Laco Uhrenmanufaktur
Laco Uhrenmanufaktur is a German watch manufacturer from Pforzheim known especially for mechanical pilot watches and its historical connection with observation watches made to Luftwaffe specifications.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Laco Uhrenmanufaktur GmbH is a German watch manufacturer based in Pforzheim, the traditional centre of Germany's watch and jewellery industry. The company was founded in 1925 by Frieda Lacher and Ludwig Hummel under the name Lacher & Co, from which the Laco name was derived. Its early development took place in an industrial environment in which Pforzheim manufacturers frequently relied on Swiss movements and components. The founders later separated their business activities: Hummel continued with Laco, while Lacher moved into the manufacture of precision parts for wristwatches. A major stage in Laco's development began when Hummel founded Durowe, or Deutsche Uhren Roh Werke, in Pforzheim in 1933. Durowe was intended to reduce dependence on Swiss suppliers by producing watch movements domestically. Erich Lacher joined the business in 1936 and took on management responsibilities, after which the company resumed the production of complete watches. Before the Second World War, production expanded substantially. Durowe produced mechanical movements in both round and non-round formats and also supplied raw movements to other watch companies. Monthly movement output rose from approximately 20,000 to approximately 30,000 units during the period of expansion. Laco and Durowe were heavily affected by the destruction of Pforzheim during Allied air raids. Operations resumed in 1949, supported in part by post-war reconstruction assistance associated with the Marshall Plan. A new factory complex was built and subsequently enlarged. The company returned to growth through manual-winding and automatic movements, with automatic production beginning in 1952. By the middle of the 1950s, the factory employed roughly 1,400 people. Laco's Sport model used Durowe's first automatic movement, the Duromat calibre 552. In 1957, the company developed the manually wound chronometer calibre 630. Ownership and technology changed repeatedly in the following decades. Ludwig Hummel sold the company to Timex Group USA on 1 February 1959. Laco subsequently entered the electric-watch field, launching the Laco-electric in 1961. Timex sold Laco-Durowe to the Swiss company Ebauches S.A. in 1965. Durowe continued making mechanical movements during the following decade, but the business faced intensifying pressure in the 1970s from Japanese quartz watches and the broader transformation of the watch industry. The Laco name was reintroduced during the 1980s. On 8 September 1988, executive manager Horst Günther acquired the rights to the Laco name and logo, helping re-establish the brand as a distinct commercial identity. From 2000 onward, the company increasingly drew on its historical pilot-watch designs. A limited-edition series based on 1940s-era designs appeared in 2000, followed by an updated mechanical pilot-watch series in 2003 featuring decorative finishing such as Geneva stripes. Laco declared insolvency on 30 June 2009. After a short period under Kienzle Uhren, the business was restructured in 2010 with eight employees. In its post-restructuring form, Laco has concentrated primarily on pilot watches and on presenting historically informed German mechanical watch designs to contemporary customers. Its identity rests on the combination of Pforzheim manufacturing heritage, German-made or German-associated movement history, aviation-inspired dial layouts, and accessible mechanical watchmaking. The brand's historical association with B-Uhren, or observation watches produced during the Second World War to specifications defined by the Reichsluftfahrtministerium, remains central to its contemporary positioning, although the modern company primarily sells watches inspired by those historical forms rather than serving the original military procurement system.
History
Laco Uhrenmanufaktur traces its origins to 1925, when Frieda Lacher and Ludwig Hummel founded Lacher & Co in Pforzheim. The company's name was later shortened to Laco, combining the opening of Lacher's surname with an abbreviation of company. Its founding coincided with the growth of Pforzheim as a German watchmaking and component-production centre, although many local manufacturers relied on Swiss movements. The founders eventually pursued separate commercial paths. Hummel remained associated with Laco, while Lacher moved toward the production of precision parts for wristwatches. Hummel established Durowe, short for Deutsche Uhren Roh Werke, in 1933. The new movement operation sought to strengthen domestic production and limit reliance on imported Swiss ébauches. Erich Lacher joined in 1936 and assumed management responsibilities. Laco and Durowe subsequently returned to the manufacture of complete watches as well as movements. The pre-war business expanded its industrial capacity and supplied movements beyond its own watch brand. Monthly production reportedly grew from about 20,000 to 30,000 movements. The catalogue included mechanical calibres in round and non-round forms. During the Second World War, Laco became one of five manufacturers associated with the production of B-Uhren observation watches made to specifications set by the Reichsluftfahrtministerium. The other named manufacturers were A. Lange & Söhne, Stowa, Wempe and IWC. These watches were large, highly legible instruments using pocket-watch-derived movements and were intended for aviation navigation and observation. Pforzheim suffered extensive destruction in Allied air raids, disrupting Laco and Durowe. The companies resumed activity in 1949. Reconstruction support connected with the Marshall Plan helped enable the construction of a new factory complex, which was later expanded. Post-war growth was supported by Durowe manual-winding and automatic movements. Automatic production began in 1952, and the Laco Sport model used the first automatic movement produced by Durowe, the Duromat calibre 552. In 1957, Laco developed the manually wound chronometer calibre 630. By the mid-1950s, the factory employed approximately 1,400 workers. The company changed ownership in the second half of the twentieth century. Ludwig Hummel sold Laco to Timex Group USA on 1 February 1959. Laco later experimented with electronic technology, and the Laco-electric entered the market in 1961. Timex sold Laco-Durowe to Ebauches S.A. in 1965. Durowe continued mechanical movement production during the next decade, but Japanese quartz watches intensified competitive pressure during the 1970s. This contributed to the decline of traditional mechanical-watch production across the industry. During the 1980s, the Laco brand name was brought back into use. On 8 September 1988, executive manager Horst Günther acquired the rights to the Laco name and logo. The brand subsequently developed a stronger identity around its historical German and aviation associations. In 2000, Laco released a limited-edition pilot-watch series inspired by designs from the 1940s. In 2003, it introduced an updated pilot-watch range using mechanical movements and decorative finishing methods including Geneva stripes. Laco declared insolvency on 30 June 2009. After a brief period under Kienzle Uhren, the business was restructured in 2010 with eight employees. The reorganized company focused mainly on pilot watches, using historical observation-watch forms as the basis for modern mechanical wristwatches. This focus has allowed Laco to maintain a recognizable position within the German watch sector: it is less defined by broad luxury diversification than by aviation-inspired design, mechanical movements, and the preservation and reinterpretation of Pforzheim watchmaking history.
- 2010
Restructuring
[1]Following a short period under Kienzle Uhren, Laco is reorganized with eight employees and concentrates primarily on pilot watches.
- 2009
Insolvency
[1]Laco declares insolvency on 30 June.
- 2003
Updated mechanical pilot-watch series
[1]The company introduces an updated pilot-watch line using mechanical movements and decorative finishing including Geneva stripes.
- 2000
Historical pilot-watch limited edition
[1]Laco releases a limited-edition pilot-watch series drawing on 1940s designs.
- 1988
Rights to the Laco name are acquired
[1]On 8 September, executive manager Horst Günther acquires the rights to the Laco name and logo.
- 1965
Laco-Durowe is sold to Ebauches S.A.
[1]Timex sells Laco-Durowe to the Swiss company Ebauches S.A.
- 1961
Laco-electric reaches the market
[1]The company enters electric-watch technology with the launch of the Laco-electric.
- 1959
Timex acquires Laco
[1]On 1 February, Ludwig Hummel sells the company to Timex Group USA.
- 1957
Calibre 630 is developed
[1]Laco develops the manually wound calibre 630, described as a chronometer movement.
- 1952
Durowe begins automatic movement production
[1]Durowe starts producing automatic movements, including the Duromat calibre 552 used in the Laco Sport model.
Products and positioning
A historically rooted German mechanical-watch brand focused primarily on pilot and observation-watch designs, combining Pforzheim watchmaking heritage with aviation-inspired aesthetics and contemporary reinterpretations of archival models.
Automatic mechanical watch · 1952
Laco Sport
The Laco Sport is associated with the early post-war expansion of Durowe automatic movement production. Beginning in 1952, the model used the Duromat calibre 552, identified as the first automatic movement produced by Durowe. It represents the company's transition from primarily manual-winding mechanical production toward automatic watches.
Mechanical pilot watch
Laco Pilot Watches
Laco's principal modern product family consists of mechanical pilot watches based on the large, highly legible forms associated with historical observation watches. The designs draw on the company's documented participation in producing B-Uhren during the Second World War while adapting the visual language for contemporary wristwatches.
Limited-edition pilot watch · 2000
Laco 1940s-inspired limited editions
Introduced in 2000, this limited-edition series reinterpreted pilot-watch designs from the 1940s. The collection formed part of Laco's effort to reconnect its contemporary commercial identity with its historical aviation-watch heritage.
Mechanical pilot watch · 2003
Updated mechanical pilot-watch series
Laco introduced an updated pilot-watch series in 2003. The watches used mechanical movements and included decorative finishing techniques such as Geneva stripes, combining historical pilot-watch styling with more contemporary presentation and movement decoration.
Historical military observation watch
B-Uhren observation watches
During the Second World War, Laco was one of five manufacturers identified with the production of B-Uhren observation watches made to specifications set by the Reichsluftfahrtministerium. These watches used pocket-watch movements and emphasized large cases, precise timekeeping, and exceptional legibility for aviation use.
Brand decisions
2010
Post-insolvency restructuring around pilot watchesStrategyBackground
Laco entered insolvency in 2009 and briefly operated under Kienzle Uhren before being reorganized.
Action taken
The company was restructured with eight employees and focused primarily on pilot-watch models.
Aftermath
The smaller business preserved Laco as a specialized mechanical-watch brand centered on aviation-inspired designs.
2003
Expansion of the mechanical pilot-watch rangeProduct launchBackground
Following the historical limited edition, Laco continued to develop watches that connected archival aviation forms with contemporary mechanical-watch production.
Action taken
Laco introduced an updated pilot-watch series using mechanical movements and decorative finishing such as Geneva stripes.
Aftermath
The move reinforced pilot watches as the brand's principal modern category.
2000
Reintroduction of historical pilot-watch design languageProduct launchBackground
Laco sought to build a renewed brand identity around its historical role in aviation and observation watches.
Action taken
The company released a limited-edition pilot-watch series based on 1940s-era designs.
Aftermath
The series helped establish historical pilot watches as a central element of Laco's modern product strategy.
1961
Launch of the Laco-electricProduct launchBackground
The company explored electric-watch technology during a period when electronic alternatives to traditional mechanical watches were emerging.
Action taken
Laco brought the Laco-electric to market.
Aftermath
The launch marked a technological diversification before the later decline of mechanical movement production under pressure from quartz competition.
1959
Sale to Timex Group USAM&ABackground
After decades of development under Ludwig Hummel and the Laco-Durowe structure, the company entered a new ownership phase as the watch industry became increasingly international.
Action taken
Ludwig Hummel sold Laco to Timex Group USA on 1 February 1959.
Aftermath
Laco later expanded into electric-watch technology and was subsequently sold by Timex to Ebauches S.A.
Recent events
- 2010
Laco is restructured with a small workforce[1]
Other
Following a short period under Kienzle Uhren, Laco was reorganized with eight employees and refocused primarily on pilot-watch models.
- 2009
Laco declares insolvency[1]
Bankruptcy
Laco entered insolvency proceedings on 30 June 2009, marking a major break in the modern history of the watch manufacturer.
Sources1 sources
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