Kienzle watches
by David Barth
written June 2003
Kienzle
Kienzle Timeline
from http://www.kienzle-ag.de/en/geschichte.php.
1822 - How it all started
Johannes Schlenker opens a clockwork in Schwenningen. When his three sons take over the company, 20 employees are already making over 2000 pendulum and
wall clocks a year.
1883 - Birth of a brand
The 24-year-old businessman Jakob Kienzle marries into the Schlenker family and receives a share of the company, now named "Schlenker and Kienzle." Clocks
called "Flugelrad" are made with massive 14-day regulators. The number of employees rises to over 60.
1885 - 1894: Steady growth
The company is continually expanded in size and scope. Mass production begins. In 1894, Kienzle introduces so-called American production, the machine-based
manufacture of affordable clocks. In addition to 360 regular employees, 40 work from home.
1897 - 1913: The way to independence
After the retirement of his brother-in-law, Jakob Kienzle continues to run the company as sole owner. 600 workers produce nearly half a million watches. The product
line is expanded to include table clocks, imaginative alarm clocks, year clocks, car clocks and measurement instruments.
1913 - 1922: Expansion into the stock market
Yearly production rises to 4.25 million pieces. Jakob Kienzle takes over the Villing-based company C. Werner and enters the world market at "Kienzle Apparate." In
1922, Kienzle becomes a publicly traded company.
1935 - 1956: Success during hard times
Jakob Kienzle dies in 1935. In 1939, 3500 employees make approx. 5 million watches. After an interruption caused by the war, the first battery-operated watches are
introduced in 1956 and soon rise to the highest rung of the German market. Heliomat is made, the first solar watch.
1956 - 1971: Economic boom
In 1962, Kienzle posts a turnover record with more than seven million watches. A contract is signed with the Japanese company K. Hattori & Co. Ltd. to work together
in production and sales. Kienzle Zurich AG is founded in 1964.
1971 - 1980: A changing market
In 1973, Kienzle makes the first quartz mechanism. In 1975, 25 million Kaliber 051 watches roll off the line. In 1976, Kienzle makes the first quartz LED watches in
Germany.
1980 - 1996: Changes
In 1982, fully automated quartz assembly is introduced. The product line is expanded to include heat cost allocators and other electronic devices. In 1986, Kienzle
takes over the companies Wigo, Esge and Burk. In 1994, the company is divided into 5 production areas: Automotive, Kienzle watches, Kienzle-Burk, plastics and
logistics. Kienzle is completely restructured in 1996.
2002 - heute: New beginning
In 2002 the Kienzle AG with headquarter in Hamburg was found. The Kienzle brand is used to sell high quality consumer electronics as well as watches.