

demand for watches increased for the army, the navy, the railways and

ordinary people. Then the USSR started to buy watches and watch parts from

abroad paying in gold. Therefore, on December 21,1927 the Council of Labor

and Defense passed a resolution About How to organize watch production in

the USSR.

At the same time an offer to buy a laid up “Duber Hempton” watch factories

was received from the United States. On April 26 1929 two purchase

contracts were signed. The first one was a purchase of the watch factory with

an output of 200 – 250 thousand watches per year at a price of USD 325,000.

The second contract was a purchase of the spare parts and the half-finished

products at price of USD 135,000.

To start production, four types of watches were chosen: a men pocket watch

with 15 jewels for the enterprises of the Narkomat (Ministry) of Means of

Communications, men wrist-watch with 7 jewels for the Red Army; a men

pocket watch with 7 jewels and a ladies wri st-watch with 15 jewels to sell in a

market.

In April 1930 a steamboat with American equipment on left for Russia. At the

same time building of a main block of the watch factory on the previous

location of a Tobacco Factory called “Krasnaja Zvevda” (Red Star) in

Voronczovskaja st r. in Moscow already was in progress. Building of the main

block started from digging a foundation pit in February 1930 and finished by

June 1930. Installing of main equipment was finished by September 15 of

1930.

The first production of this new factory which was named the 1 st SWF (‘1-й

ГЧЗ’- the First State Watch Factory), later the ‘1st MWF’ – ((‘1-йМЧЗ’ - First

Moscow Watch Factory) were pocket watches “the 1-st type” or K-43 with a

side seconds hand. The movement of this watch was performed in an

openwork mode. They were made with a pattern on a top ring on the polished

watchcase. In fact, the 1 st SWF exported its watches almost from the

beginning of the existence of the factory.

Although at the start, factory needed some technical help from American and

German specialists, after two years, the factory was got stronger and was

able to solve technical problems and to develop independently. New

production development started. According to the order of the Chief Military

Aviation Administration, an airplane board clocks were created, and in June

1932 a decision to organize stopwatches production was made.

In the same year technical renovation of the factory started. In 1935 – 36 the

factory received over 120 new machine tools from worldwide leading

companies. Some equipment was made by factory itself. By 1936 a number of

machine tools had increased by 1.5 times.

In December16 1935, Mr. M. Kalinin signed a resolution to award the name of

S.M. Kirov to the 1st SWF.

From 1935 until 1941, the 1st SWF produced about 2.7 millions the 1 st type

pocket and wrist- watches.

Were put into production before the Second World War aviation clocks,

stopwatches, navigators wri stwatches with a stopwatches, auto car

mechanical and electric charging watches, navy chronometers, ship deck

watches and others watch movements for the national economy.

During the Second World War production defense: ammunition, aviation

glass, aviation clocks, navy and aviation chronometers and some parts for

first Katyusha (lorry-mounted multiple rocket launcher) was organized in this

factory.

The War was had not ended yet when factory started peaceful production: in

1943 it started to make machine tools for watch industry, in 1944 – watches

for fire-places, table and auto car clocks. In April 1945 the factory stopped

ammunition production and started preparation for a new K-26 “Pobeda”

(Victory) model of watch.

Production of “Pobeda” with a side seconds hand started in 1946. I.Stalin

approved the name, design and specification of this watch personally. The 1st

MWF was making the K-26 model until 1953; it is still on a production in the

other factories. With exception of Pobeda, designers and technologists of the

1st MWF developed all models of watches and movements produced in this

factory.

In 1949, “Shturmanskye” (navigator’s) watches were put into production. They

were designed specially for military aviation; therefore they were not in

market. In 12 April 1961 Mr. Jurij Gagarin used this watch during his space

flight. The Shturmanskye watch operated without any problems in

weightlessne ss. Later, this legendary watch was given to the factory museum.

By 1955, 1,1 million of mechanical wristwatches were made by the 1st MWF.

In 1956 production of the first watches with an automatic movement started. It

was “Rodina” (Fatherland) watch, which opened a new line of watch

movements with caliber of 24 mm in the 1 st MWF. They have a central

seconds hand. The height of the movement was 6,3 mm, with 22 jewels.

In 1957, according to a special order a special “Antarktida” (Antarctics) watch

for participants of the first Soviet expedition to the South Pole was developed.

They were magnet proof, with a 24-hour dial; the watch movement was based

on a “Pobeda” (Victory) movement. A special shield protected it against strong

magnet fields.

In October 1957, the Soviet Union launched the first artificial satellite of the

Earth. The whole world peered to a slightly flashing small star in the night sky.

To mark this event, a “Sputnik” (Satellite) watch, based on a ‘Pobeda’ model

was produced. Watches were made in two variations: with a central second

hand and with a transparent dial, which had a satellite mark instead of a

second hand. At the moment, “Antarktida” and “Sputnik” watches are

collection rarity, because they were on production just one year.

In October 2 1959, the government of the USSR defined the 1st MWF as a

leading enterprise in watch export. Export increased from 42% in 1959 to 80%

in 90-ies. Watches were exported to 70 different countries, including USA,

England, Belgian, Italy, West Germany, Hong Kong, Greece, etc.

In 1959 the first Soviet ”Signal” 2612 alarm wristwatch was developed.

In the same year, a “Strela” (Arrow) 3017 watch was put into production. That

was a wri st chronograph with a stopwatch function and a 45-minute counter of

minutes. The dial had additional telemetric and tachometer scales. The

“Strela” was exclusively designed for officers of military air forces and was

produced only by military inspection. Cosmonauts Pavel Beliaev and Aleksej

Leonov also used these watches when they first in the world entered into the

open space.

During 20 years 100,000 of 3017 watches were made.

In 1960, the first “Poljot” brand watch with 2414 caliber appeared.

In April 12 1961, Jury Gagarin’s flight opened the era of space travel in the

human history. The first cosmonaut took “Shturmanskije” watch made in 1st

MWF into the space. Later producing of several models with space names

marked this flight: “Orbita” (Orbit) 2415 – in 1962, “Kosmos” (Space) 2416 – in

1963.

In 1961, the factory first in the country started production of particularly slim

“Vympel” (Pennon) watches with a second hand, caliber 2209: 2,9 mm height

of the movement, 23 jewels, the 1 st accuracy class. The total height of the

watchcase was 5 mm only. In 1963, during an international Fair in Leipzig, the

“Vympel” watch was awarded with a Diploma and a Gold medal. These
watches were on production until 1975, later the technology was passed to

Minsk Watch Factory.

Since 1964, “
ПОЛЕТ”or “
POLJOT trademarks have marked the watches

made in the 1st MWF. The factory trademarks are registered in 30 different

countries and are famous in the whole watch world.

In 1965, production of a super slim “Poljot” 2200 watch with 1,85 mm

movement height started. This product confirmed the highest level of skills of

the factory’s designers and technologists once again. The height of the watch-

case depending on its variation was from 3,5 mm to 4,5 mm.

In 1966, the factory started production of a new basic movement model, a 26

caliber with anti-shock appliance, screw less balance wheel and flat spiral,

and different accessories. New movements were distinguished by small

height and long time of run.

In 1971, the factory produced 2,5 million wristwatches, and 1,6 million pcs.

were exported to 63 different countries.

In 1972, the factory increased a production of wrist mechanical watches up to

2,7 million. Up to 70% of the whole production were sold on a export market,

therefore the factory decided to design and to put into production a number of

new watch movements which could satisfy the requirements of exacting

foreign customers and would be useable for automatic technological

processes. A s a result, in 1972 a new design of watch with the 26-caliber

movement, which was designated with an extra letter “H”: 2609H, 2614H,

2616H, etc was made. The factory’s designers, technologists and stylists

develop them. Developing new design particular attention to its reliability,

technological aspects and reparability was paid.

In 1976, the factory started production of new wristwatches with a stopwatch

function: model 3133 of chronograph. For this development, the factory staff

was awarded with a State Premium.

At the beginning, watches were intended for military officers of the navy fleet

council with an “Okean” (Ocean) name. Later, the factory started to make a

modification intended for military aviation staff, with a “Shturmanskije” name

(model 31659, a watch with a second hand arrester and pointer of zone time)

and watch “Shturmanskije” with a pointer of time zone (model 3133). The

production of these watches was limited and subjected of military inspection.

Just after nine years, in 1983, watches with a 3133 movement started being

generally available.

“Poljot” watches were taken to space flights by astronauts from France,

Russia, Germany, the Ukraine, and this chronograph have set a record in

duration of a space flight together with V.V. Poljakov.

At the end of 70-ies and the beginning of 80-ies, the factory put into

production the quartz 30 calibers watches, and later - 24 and 16 calibers. The

quartz movements were mainly exported to Southeast Asian countries: Hong

Kong and Singapore. In some years, export achieved up to 3 – 4 million

pieces per year.

During of all 70 year’s history, the First Watch Factory was keeping position of

the leader in the area of men’s wrist mechanical watch production. Today 1st

Moscow Watch Factory also remains the first. Big experience, design and

technological potential, spirit of innovation are the features, which helped the

factory to survive during a hard period of the time and to face the future with
confidence. Today “Poljot” is a leader among the producers of high-class

men’s wrist watches, a producer of unique movements, such as

chronographic movement 3133, alarm movement “Signal” 2612, the factory’s

pride is a 6MX marine chronometer. Furthermore, mechanical chronographs

and “Signal” analogues today are on worldwide production only in several

factories in Switzerland.

The high level of technological development, design and the high quality of

“Poljot” production are also confirmed by the fact that the administration of the

President of Russia has chosen a “Poljot” 3133 watch as a government award

“From President of Russia”!

Last year, some new movements, such as chronograph with a moon-phase

calendar, modifications with different additional scales and calendars were

developed and put into production. Over 20% of “Poljot” watchcases are

renovated each quarter, design is kept with latest tendencies of the worldwide

watch fashion.

In this complicated period, “Poljot” not only saves the level of previous

development but also continues to go ahead. With a slogan “To be the first”

the factory meets a new decade.

1) K-43 - ”first type” watch – the first factory production. Both wristwatches

and pocket watches have the same movement.

2)”AЧХ”, aviation clock-chronograph with a second timer and with the

movement of flight time meter. Run duration by one wind up of spring is 120

hours. Operative temperature range –60 oC to +50oC. Produced in different

variations from 1933.

3) “Pobeda” (Victory) K-26, with a side second hand, on 15 jewels, caliber 15

mm. Produced from 1946 until 1953. The first watches did not have an anti-

shock appliance for balancer shaft. “Pobeda” 31-ЧН, with a central second

hand, 15 jewels, caliber 26 mm. c 1950 until 1960.

4) “Shturmanskije” (Navigators’). Central seconds hand, anti-shock appliance

for balancer shaft, dust- and moisture-proof case. Produced from 1949 until

1953. The watch shown on the figure was in a space flight together with Mr. J.

Gagarin.

5) Watch “Sportivnyje” (Sport), one among modifications of “Pobeda”. Central

second hand, brake system for balancer. “Sportivnyje” was possible to use as

a 60 –second timer. Produced from 1955 until 1962.

6) Other modifications of “Pobeda” – “Moskva”, Majak” (Leading light)

7) “Sputnic” (Satellit), the rocket that is illustrated on a transparent dial makes

one turn per minute. "Antarktida” (Antarctic) – watch for the participants of the
first Soviet expedition to the South Pole. Antimagnet watch with a 24 hour

dial. Both models are developed on a base of “Pobeda” movement. Produced

was just one year 1957 – 1958.

8) “Rodina” (Fatherland) 2416, the first Soviet watches with a automatic

movement, the first model of the 1 st MWF with a movement of 24 caliber.

Produced from 1956 until 1960.

9) “Poljot” (Flight) 2209 and 2200. The first in the country super slim watch.

Height of movement 2,9 mm and 1,85 mm accordingly, height of case 5 and

3,8 mm. Produced from 1961 until 1979.

10) “Strela” (Arrow) 3017, Wrist-watch-chronograph, caliber 30 mm, height of

movement 5,7 mm, 19 jewels. Cosmonauts Pavel Beliaev and Aleksej

Leonov with those watches first in the human history entered into the open

space. Produced from 1959 until 1979.

11) Movement 2609, height 3,2 mm, on 17 jewels, screwless balancer, flat

spiral, anti-shock appliance for balancer shaft. This movement was on

production from 1966 until 1973 being as a base for a number of different

modifications.

12) “Signal” 2612, watch with a sound signal. Caliber 26 mm, height of

movement 5,8 mm, 18 jewels. Was on production from 1959 until 1978, later

was replaced by modification 2612.1.

13) “Poljot” 2616 9 (”Amfibija”) (Amphibian) – watch in a watertight case made

from stainless steel; water resistance 20 bar (200 meters). Produced from

1969 until 1977.

14) 2614.2H. One among new line movements differs by high reliability and

technological aspect. Despite the similar designation, it has a different

construction relatively to 2609, which is illustrated on the previous page.

Produced since 1976.

15) “Okean” (Ocean) 3133 with a pointer of zone time (article 731, for officers

of navy fleet). Production started 1976. Caliber 31 mm, height of movement

7,35 mm, average run precision –20 to +20 sec. per 24 hours.

16) Quartz movement 2968 with a double indication. Height 2,85 mm,

accuracy +/- 15 sec. per month. Installed functions – calendar, seconds timer,

alarm clock.

17) One of the latest “Poljot” product– chronograph with a moon phase

calendar, side seconds hand and single hand seconds timer with 30-minute

scale of minute counter. Put on production in 2000.