A. Lange & Söhne 55mm B-Uhr History

Bruno.M1 · 2014-02-25T10:26:22Z

Discover Bruno.M1's 55mm A. Lange & Söhne B-Uhr, a vintage German airforce navigation watch. Explore its history, design, and military origins.

If you can handle the size …. and if you like real vintage with a lot of history, patina and plexi …. you might like it too

This is one which I wanted already a long time but you can’t have everything you wish for I guess. I have a long wishlist with watches I would like to have one day.

Somethimes this list changes. Some watches are replaced by others. I’m sure you all know what I mean.

The watch in this post is one I thought about since 2005 or 2006. Damn time flies. Never on top of my wishlist and that’s why it took so long

Anyway, I remember that somebody I know bought one in 2005 or 2006 and since then I wanted one too
This week it arrived

It has a similar history like Panerai. Made for the same purpose at the same time. Strictly military background and never sold to the public. ….

I’m talking about the original B-Uhren made for the German airforce (Luftwaffe) between +/- 1940 and +/- 1945.

These big (55mm) watches were not given to one specific person but to an entire crew. I was told most pilot watches belonged to one pilot

But with the German B-Uhr it was different. Such a B-Uhr belonged to a squadron and the pilot returned the watch after his flight. The next day
another pilot form the same squadron used the B-Uhr

If my information is correct, the German army wanted to order all these watches from Lange & Söhne. Ofcourse that was impossible.

Lange was unable to make all these watches in such a short period of time and that’s why they contacted other watch makers.
The big 5 were Lange, Laco, Stowa, Wempe and IWC.
Lange, Laco and IWC used inhouse movements , Stowa and Wempe used ébauches.
A. Lange & Söhne : (Lange & Söhne: cal. 48/1)
Laco (Lacher & Co) : (Durowe cal. D 5)
Stowa (Walter Storz) : (Unitas cal. 2812)
Wempe (Chronometerwerke Hamburg) : (Thommen cal. 31)
IWC : (IWC cal. 52 SC "seconde central")

All 5 made exactly the same watches, all of them 55mm and all of them used pocked watch movements which succeeded the COSC tests.

These watches needed to be very accurate.

- A case diameter of 55 mm - Marked on the back with FL 23883 (FL=flight, 23=navigation)
- Equipped with large crowns in order to be used with gloves
- Hacking movement (the second hand stops when pulling out the crown / essential for a precise time setting)
- Breguet balance spring
- Regulated and tested as chronometers

They had 2 different dials.

A-type – which were the first series – a simple clean dial …. Yes the IWC Big Pilot Grandfather J
B- type – came a bit later and are more common, still simple but not as simple as the A-type

Now some pics …

and a wristshot

last but not least … certificate and documents from the museum!

Since almost a week on my wrist and I absolutely LOVE it.

This message has been edited by Bruno.M1 on 2014-02-25 10:27:02

The Discussion

amanico

Feb 25, 2014

I saw several, each time tempted to get one, but on the wrist, the " generous " dimensions are way too much for ME. I am a bit jealous... Best, Nicolas

Spellbound

Feb 25, 2014

A truly great write up, and a fascinating history lesson. Just as this watch list in 2005/6, so it enters mine today. An extremely jealous Dean says congratulations !

foversta

Feb 25, 2014

I hope to see it in the metal when I will travel to Brussels! Fx

amerix

Feb 25, 2014

but remember, there were was no COSC existing in those days. Test them they did - but how - and what were the results? :) amerix

Knight Rider

Feb 25, 2014

Thank you Bruno for this compulsive lesson in history. The watch looks literally great! Interesting, that Swiss companies delivered watches and components to Germany even during WW II. Truth be told, as Swiss citizen I'm not surprised (please excuse if I violate the rules, but I couldn’t resist). But one question remains: On the type plate the watch-type ("Bauart") is indicated as Lange & Söhne, but the manufacturer ("Hersteller") is Felsing at Berlin. Do you have any explanation for that (w

ling5hk

Feb 25, 2014

Do you have intention to get all 5 to complete the collection? Regards Ling

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