Ehrlich Chronometer Bremerhaven Age Determination
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Who was "Ehrlich, Bremerhaven"?
Ehrlich was a master watchmaker or watch shop in Bremerhaven , active around 1890 – 1940 .
In old address books he appears as "Ehrlich - Watchmaker / Jeweler, Bremerhaven"
on.
Like many North German watchmakers (e.g. Lidecke – Geestemünde, Koopmann – Bremen, Thie – Kiel), he did not work as a manufacturer , but as a dealer and regulator :
He sourced high-quality Swiss movements (Ébauches) – mostly from Aegler, A. Schild (AS), FHF or Unitas – and assembled or regulated them under his own name.
Signatures on dials or movements read:
"Ehrlich – Bremerhaven"
or simply "Ehrlich Bremerhaven" in cursive or block capitals
Types of watches
| Period | Typical watches |
|---|---|
| 1895 – 1910 | Pocket watches with enamel dial, 800/900 silver, Swiss lever escapement movements |
| 1910 – 1925 | Precision pocket watches, 15-17 jewels, caliber (Rebberg / Aegler / AS) |
| 1925 – 1935 | Wristwatches, printed metal dials, nickel or steel cases |
| 1935 – 1940 | Late hand-wound watches with AS 1130 ("Wehrmacht movement") or FHF calibers |
Bremerhaven was a port and naval location; therefore , naval or observation watches with this signature can sometimes be found.
Serial numbers and approximate dating
Since Ehrlich was not a manufacturer in its own right, the number refers to the respective Swiss factory . It can still serve as a time frame, however.
| Serial number (approximately) | Caliber or factory assignment | Time range |
|---|---|---|
| 150,000 – 300,000 | Aegler (vineyard) | 1900 – 1910 |
| 300,000 – 500,000 | Aegler / A. Schild (AS 340 or 680) | 1910 – 1920 |
| 500,000 – 800,000 | A. Schild / FHF | 1920 – 1930 |
| 800,000 – 1,100,000 | A. Schild AS 970, 1130 etc. | 1930 – 1940 |
Stylistic features for dating
| feature | Chronological context |
|---|---|
| Enamel dial with Roman numerals | before 1915 |
| Arabic numerals, elegant script | 1910 – 1925 |
| Luminous numerals (radium) | from 1915 |
| Metal dial, printed inscription “Swiss Made” | from 1925 |
| Silver 800/900 case with crescent moon and crown | until about 1930 |
| Nickel/steel housing | after 1925 |
| Engraving “15 Rubis” or “17 Jewels” | 1910 – 1935 |
Ehrlich, Wilhelm Gustav ( 1839 - 1894 )
German chronometer maker in Bremerhaven
He primarily manufactured ship and marine chronometers , or completed them based on English and Glashütte chronometer movements.
Source: WatchWiki, KI, Konrad Knirim
