THE GERMAN EINHEITSCHRONOMETER

The German Einheitschronometer is a piece of contemporary history as well as a part of the company history of Wempe and Lange & Soehne, the famous German pocket watch and chronometer manufacturers situated in the small town of Glashuette in the mountainous area of the Erzgebirge near Dresden in Saxony. At the same time it is also a piece of German engineering history. It replaced the dominance of the English chronometers on German ships and became one of the most used items during World War II. The authors, both experts in their field of timekeeper history, have compiled a profound work, the very first model history of these impressive gadgets taking into account the political turbulences of World War II and their impact on the chronometer design and development in Germany. It features the chronometer and its individual devices, the differences between types and manufacturers and takes a good look at the Russian replicas and their modifications. The authors had access to the company archives of Wempe, A.Lange & Soehne and various other private collectors and many previously unpublished photographs illustrate this truly unique model history.