Adolf Kittel Bremerhaven Geestmünde Chronometer Altersbestimmung - Sammler-Uhren

Adolf Kittel Bremerhaven Geestmünde Chronometer Age Determination

February 2, 2026

Adolf Kittel

Location: probably Bremerhaven / Geestemünde ; he is listed as a master watchmaker in regional directories of the early 20th century.

Active: approximately 1895 – 1935 .

Professionally, he can be classified like other North German watchmakers of that time (e.g. Lidecke, Koopmann, Ehrlich, Thie):

Kittel did not manufacture his own watch movements , but traded in Swiss movements (A. Schild, FHF, Rebberg/Aegler), assembled and regulated them in Northern Germany, and signed the dial or movement with "Adolf Kittel – Bremerhaven" or "A. Kittel".

Typical watches

Period	Features
1895 – 1910	Large pocket watches, silver case (800/900 hallmark), enamel dial, Swiss lever escapement (15 rubies).
1910 – 1925	Precision pocket watches, often with movement types Rebberg (Aegler) or A. Schild AS 340, 970 etc., Arabic numerals.
1925 – 1935	Early wristwatches, nickel cases, printed metal dials, caliber FHF 29 / AS 970 etc.
from 1935	Rare, possibly smaller post-war or remaining stocks.

In style, they closely resemble the clocks of other major German cities and ports (Hamburg, Bremen, Kiel).

Serial number and date

The serial number comes from the Swiss manufacturer of the movement , not from Kittel itself.
The time period can be placed quite accurately based on the known A. Schild / FHF series:

Serial number (approximately)	Caliber / Manufacturer	Year of construction (approx.)
150,000 – 300,000	Aegler (vineyard)	1900 – 1910
300,000 – 500,000	A. Schild / FHF	1910 – 1920
500,000 – 800,000	A. Schild (AS 340 – AS 970)	1920 – 1930
800,000 – 1,000,000	FHF 29 / AS 1130	1930 – 1940

Further dating aids based on external characteristics

feature	Chronological context
Enamel dial, Roman numerals	before 1915
Arabic numerals, fine lettering, steel hands	1910 – 1925
Luminous dial (radium)	from 1915
Metal dial with print	1925 – 1935
Silver case (hallmark 0.800 / 0.900 + crescent moon + crown)	typical before 1930
steel or nickel casing	after 1920
Engraving “15 Rubis” / “17 Jewels” / “Swiss Made”	1910–1935

German chronometer maker

Adolph Kittel was born on April 6 , 1846 , in Aurich and later settled in Altona/Hamburg. In 1878, he co-founded the Altona School of Watchmaking and taught there from then until 1888. Kittel published several technical books and articles. He also worked as a mechanic for the Hamburg Observatory. His chronometer designs were built without a fusee . He developed a new chronometer escapement, an auxiliary mechanism for temperature fluctuations, and, among other things, a free escapement for his pendulum clocks, as well as a barometer compensation attached to the pendulum to compensate for air pressure fluctuations.

He also supplied various astronomical pendulum clocks to German and foreign observatories. At the Hamburg Trade Exhibition in 1889, he exhibited an astronomical pendulum clock, which subsequently became the property of the Hamburg Observatory (Kittel No. 25). Kittel was listed at Humboldstraße 20 (now Willebrandstraße), although he had previously operated from various addresses.

In 1911, Kittel closed his workshop in Altona and, with Schorr's support, sold his remaining chronometers . The First World War and the subsequent recession so severely depleted his retirement savings that in October 1919, Kittel again sought employment for minor tasks at the Hamburg Observatory. His years of contact with Schorr proved ineffective, as the observatory was also experiencing layoffs. His application was rejected. In November 1919, Kittel moved from Altona to Aurich to be with his family. There, his financial and health situation deteriorated, and Kittel finally died in Aurich on October 4 , 1921 .