With the models „Augsburg“ and „Aachen“, LACO has created two watches which will bring access to the world of pilot watches into close reach.

Two watches were created, which are authentic in design and also sturdy and dependable, just the things they need to write a real story of success. The emotional link to a past period of aviation will inevitably transmit anyone who wears this watch into a world which has always been a dream for every human being - the dream of flying.

Let enthusiasm take you up and away!

A world that seems to be so much out of reach for many people, and which is now just within your hand’s reach. Enter the world of flying.

Pilot watch with stainless steel case Ø: 42 mm, height 12 mm, scratch resistant mineral crystal, display back, precise automatic movement Miyota 821A, black dial with luminous markers, hands with luminous colour, brown calf leather strap with "LACO" imprintment, Made in Germany.

Price : SGD $420

Movement :hand winding movement Miyota 8N33
Case: matt finished stainless steel case, diameter 42 mm, height 12,6 mm, Mineral crystal, waterproof up to 5 ATM
Dial: numbers and figures with Superluminova C3
Hands: hands filled with Superluminova C3
Strap: brown calf leather strap with rivets
Box: black watch box with zipper

Made in Germany

 Price:  SGD $720

Pilot watch with stainless steel case Ø: 42 mm, height 12 mm, scratch resistant mineral crystal, display back, precise automatic movement Miyota 8215, black dial with luminous markers, hands with luminous colour, black calf leather strap with "LACO" imprintment, Made in Germany.

Price : SGD $420

Automatic; Stainless steel case with "FL23883" engraving Ø: 42 mm, height 13 mm, domed and anti-reflective Sapphire crystal, solid case back with engraving, numbers and figures with Superluminova C3, blued hands filled with Superluminova C3, brown calf leather strap with rivets, black watch box with zipper, Made in Germany.

This model was inspired by the original LACO Pilot watches from the 1940s.

Price:  SGD $1,300

Movement:Swiss automatic movement ETA 2824-2
Case:Stainless steel case with "FL23883" engraving Ø: 45 mm, height 11 mm, waterproof up to 5 ATM, domed and anti-reflective Sapphire crystal, solid case back with engraving
Dial:numbers and figures with Superluminova C3
Hands:hands filled with Superluminova C3
Strap:brown calf leather strap with rivets
Box:black watch box with zipper

Made in Germany.

This model was inspired by the original LACO Pilot watches from the 1940s

Price:  SGD $1,700

The LACO observation watch Type A (Ref. 861697)

The LACO pilot watches will raise emotions. The idea of manufacturing a perfect chronometer is implemented in this watch without any compromise.The clear watch face design of type A was used until approx. 1940 and will even nowadays raise emotions as hardly any other watch.

The plain but perfectly readable watch face then gave and today gives the reliability that was required to meet the demands of profession. The traditional design of this watch is implemented even in the smallest detail. The technical perfection that goes along with all this is a challenge to the art of watchmaking.

The legend will live on!

Combined with the dream of flying, you will soon by able to wear a piece of contemporary history on your wrist.

The LACO observation watch Type B (Ref. 861698)

From approx. 1940, the development of the LACO pilot watches was continued with type B.

In the forties of the preceding century, this watch was a navigation instrument unimaginable to do without for pilots who set priority on precision.

The visibility of the minute display was enhanced and gave the pilot the safety and reliability he needed to do his job perfectly. Additionally, this dependable chronometer was an instrument on which he could absolutely rely in extreme situations.

Everybody who wears a watch with such a history will inevitably be transmitted into a world of fascination and enthusiasm, which will almost make the display of time a minor point.

LACO thus gives proof of the fact that dreams may come true. Every aficionado will be transmitted into the world of flying. Join this dream a little bit by wearing the type B watch.

-Movement : ETA 2801, Handwinding

-Case : Stainless steel 316L , diameter 45 mm,  height 13mm, closed stainless steel case back

with the engraving as on the observation watch, original “FL” engraving

on the edge of the case, big pilot watch crown, sapphire crystal

-Dial : Pilot watch dial Type A (without inner circle), Type B (with inner circle)

-Strap : Brown leather strap with rivets

-Hands : Luminous blue hands

-Gift box : Black gift box leather imitation with black outer box, incl. spare strap

Retail price : SGD $1,980

For 85 years, LACO now has been manufacturing watches for people from all parts of the world.

The firm LACO established its legendary reputation in the early forties of the last century by manufacturing the aviator observation watch FL 23883. This is, of course, a most welcome occasion for us to create another strictly limited edition of our replica.

Edition:

limited edition of the aviator observation watch FL 23883. This edition is limited to 85 pieces.

Movement:

Swiss movement ETA A07.111 (modified to manual winding with stop mechanism for the seconds hand) with Geneva grinding finish, perlage and blued screws, Incablock shock protection

Case:

Stainless steel casing with lateral laser engraving FL 23883, solid stainless steel bottom with laser inscription and engraved serial number, waterproof up to 5 ATM, case diameter: 55 mm, height: 20 mm, double-arch sapphire glass.

Face:

Designed according to the original model B, flat black priming with Superluminova C3

Hands:

Hour hand, little hand and sweeping seconds hand, blue luminous hands (hour hand and minute hand)

Strap:

Brown genuine aviator calfskin strap

Box:

Wooden box with warranty folder and a cleaning cloth. Every box bears the serial number of the watch.

Made in Germany.

 LIMITED 85 PIECES ... Price:  SGD $3,000

Automatic; Sandblasted stainless steel case, diameter 36 mm, height 11 mm, domed Sapphire crystal anti-reflective, waterproof up to 5 ATM;

 Price : SGD $980

Movement:Automatic movement Miyota 821ACase:Stainless steel case, 5 ATM, Ø: 42 mm, height 12 mm, flat mineral glass, see-through backFace:Numbers 1 to 12 in blackHands:Black HandsStrap:Brown calf leather strap with rivetsEtui:Black gift box

Made in Germany

Price : SGD $420

Movement:Automatic movement Miyota 821ACase:Stainless steel case, 5 ATM, Ø: 42 mm, height 12 mm, flat mineral glass, see-through backFace:luminous dial, numbers 1-12 in blackHands:Black handsStrap:Brown calf leather strap with beige stitchingEtui:Black gift box

Made in Germany.

Price : SGD $420 

Movement:Automatic movement Miyota 821ACase:Stainless steel case, 5 ATM, Ø: 42 mm, height 12 mm, flat mineral glass, see-through backFace:Numbers 1 to 12 with Superluminova C3Hands:Luminous handsStrap:Grey calf leather strapEtui:Black gift box

Made in Germany.

Price:  SGD $420 

Stainless steel case, black IP-coated, screwed mineral crystal back, 2 mm Sapphire crystal on top, case diameter 46 mm, height 13 mm, waterproof up to 20 ATM, screw crown, rubber strap, bezel turnable in one direction, black dial, figures with luminous colour, hands with luminous colour, date at 6 o`clock position, Swiss automatic movement ETA 2824-2

Price:  SGD $980

Stainless steel case satin finished, diameter 44 mm, hight 15 mm, domed sapphire crystal (non-reflecting), closed back, water resistant up to 5 ATM; Black Dial Pilot Design, display of hour, minute, small seconds, date and chronograph, Swiss automatic chronograph movement and black Pilot leather strap.

Price:  SGD $3,120

Stainless steel case, diameter 44 mm, height 15 mm, domed sapphire crystal (non reflecting), sapphire display back, 5 ATM, Swiss automatic chronograph Valjoux 7750,  silver dial with Rosegold colored numbers, Rosegold colored hands, brown calf leather strap with white stitching, Made in Germany.

Price:  SGD $3,120

Stainless steel case, diameter 44 mm, height 15 mm, domed sapphire crystal (non reflecting), sapphire display back, 5 ATM, Swiss automatic chronograph Valjoux 7750, white dial with blue numbers, blue hands, blue leather strap with croco pattern, Made in Germany.

Price : SGD $3,120

Stainless steel case satin finished, diameter 44 mm, hight 15 mm, domed sapphire crystal (non-reflecting), closed back, water resistant up to 5 ATM; Black Dial with luminous indexes and hands, display of hour, minute, small seconds, date and chronograph, Swiss automatic chronograph movement and black calf leather strap with white stiching.

Price:  SGD $3,120

LACO is manufacturing navy watches for over 70 years now. It is our goal to match the original LACO Navy watches from the 1940s as perfectly as possible. Though the Navy was using pocket watches in the first line, LACO is offering mostly wrist watches.

Navy watches are showing perfect readability of time. Cream coloured dials are matching perfectly the brown colour of the straps. You can wear LACO navy watches with jeans or business dress, for they are timeless classics with understatement.

Ref. 861491 Navy Automatic Stainless steel case satin finished, diameter 42 mm, height 13 mm, domed sapphire crystal (non-reflecting), sapphire display back, water resistant up to 5 ATM, display of hour, minute, centre second and date, Swiss automatic movement ETA 2824-2, brown calf leather strap with hand stitching.

The Beginning

The company Lacher & Co. – the name Laco deriving from the first syllables - was founded by Frieda Lacher and Ludwig Hummel in Pforzheim in the middle of the 1920s. At the time, Pforzheim's many watch manufacturers used to fit their casings almost exclusively with Swiss mechanisms, either delivered complete, or as individual parts – a considerable saving in customs duties – which could then be finished and re-assembled by the factories themselves.

Frieda Lacher and Ludwig Hummel's young business made a successful start, yet after a few years the founders were to go their separate ways. Hummel continued to manage the greater part of the original company, the Laco watch-making factory, while Frieda Lacher branched off into the production of precision parts for wristwatches, such as wheels and pinions. Later, under the direction of her son Erich Lacher, Frieda's branch was to start producing complete watches again. Erich Lacher entered the firm in 1936, which was then renamed the "Erich Lacher Uhrenfabrik".

However, it was Laco-Durowe which developed to become a world-class brand and Pforzheim's main watch producer through the sister company "Lacher & Co.", run by Hummel. Hummel, born July 26th 1889 in Engelsbrand (nr. Pforzheim), wanted to do more than simply fit Swiss mechanisms into casings. Hummel, along with several other Pforzheim watchmakers, strove to become independent of the Swiss manufacturers, with the aim of producing his own line of watches. The fact that the wristwatch was comparatively slow to take off in Germany, and that many of Pforzheim's assembly plants continued to need the rough movements from Switzerland, made Hummel's plans somewhat harder to realize.

So it was that in 1933 he founded a mechanism-producing company (Durowe -Deutsche Uhren-Rohwerke) which, from the outset, was to supply not only his own Laco plant but other watchmakers as well. The production range was soon to include a wide assortment of high quality wristwatch mechanisms. On offer were two round mechanisms - 8 ¾ (cal. 318) and 10 ½ (cal. 410) lines respectively, and three non-round mechanisms – 5 ¼ (cal. 50), 7 ¾ x 11 (cal. 275) and 10 ½ lines - distinguished by an additional "F" for Formwerk. All of the models were pallet anchor mechanisms with clutch winds – by no means the general rule at that time. Cylinder anchor and pin pallet fork mechanisms were still favoured, with full pallet fork mechanisms tending to feature ratchet winds, whose quality and design were considered less sophisticated.

The company continued to grow steadily until the outbreak of the Second World War, with the number of mechanisms produced per month increasing from to 20,000 to 30,000. Even during the war, Laco continued to manufacture watches and mechanisms, in particular the aviators' watches. In both models ticked a first-class Durowe 22 line pallet bridge movement, adjusted with chronometer accuracy.

A company of international standing

The war ended catastrophically for almost all the Pforzheim manufacturers, including Laco. During a devastating air-raid by the Allies, all the factories were destroyed and more than 80% of the town itself was reduced to rubble. However, the work of rebuilding was to begin soon after the end of the war, and Laco and its sister firm were back in business again by 1949. Helped by the Marshall Plan, Ludwig Hummel built an impressively large 5-storey edifice to house Laco-Durowe, which was later further extended, so that by the middle of the 1950s 1,400 people were working there. Production of rough movements rose to 80,000 a month, giving some idea of the company's dramatic growth over this period.

The years up until 1959 may be regarded as Lacher's "golden age". Laco enjoyed a strong market position with the manual wind and - starting in 1952 - with the automatic models, while Durowe supplied various watchmakers with an ever-increasing number of reliable and high-quality movements.

Unique to Pforzheim

Seen through the eyes of collectors and enthusiasts of German precision engineering, this period offers a wealth of particularly interesting models.

Firstly, the "Laco-Sport" which introduced the "Duromat" - 11 ½ lines (552 cal.), the first automatic movement to be produced by Durowe as of 1952. This movement, with its 18,000 semioscillations and two-directional rotor, based on the 422 cal. manual wind, made Durowe one of the first German manufacturers of automatics.

Neither to be forgotten is the 1957 Laco-Chronometer. A unique movement was developed especially – the manual wind 630 (13 lines) – with which Laco aimed to repeat the success of the aviator watches. Exactly how many Laco-Chronometers were produced is not known, but the number is unlikely to have been great.

Later Durowe brought out the slimmest German automatic ever (1963-4). The "Planomat" – 11 ½ lines, 600 cal. – checked in at a mere 4.6 mm, while the model featuring a date function (610 cal.) measured 4.75 mm.

Laco goes global

By this time, Laco-Durowe had already been owned for some years by the U.S. Time Corporation, better known as "Timex". As a result of a slump in sales, Ludwig Hummel sold the company to the American watchmaking giant on 01.02.59, Timex being particularly interested in Laco-Durowe's advanced research into the possibilities of electrical and electronic timepieces. With the emphasis heavily on this aspect of the business, the "Laco-electric" was to appear in 1961 - Germany's first reliably functioning electric watch. An attempt by a Mr Epperlein of Ersingen to introduce the first electric watch onto the market in 1958 had been largely unsuccessful, owing to design flaws. So here too, it was Lacher that was to set the technical pace.

The company did not remain long in American ownership. On 01.09.1965, the Swiss firm Ebauches S.A. took over Durowe – however, Lacher & Co. and the brand name Laco were not swallowed up. The Swiss, who from now on wanted Durowe to produce only mechanical movements for ladies' and gents' wristwatches, acquired easy access to the markets of the then E.E.C.- today's European Union - through the German company. Durowe remained a dominant producer – in 1974, a total of 550,000 movements were manufactured.

However, the Japanese quartz revolution was to mean that even the once mighty Laco-Durowe concern soon sank into oblivion.

Laco reborn

Fortunately, during the 1980s someone at Erich Lacher Uhrenfabrik – which all these years had continued to exist and produce as Laco's "little sister" – still remembered the two companies' joint beginnings, and the prestige of the Laco name. Consequently, on September 8th 1988 the managing partner Horst Günther acquired the rights to the Laco name and logo, which enabled the company to start producing a modern range of high-quality Laco watches. Even today, some of these watches are still mechanical – but they now tick with a Swiss "heart", just as in the early years of the Lacher business. The fortunes of the firm lie in the hands of Andreas Günther, the sixth management generation.

To celebrate the watchmaking company's 75th anniversary, Lacher is re-issuing 75 of its legendary '40s pilots' watches – 80% of the parts used having been replicated from the original model. All the other components, in particular the pinions and the wheel plate for the indirectly driven central second hand, were manufactured in limited quantities. The 75 limited edition watches sold for 7.500,- DM a piece.

Recalling its long years of manufacturing experience, Lacher has also developed an anniversary range of five scaled-down wristwatches. The collection has been produced in accordance with the original designs, but boasts the latest workings for a modern twist.

-3-hand quartz watch with date function Movement RONDA 515

-Quartz chronograph watch Movement ISA 8161.201

-Automatic watch with date function Movement ETA 2824.2

-Manual wind with miniature second Movement Unitas 6498

-Automatic chronograph watch Movement Valjoux 7750

As the anniversary edition of the Laco pilot watches was such a great success the company Lacher decided to launch at the beginning of the year 2003 a new pilot watch series of even higher quality. These five new models are available exclusively with refined mechanical movements (Côte de Genève and blued screws) which can be seen through the exhibition back. All those models are equipped with stainless steel cases and a domed sapphire crystal. A de-luxe presentation box including a spare leather strap underlines the high quality of this new series of pilot watches. Furthermore it comprises two models with a case diameter of 36 mm which makes them also available for ladies.

info source :

http://www.your-guide-to-watches.com/the-history-of-laco-or-the-erich-lacher-watch-company.html

by Thomas C Huggler
(New York)