Chelyabinsk Lightning watch factory

History

The history of Molniya watch factory can be conducted since 1947. But it is right only partly. It is more correct to consider this year - year of the organization in Chelyabinsk of hour production and, respectively, emergence in the capital of South Ural of a new industry - the sentry. The history of the plant and the hours made by it, actually, much longer also originates in the USA and Switzerland.

The watch factory which appeared in 1947 in South Ural was created based on the manufactory Dyuber Hampton (Dueber-Hampden Watch Company, 1877) purchased Stalin, "turnkey" on the solution, in 1929 in the United States.

Actually the report of hour production in Russia is from this point kept. The purchased manufactory became the 1st Moscow, and it is possible to tell, as the first Soviet, watch factory. When the Great Patriotic War began, the plant was evacuated to the Urals to Zlatoust. And after the end of war the decision on transfer of the equipment to Chelyabinsk and production organizations of hours was made. The first stage of the plant entered operation on November 17, 1947 therefore this date is considered to be a birthday of the watch factory which received the name "Lightning". The plant was placed in the downtown in the four-storeyed building which was originally intending for city public library. From Zlatoust to Chelyabinsk transferred more than hundred workers and more than thirty engineering employees. At that time it was the best personnel in the country.

Aviation hours became the first products of the plant, and the main customer – the Ministry of Defence of the USSR. In 1948, a year later after the beginning of work, the plant released the first batch of the aviation onboard hours of the transfer switch-M with the welted eight-day plant developed and which were initially issued the 1st Moscow watch factory.

Further the plant developed production of the aviation hours AChS-1 made on the Swiss technology. As a prototype for AChS-1 the aviation hours made by the Swiss manufactory of Jaeger Le Coultre (Jaeger-LeCoultre) for the Soviet aircraft till 1939 served.

Production of these hours became the main direction in activity of the plant for all next years. Their history is inseparably linked with the history of the Soviet aircraft. Having appeared for the first time in a cabin, become afterwards cult, the Soviet MiG-15 fighter, they quickly confirmed the reliability, and in ten years after start-up the plant produced up to 30 thousand special hours in a year.

They stood in cabins of all generations of the Soviet warplanes therefore the name AChS became for the Soviet and Russian pilots a common same noun concerning aviation hours, as well as the brand MiG for any Soviet fighter in the West. Together with each new generation of the Soviet fighters there were also new modifications of AChS-1 finished taking into account the recommendations of pilots. Therefore still they remain the most demanded in the Russian market and even are a peculiar character of the Air Force of the Russian Federation (The Ministry of Defence selected hours of AChS-1 for an illustration of information on the Air Force of the Russian Federation on the official site).

In parallel with production of special purpose hours the plant mastered also civil products: pocket and interior watch. And also achieved in it considerable success. Exactly thanks to the pocket watch the Lightning brand became one of the most known brands in the market of Russia and also purchased popularity and deservedly high reputation in many countries of the world: The USA, Germany, Turkey, Austria and even in Switzerland. As history AChS-1 is inseparably linked with the history of the Soviet and Russian aircraft, and the pocket watch released by Lightning became display of history of the country. Specially to the 30 anniversary of the Great Victory a series of hours on which covers against the background of the image of a banner, a text of "30 years" and two dates was released: 1945-1975". On other cover – the image of the Eternal flame and word: "Nobody is forgotten, nothing is forgotten". Also hours with Stalin's image were released. There are hours and with legendary Aurora and date 1917 on the one hand both the map of the country and a text of "60 years of the Soviet power" - with another.

The organizing committee of the Moscow Olympic Games-80 selected hours of the Lightning brand as gift hours to participants of the Olympic Games. The cover of these hours was decorated with the Olympic Mishka's image, others - images of boxers and fighters and also five the intertwining rings and a text "Moscow 80".

Especially for builders BAM a series of hours on the sketch developed by Komsomol members was made. For miners hours with a double bottom were made. The pocket watch "Lightning" enjoyed wide popularity also in other countries. They were exported more than to 30 states of the world. By request of the USA the musical pocket watch which cover was decorated with the color image of the American flag and a text of "Bless America" were manufactured, and at its opening played the national anthem. Is in the Lightnings collections and the massive pocket watch with a chain on which cover a bas-relief of the Turkish engine.

The Turkish customers before signing the agreement with Lightning carried out careful contrastive analysis of the mechanism of the Russian pocket watch with Swiss and made a choice for benefit of Chelyabinsk, having set for hours additional own guarantee – 20 years, so they were sure of their quality. All these hours are a rarity and a collection rarity today.

High quality of products of the enterprise gained world recognition. "Lightning" is an owner of a set of awards and awards. The most considerable of them: the international Diamond star of quality (Mexico), the Golden Globe (Denmark) for progress in business, "the Gold Arch of Europe". Also the plant is mentioned for the best trademark and for technology and quality in Madrid. In addition, "For commercial prestige" (Austria), "For correctness to quality ideals" (Switzerland), Golden Eagle (France) for the range and quality and many others.

However world crisis of the mechanical clock during quartz revolution suspended dynamic development of the plant. The release of the pocket and interior watch was stopped. In 1997 in connection with conversion of the defense enterprises orders from Minoborna also practically ceased to arrive and the plant appeared on the verge of extinction. But, despite this production of clockworks it was saved therefore the plant could resume release of aviation hours in the shortest possible time when it was required again. Today the plant is a supplier of the mechanical high-precision aviation clock for the Russian army. Aviation hours of production "Lightnings" complete the military MIG-29, TU-160 airplanes, the K-15, K-50, K-52 helicopters and others.

The plant makes also other mechanical high-precision devices of measurement of time capable to work in extreme climatic conditions and in aggressive environments. These devices are installed on the ships, command and control vehicles and communications vehicles. Today Lightning experiences the rebirth, a stage of financial rise and the serious investments: at the enterprise upgrade of technology equipment is actively carried out, production areas are expanded, internal business processes are improved, new products prepare for release.