Super 1970's Lanco 37mm Manual Winding Watch
A great looking mid 1970's Lanco (Langendorf) watch in a bright chromed 37mm case
The watch is really excellent, the movement runs nicely, and to time - New Crystal (Glass) and a new leather strap - The silver dial is perfect, with black/silver batons and date at three.
Case 37mmx42mm.
The Lanco watch brand has a rich, century-long history stemming from the Langendorf Watch Company, which was founded in 1873 by Johann Viktor Kottmann in Langendorf, Switzerland. At its absolute peak around 1890, it was considered the largest watch manufacturer in the world, employing over 1,000 workers and producing thousands of timepieces daily. The name "Lanco" itself serves as a direct, punchy abbreviation of the LANgendorf Watch COmpany.
The Tobacco Transition: The factory originally emerged out of a tobacco business owned by the Kottmann family. In 1873, Johann Viktor Kottmann pivoted the family resources entirely into watchmaking.
Building a Village: Facing a severe shortage of skilled labour in the German-speaking part of Switzerland, Kottmann recruited watchmakers from the French-speaking Swiss Jura. He constructed housing, schools, and infrastructure for them, transforming the village of Langendorf. [
World's Largest Producer: Following Johann's sudden death in 1881, his nephew Karl took over, reorganising the factory into a massive industrial power. By 1890, it had ballooned into arguably the planet's largest volume producer of watches and ébauches (raw movements).
Early Brand Adoption: While officially registered as a trademark in January 1913, the name "Lanco" was utilized on pocket watches and early wristwatches as early as the 1900s alongside other sub-brands.
Wartime Field Watches: During World War I and World War II, Langendorf built a pristine reputation for high-quality military timepieces. They manufactured rugged "trench watches" for WWI infantry officers and smooth, highly accurate 9XX-series movements for WWII servicemen.
Social Innovation: Under the management of Ernest Kottmann in the early 20th century, the company operated like a progressive ecosystem, offering its workers an on-site kindergarten, a massive canteen, cooperative stores, and its own choir and orchestra.
Brand Focus: In the late 1950s, the company streamlined its broad portfolio of sub-brands to focus intensely on "Lanco" as its flagship identity.
Mechanical Mastery: This era saw iconic releases like the Lanco-Fon, an innovative mechanical alarm wristwatch featuring a single crown to control both the time and the alarm setting.
Chronometer Quality: Lanco's highly regarded 12- and 13-lignes mechanical calibers from this era frequently met elite qualité exceptionnelle chronometer standards.
The SSIH Absorption: By 1965, shifting industrial pressures led Lanco to join the SSIH (Société Suisse pour l'Industrie Horlogère), an alliance that already included massive heavyweights like Omega and Tissot.
The Quartz Crisis: The global influx of inexpensive quartz watches in the 1970s devastated traditional Swiss watchmaking. Production at the historic Langendorf factory ceased entirely in 1973, exactly 100 years after its founding.
The Brand Changes Hands: As SSIH faced financial distress in 1981, the Lanco brand name was sold off. The trademark eventually became dormant before being revived under license from The Swatch Group by South African distributors to sell contemporary watches.
