====== Hanhart ======

{{wst>author|[[Reschke, Gerd-Lothar|Gerd-Lothar Reschke]] ([[https://www.zeitgefuehl.de|ZEITGEFÜHL]])}}

{{wst>menue|Hanhart}}

{{wst>image_cr|Hanhart|Historic TachyTele}}

German watch manufacturer

==== Foundation in Switzerland, moving to the Black Forest ====
In [[1882]] [[Hanhart, Johann Adolf|Johann Adolf Hanhart]] opens a watch and jewelry shop in Diessenhofen (Switzerland). In the very difficult years of the construction of a one man enterprise to a medium-sized company other products must be taken as a seasonal balancing. Because Hanhart considers the development opportunities for the company in Diessenhofen to be too low, in [[1902]] he moves to [[Schwenningen]] in the Black Forest. In a few years the production is expanded, and soon the pure handicraft company is the largest of its kind in Schwenningen and environment.

==== Production of watches and stopwatches ====
[[1920]] Johann A. Hanhart takes his youngest son [[Hanhart, Wilhelm Julius|Wilhelm Julius]] into the business. The young Hanhart sees too little perspective in his father's business and tries to give the company a different direction. He purchases a watch manufacturing and tries to expand it. These watches are exported with varying degrees of success, but the production is discontinued after four years. Wilhelm Julius Hanhart continues to search for market opportunities and recognizes that in the twenties no cheap [[stopwatch]]s are available on the German market. Together with a watchmaker he constructs and fabricates the world's first low-cost stopwatch and in [[1924]] brings them on the market. The watch and jewelery business is incidentally continued until the death of the founder Johann Adolf Hanhart (1932).

[[1934]] another company is established in Gütenbach (Black Forest). Initially, the first small watches are produced in the basement of the house of his wife Hulda Faller. Soon the company Hanhart has its own production facility in Gütenbach. The stopwatch production is intensified and special versions for different sports are developed. [[1938]] Hanhart developes the monopusher [[chronograph]] [[caliber]] [[Hanhart 40|40]] named [[Hanhart_Primus|Primus]]. [[1939]] the production of the first pilot's chronograph [[Hanhart Tachy Tele|Tachy Tele]] and of the two-pusher model [[caliber]] [[Hanhart 41|41]] is started. From [[1939]] to [[1945]], the production of watches has to be limited in favor of the production of time fuses for torpedoes. From [[1945]] to [[1948]], the operation is shut down by force.

[[1948]] a chronograph is designed specifically for doctors and officers; the model is called "Admiral". [[1962]] Hanhart is market leader in mechanical stopwatches.

==== Today: stopwatches and exclusive mechanical precision watches ====
Today, the company produces not only electronic and mechanical stopwatches but again also exclusive mechanical precision watches, some in limited edition. [[1997]], the legendary pilot's chronograph 1939 appears in a now-sold-out Special Edition (successor [[Hanhart Pioneer Caliber II|Pioneer Caliber II]]). [[2005]] the model [[Hanhart M39|M39]] appears, which marks the beginning of a new watch model series inspired by the originals from 1939.

[[2006]], the chronograph line around the models [[Hanhart Pioneer Red X|Red X]] and "Red X Red" is extended; furthermore Hanhart resumes and intensifies the reminiscence of its watch history and widens the collection around the model [[Hanhart Poseidon|Poseidon]].

==== Foundation of the Hanhart AG, relocation to Switzerland ====
On January 31, [[2008]], the **Hanhart AG** is founded. The company is based in the Swiss Diessenhofen on the Rhine - the original founding place of the Hanhart company.

The business premises of Hanhart AG are only a few steps from the house in which Johann Adolf Hanhart [[1882]] opened his watch shop. The official launch takes place exactly 126 years after the founding of the company Hanhart - July 1, [[2008]]. At the same time the Gaydoul Group AG, by expanding its participation in the Hanhart Group AG, becomes majority shareholder.

==== New collection, new style ====
{{wst>image_cr|Hanhart|Primus Pilot's Chronograph All Black|Hanhart Primus Pilot}}

Under the motto **German Engineering - Swiss Made** [[2009]], in close cooperation with the company workshops in Gütenbach and suppliers from the Swiss watch industry, a new generation of [[chronograph]]s is developed, which draw attention with a contemporary, sporty and elegant appearance. As a reference to the history of the company the new collection is called "Primus".

The models of this series are called "Pilot" ([[pilot's watch]]es), "Racer" (racing watches) or "Diver" ([[dive watch]]es). One focusses on clear central features such as 

  * Flexible lugs
  * Red handle, clasp with red marking
  * [[Cannellated]] [[bezel]]
  * Big [[screw-down]] crown
  * [[Bicompax]] dial

The models in the collection "Pioneer" are based in their design and technology on the long tradition of the chronographs of Hanhart.

{{wst>image_cr|Hanhart|Primus Desert Pilot}}

As before, also high-quality mechanical stopwatches, which are manufactured in numerous steps in the manufacture in Gütenbach, represent an important product segment of Hanhart. In earlier films they were used in all major auto racings and are now popular rally companions among ambitious vintage car pilots.

===== Weblinks =====
  *[[http://www.hanhart.com|Hanhart (official website)]]


{{tag>Watch_brands Watch_brands_Germany Watch_brands_Switzerland}}