Kromer Timelock

Adrian Weber

Hey everyone,

I was recently able to acquire my first timelock. A Kromer timelock with three movements (120 hours each)! I was only able to acquire little information about the movement itself. A German specialist for watches helped me on this.

http://www.mikrolisk.de/

The maker “Fabrique de l’horlogerie de St.-Blaise” was based in “Neuchachtel” and “St.Blaise”. Probably around 1950 and I also believe that the timelock was made around that time.

Hope you enjoy,

Adrian 🙁nerd):

Riyame

That looks familiar 😛

If you wanted to you could take the case serial number and ask Kromer about it. They might have records about when it was made and possibly who it was sold to.

Huw Eastwood

That’s a nice timelock and a great start for your 1st one 🙁y): Great to see something different to all the American timelocks out there. I’ve never heard of Neuchachtel though- did you mean Neuchatel, as it has a strong historic background in watch and clock making and I think is home to all of Jacquet-Droz’s masterpieces 🙁happy):

Doug MacQueen

Actually Max, that Kromer is very similar to the post WWII U.S. timelocks, especially the Yales, which also had round bottom movements and plastic see through covers. St. Blaise was also used by some U.S. companies after the movements were no longer made here. Doug

Huw Eastwood

Yes Doug- I think badge engineering was exceptionally strong in the time-lock industry simply because of the high level of skills, precision and manufacturing costs needed to produce them, and as we all know the Swiss continue to excel at it.

I was simply referring to the fact that it’s great that Adrian’s got a Kromer for his first one, and that it’s not a Yale or S&G etc. I don’t necessarily think that every time something looks similar that it always has to be copied from a US design :o:

Doug MacQueen

I get it now, Max. I took it that you meant it was different in type not just in name. Always copied from a U.S. design? I didn’t say that nor was I implying that, but in this particular case I would say it probably was. I know of other similarities of some early and mid 1800’s U.S. locks with English locks and in those cases, the U.S. locks were definitely copied from the English Chubb detector and Bramah. The vast majority of U.S. safe deposit locks are English style lever locks (except for the flat keys). Do I need to go on? Sorry for ranting. Doug

Adrian Weber

Thanks for the replies Max and Doug!

Max is totally right what I meant to say was “Neuchatel” sorry guys my bad :^):!

And please make love not war 🙁happy):
I love the vintage S&G timelocks and also the ones from Yale and I am also sure that the timelock was indeed something that the other countries copied from the US. I would love to have an old S&G or Yale timelock but the really nice ones usually sell so high, that I can not afford them 🙁sweat): I was very lucky with the Kromer and only paid little money for it.

In my opinion is very beautiful and also has differences to the American designs. Have you noticed the lead Kromer seal at the top left corner for example? It is a seal featuring the company logo and the crimping tool for it was only available in the company itself. This lead seal could seal the lock at two positions, the top left corner und the lower right corner + you need a special screw driver to remove the caps (I do not have this one yet and was told watchmakers should be familiar with this type of driver). All features I have yet not seen on an American timelock, I could be wrong on this though because I have not seen many yet.

Another thing would be the prohibited export to the US and Canada, why? Does anyone have a clue for that?

Just by the way: the Kromer Protector is a lock that has definitely not been copied from anyone and is by the way still in production and one of the most secure safe locks ever available. I do also probably not have to mention the Kromer Lafette mechanism that is unique and perfect in its own way. 🙁nerd):

I am really happy that my first timelock is a Kromer as I really love that company (recently still writing on a small timeline and article about Kromer). I would love to add a nice Yale or S&G to the collection someday. Well, maybe when the time is right 🙂-:

PS: I added a picture of a fresh lead seal as the one on the timelock is slightly damaged, maybe someone tried to remove it or this was just a way to indicate that the lock is not “used” any longer (the seal therefore being invalid)

Best wishes,

Adrian

Adrian Weber

Forgot to mention:

Riy is right I should ask at the company if they can track down the lock. I already did put a request in but the company seems to very busy at the moment. (Which is good of course, meaning that the business is running well)

Adrian