Elton Prim Age Determination
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Origin and background
| feature | information |
|---|---|
| Name: | Elton Watches / Elton Hodinky |
| Factory: | Czech factory in Nové Město nad Metují |
| Founding: | ca. 1949 / 1950 (under the state industrial association Chronotechna ) |
| Own brand: | PRIM , introduced in 1954; “ELTON” remained the manufacturer's or factory name. |
| Separation: | From 1969, Elton-Stichu or Elton hodinářská vlastní worked on product lines |
| Today: | Elton hodinářská as , manufacturer of the “PRIM Manufacture 1949” watches. |
👉 In short:
“ELTON” was (and is) the name of the factory and plant .
“PRIM” is the brand name of the watches – for example:
“PRIM – Elton Nové Město nad Metují”
Typical eras and series
| Period | Model/Work Families | Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1954 – 1960 | Caliber 50 / 52 / 55 | First in-house manufactured movement (hand-wound), small seconds, no shock protection |
| 1960 – 1965 | Cal. 66 / 68 “PRIM Standard” | 15 jewels, centered seconds, KIF shock protection, serial number ≤ 250,000 |
| 1965 – 1975 | Cal. 68.4, 68.5, 68.6, 70 series | Screw-on bases, plastic bearings, serial numbers 250,000–600,000 |
| 1975 – 1989 | Caliber 68 L, 75, 96 (automatic) | more robust mechanisms, Incabloc-like shock protection |
| from 1990 | New production Elton Manufaktura | Luxury editions, signature “PRIM Manufacture 1949 by Elton” – separate serial numbers |
Serial numbers and dating
Early models (1950s–1970s) bear numbers engraved under the balance cock or on the mainplate. These numbers allow for a rough classification of production into 5-year increments:
| Work number range | Construction time approx. | remark |
|---|---|---|
| < 010 000 | 1954 – 1959 | Cal. 50–52, first PRIM series |
| 010 000 – 080 000 | 1959 – 1963 | Cal. 55/66, improved regulation |
| 080 000 – 250 000 | 1963 – 1968 | Cal. 66/68, widely used, PRIM Standard |
| 250,000 – 600,000 | 1968 – 1975 | Cal. 68.4‑68.6, shock protection “Kif Duofix” |
| 600,000 – 900,000 | 1975 – 1989 | Cal. 68 L / 75 / 96 (automatic version 070-96) |
| > 900,000 | after 1990 | Post-socialist ELTON new productions |
Features for visual dating
| feature | Time allocated |
|---|---|
| Brass-colored circuit boards without shock protection | 1950s |
| Silver-colored circuit board + road wheel shock protection | from 1962 |
| “PRIM Czechoslovakia” logo | until 1993 |
| “PRIM Czech made Elton” / “Manufacture 1949” | from 1995 |
| Plastic ring in the factory (holder) | Typical from 1968 onwards for 68.4–68.6 |
| Automatic rotor with Elton embossing | from caliber 96 (1976) |
Types of works (selection)
| caliber | Years | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 50 / 52 | 1954–1959 | Manufacture hand-wound movement, small seconds at 6 o'clock |
| 55 | 1959–1962 | Improved version, 15 jewels |
| 66 / 68 | 1963–1970 | Central second hand, shock protection |
| 68.4 / 68.5 / 68.6 | 1970–1976 | Shockproof, 25 mm movement diameter |
| 75 (L) | 1975–1985 | Automatic, central rotor |
| 96 | 1977–1989 | Automatic, date display |
Summary
| orientation | Period |
|---|---|
| Plant < 80,000 | 1950s (early phase) |
| Plant 80,000 – 250,000 | 1960–1968 (66/68) |
| Plant 250,000 – 600,000 | 1968–1975 (68.4–68.6) |
| Plant 600,000 – 900,000 | 1975–1989 (Automatic 75/96) |
| Plant > 900,000 | after 1990 “Elton hodinářská” (modern times) |
Story
In 1949, a branch of the manufacturer of wall clocks and alarm clocks , Chronotechna, was opened in Nové Město nad Metují, where wristwatches were produced under the brand name Prim.
From 1952 to 1954, Chronotechna manufactured escapements for kitchen and table clocks. From 1953 to 1990, aircraft cockpit clocks were produced for the Czechoslovak Army.
The first Czechoslovakian wristwatches were equipped in 1954 with the Prim 50 movement, which was based on the French LIP R-25 caliber. The first models bore the brand name Spartak until 1958 , after which they were called Prim .
The magazine FEINMECHANIK UND OPTIK from June 1958 states: "The state-owned company Chronotechna in Nove Mesto has started producing wristwatches. The first pieces of a 15-jewel men's watch, brand "PRIM", have already appeared on the market. Production, which will reach 15,000 pieces in 1958, is expected to increase to 55,000 pieces in 1959."
In the mid-1960s, development began on the Prim 66 caliber , which is based on the Swiss ETA 1080 caliber.
Since 1968, the Prim 50 caliber with steel case, black dial, luminous hands and rotating bezel has also been manufactured for the Czechoslovak army under the brand name "Orlík".
In 1969, the company became independent and was named ELTON. Also in 1969, about a dozen prototypes of a tuning fork mechanism, called Elton, with a diameter of 28 mm and a frequency of 360 Hz, were produced.
In 1970 , a new factory was built, where the company is still headquartered today. In addition to official production, military equipment was manufactured, such as parts for artillery ammunition fuse systems, parts for optical sights for tanks, etc.
From 1982 onwards, the company also manufactured its own quartz movements for wristwatches, as well as quartz movements for wall and table clocks.
In 1990 the factory was privatized and produces watches under the name Elton Hodinářská AG under the brand PRIM or the registered trademark “Manufacture PRIM 1949”.
Source: Wikipedia, AI
