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KIENZLE Uhren GmbH is one of Germany's oldest watchmakers. Founded in 1822 in Schwenningen, the company headquarters has been in Hamburg since 2002. ==History== In 1883 Jakob Kienzle married into the Schlenker family and hencefoward he contributed to the expansion of the company. In 1899, 162,000 watches and alarm clocks were made per annum. The name of the company was changed to Schlenker & Kienzle. From 1894 onwards the weight and the cost of alarm clocks and wall clocks was significantly reduced by the introduction of the "American System" with standardized individual components and perforated plates. This process was highly innovative at that time. In 1897 Jakob Kienzle became the sole owner, with the name of the company being changed some time later to Kienzle. Watch production was continuously extended and modernized, and international activities expanded. In the following years branches in Milan, Paris and London were established.〔Lehmhaus, Schmidt and Welchering, p. 12〕 In 1902 Kienzle launched the time stamp clock on the market, followed by inexpensive pocket watches, traveling clocks and wristwatches for ladies. The first clocks for automobiles were also made at that time. The so-called "Strapazier-Armbanduhr" was presented in 1931. This watch is extremely resilient because of its special construction. The watch model becomes a popular product, with 25 million examples sold.〔Lehmhaus, Schmidt and Welchering, p. 14〕 At the end of the 1930s Kienzle started the manufacture of two table clocks in the upper price segment: the Zodiac Clock and the World Time Clock. After the Second World War Kienzle continued production, with established articles and new products like a parking meter equipped with the latest technology. In 1956 the so-called "Volksautomatik" was introduced to the market. Energy is provided by a rotor that wounds in both directions and instead of steel pins the lever is fitted with ruby pins.〔Lehmhaus, Schmidt and Welchering, pp. 19 and 21〕 In the sixties and seventies Kienzle became a market leader in Germany. In 1972 the first solar watch, "Heliomat," was produced as well as the first quartz movements.〔Lehmhaus, Schmidt and Welchering, p. 32〕 In the following years Kienzle was the first company to present a quartz travel alarm clock.〔Lehmhaus, Schmidt and Welchering, p. 21〕 The 1986, Kienzle developed the first solar watch with light conditions and polycrystalline solar element. In the early 1990s, Kienzle developed the most water-resistant watch in the world which was resistant up to 12,000 meters. They also developed the world's first radio-controlled "atomic" alarm clock with an analogue alarm setting. In 1996, a new radio-controlled movement was perfected: the smallest dual-motor, radio-controlled movement with the fastest setting system. This movement corrects to the right time within just five minutes.〔Lehmhaus, Schmidt and Welchering, pp. 19ff〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Kienzle Uhren」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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