Russian watch industry

Refers to the "Photos Vostok 1943" The logo on the movement can be easily explained: The "2-nd state watch factory" - "(2-ой) Второй Государственный Часовой Завод", renamed to "2nd Moscow Watch Factory" - "(2-ой) Второй Московский Часовой Завод" after WWII and called Slava from 1958, was evacuated from Moscow to Chistopol at the end of 1941 to restart watch production there. (Chistopol is located about 800 km to the east of Moscow and it was a safe place for industry dislocation.) Thus Vostok - Russia`s biggest watch factory was born. Quite for sure the factory was not called Vostok at that time. From 1942 to 1964 the factory was called "Chistopol Watch Factory" - Чистопольский Часовой Завод - ЧЧЗ, in 1964 it got the name WOSTOK "Восток" and since 1995 the name has been written VOSTOK "Восток". What is occupying me is the movement itself. Here I would like to go back to the Russian (Soviet) watch history and find a connection to the movement. No doubt, quite a lot has been already written in the Forum Articles and corresponding links in the "Articles" category, however as I got interested in Russian watches I experienced lots of difficulties to collect information from various sources to make a clear picture for myself. I could not find " The complete story", so I combined facts in a rough way for me to make some things clear. If there are mistakes please help to correct them. Your remarks and corrections are very welcome! From numerous infomation sources I could find, partly text, facts and photo materials from the following links have been used below: http://www.horology.ru/articles/pobeda.htm http://people.timezone.com/msandler/Articles/DownesLip/Lip.html http://watchesz.free.fr/mfa/lip_au_pays_des_soviets.htm http://www.chronos-ev.de/ Part 1: From 1927-to WWII At the end of the twentieth (1927-1929) Russia (USSR) searched the ways to develop its own watch industry and bought two American watch factories: Dueber Hampton Watch & Co. and Ansonia Clock Company. In April 1930 The1st State watch Factory was founded on the grounds of the former tobacco factory "Zvezda" in Moscow. In May 1930 thirty american watchmakers and 50 wagonloads with machine tools and production facilities arrived in Russia. In Autumn 1930, dedicated to the 13th anniversary of the October Revolution the first 50 pocket watches were produced at The1st State watch Factory. The movement, resulteted from the Hampton-Dueber movement, was called TYPE 1 - "ТИП 1" and it and its modifications were produced from that time for dozens of years. In November the same year 1930 The 2nd State Watch Factory (later The second Moscow Watch Factory and then Slava) was founded in Moscow. Its production included wall clocks, alarm clocks and electrical time measuring devices. From 1935 the factory started production of pocket watches with TYPE 1 movements. In December 1935 The 1st State Watch Factory was named after the famous revolutioner Kirov (Sergej Mironovich Kirov) and the factory structure was changed in the way that it allowed production up to 450000 timepieces, mostly pocket watches. At the same time production of automobile and aircraft clocks began at the factory. The same year is known for the foundation of Pensenskij Watch Factory (later Zarja) in Pensa which, beginning from 1940, has produced watches for women. In the thirties ZIM "Factory named after Maslennikov" - "Завод Имени Масленникова" - ЗИМ (1923) in Kujbishev (now Samara), turned its production from military equipment to civil products, including watches. To my knowledge there were no other state watch factories at that time. If I am mistaken, please, correct me. What movements were used? 1. Hampton-Dueber - Type 1 2. LIP movements 3. Any other? The Dueber Hampton movements and its machinery were on the long hand without perspective for the development of the Soviet watch industry. In 1936 the USSR signed a contract with the French company LIP and began to buy LIP movements, watch parts and later their technology as well. The most known LIP calibers used in the Russian watch industry are: T-18 (tonneau) - Russian caliber T-18 "Zvezda"; from 1937-1938 ; from 1939 assembled in Pensa. How long was it produced?... R26 (wrist watch) - Russian caliber K-26(02) "Pobeda"; from 1946 to 1953 at the 1st Moscow Watch factory R43 (pocket watch) - Russian caliber K-43(02) "ZIM"; from 1937-1938; from 1939 produced in Kujbishev at ZIM. How long? R36 (Pocket watch) - Russian caliber K-36(02) later used by Saljut and Molnija, Cheljabinsk, from 1947. Now back to our movement.

	1. On the left is Hampton -Dueber movement. On the right is the movement " Vostok watch 1943 production", the movement is dated back to 1937 and has the logo of the "2nd State Watch Factory"
	2. On the left is caliber 2622???, never heard about 2622 with the logo of "Zlatoustovskij Watch Factory" - "ЗЧЗ" movement; On the right is our Vostok movement
	3. On the left is TYPE 1 with the linscription "1-ГОСЧАС*ЗАВОД" - "1st State Watch Factory" and the words Moscow, USSR. On the right is our "Vostok" movement
	4. On the left is K-43?.. On the right is our Vostok movement
So, I can draw just one conclusion - the last two 4. are nearly identical. What is occupying me - is it K-43 based on LIP43? is it modified Hampton-Dueber but not TYPE 1? Or is it nearly the same : LIP and Hampton-Dueber. Sorry about such an ignorant question but it is not clear to me. Can anybody tell exactly? Whould be great if the Russian experts could clarify that. Thanks a lot in advance. The Post War period - to be continued. If any of you has the wish to go on with the next part- WELCOME