I have been offered a chronometer No 5397 apparently 1950 ish. There is very little information on this maker and I have no idea how to place a value on it with so little on-line inf. Suprising really as they must have been a prolific manufacturer. All my chronometers are English pre 1900's so a bit lost on this one.

Lange and Sohne is a large and well known timepiece maker in Germany that began around 1845 and is still going strong as ever, though there was a break from the end of WW 2 until about 1990 due to the factory being bombed during the war then expropriated immediately afterward when the allies divided up the country. They got things going again in 1990 after German reunification made it possible. Here is a link to their website: Lange and Sohne Website

Your chronometer does not appear to have any military markings on the dial. Are there any on the back or on the movement or on the data plate on the box? Going on the little that is seen in the one photo you have provided it appears to be a civilian model.

I'm not a chronometer expert so hopefully some of the others here who are might be able to tell you about this one. You might also try contacting the company to ask them if they have records on this one.

Thanks Jim, I know that it has no military history or other markings. I gether it belonged to a ship named Angel from the 1970's period, so was just on a normal merchant ship. here are a couple more photographs for informaion

A further detail photograph

Greetings Ian,

I have 5082, which is a bit earlier than yours. From what I see, the you look like you'll have yourself a pretty nice piece. I believe that your serial number is just right before the end of the war, although this does not mean it was military, it could have been merchant since its delivery. especially given that there are no other markings on it and the mentioned history.

Do you have any pictures of the movement that you can share? Is it running? Is the rate steady?

I'm not sure that the forum allows us to provide values on this. But here is what I do know, in general terms. From a collectors market, these are not as valuable as say an old English Frodsham chronometers, they are more likely on par with war-era Hamiltons. I believe that the reputation for A Lagne & Sohne may have been hurt in the chronometer collectors market due to the number of "junk" pieces coming out of the former Soviet Union countries. Most have been very cautious with these, as they find that they have had horrific repairs done to them to classify them as running.

I certainly don't think that this is your situation, as you seem to have a reputable source and there is some type of known service history. If she was used on a vessel up until sometimes in the 70's, she's gotten good service until the removal from service (based on my experience as a merchant officer). From that point on, who knows. Best thing might be that she has been in a collection somewhere.

If you do procure this one, I'd really have a chronometer expert service this thing, please don't send it to a normal watchmaker, search out a specialist, they'll provide the best service and knowledge. Best of luck.

Michael

quote:

though there was a break from the end of WW 2 until about 1990 due to the factory being bombed during the war then expropriated immediately afterward when the allies divided up the country. They got things going again in 1990 after German reunification made it possible.

Not quite true Jim, The lange "Einheitschronometer" were made during the "cold war" by the then renamed "VEB Glashütte", which was non other than Lange & Söhne. After reunification the old name was taken up again.
The last VEB produced ships chronometer was this one; VEB

The Chronometer with the number 5396 was delivered on the 30 October 1944...So use your imagination as to when the number 5397 was delivered.
All of these chronometers were ordered with seperate baseplates, engraved with swastika and M numbers.

quote:

... although this does not mean it was military it could have been merchant since its delivery. especially given that there are no other markings on it and the mentioned history.

Michael, I doubt that Lange even had the capacity to produce enough for the German Military Navy, let alone for the Merchant Navy!
Here are a few links with a translator above...

Lange Kal. 100

Ankerchronometer Kaliber 100

Lange & Söhne

Ian, have you got a picture of the movement?

Werner,

Many thanks for the links and information, this was absolutely great! Where did you get the sales order shown above? Can you get one for 5082?

Ian: If you take the screw off the base plate (as shown above), you might just find that the base plate has been installed upside down, as this was sometime done to hide the M number and swastika. This is how my 5082 was exported. Other than that particular marking, my unit had no other military identifying marks.

Michael

Michael, the form above was the dispach order form, the original Order for the chronometers was sent on the 19.05.1943 as stated, and deliverd 30.10.1944 to the Deutsche Seewart (Kriegsmarine)branch office in Gesundbrunnen .
You can get the same, if yours was delivered to the German Navy by getting in touch with the Lange/Glashütte museum. Mr Reichel the director is a very nice fellow, he will help if he can, he´s helped me more than once in the past on my Lange & Söhne watches
Deutsches Uhrenmuseum Glashütte

Reinhard Reichel
Direktor Deutsches Uhrenmuseum Glashütte
Tel: +49 (0) 35053 46 281
E-Mail: reinhard.reichel@uhrenmuseum-glashuette.com

you will have to apply for an extract from the archives and a certificate of authenticity.

If I remember it rightly, it would cost you Ca.70€

Thank you everyone for such detailed information regarding the Lange & Sohne No 5397. The chronometer is still in Italy and the present owner has no idea how to remove the movement, but states that it is working. I bought a Victor Kullberg from his son under similar, unseen circumstances and it was a a beauty. The Grandfather, now sadly dead, was a watch & clock maker, both in Italy and in New York, so I reckon he has had some input on both these chronometers in the past.
There are no stamp maks on the base and it does not look as though the cover has been reversed. Will have to degotiate from a distance and hope for the best. Thanks again everyone.

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and the present owner has no idea how to remove the movement,

Ian, thats bull****, I dont believe the present owner can´t unscrew the front glass/bezel and turn the brass bowl upsidedown.If he can turn it over to wind it up to see if its still going, then he can remove the movement. Thats all it takes to open it and remove the movement for a picture. I have my feelings that it´s for another reason he can´t open it!

Regards

I understand your comments, but I remember taking out my first chronometer from its bowl with trepidation. It wasn't easy. I also know what can happen if things go wrong - fingers & thumbs and all that. I think I would prefer it stays safe in its bowl for the time being.

I wouldn´t buy that chrono without better pictures of the dial, case and movement, and certainly not from Italy!!!

But, it´s your party!