The first East German electric watch was the UMF 25, manufactured by 'VEB Klement
Gottwald Uhren und Machinen-Fabrik Ruhla' in Th/ringen, East Germany. The abbreviation
'VEB' stands for 'Volkseigener Betrieb', indicating that the factory belonged to the people of East Germany.
The factory produced a system with a coil on the balance wheel and a fixed magnet, very
similar to the Hamilton 505.
| 1-9-1963 | The UMF 25 electric also called 'Champion Electric' is shown for the first time at the Leipzig Autumn Fair in Germany. |
| 1964 | UMF 25 goes on sale in Germany. |
| 1967 | The production of the UMF 25 stops. |
| 1967-1973 | Production of the UMF 26-12. |
| 1969-1973 | Production of the UMF 26-09. |
The following movements made by UMF Ruhla can be found:
|
UMF 25/10 without a seconds-hand. UMF 25/12, 25/80 and 25/82 with a seconds-hand. Both movements have a frequency of 2.5 Hz. The UMF 25 was also produced in a version with light. UMF 26-12 and UMF 26-09 with a frequency of 4 Hz. |
Models 25 and 26 are very similar. Some parts are interchangeable.
The watch was sold under the following names: 'Champion Electric', 'Icarus Electric', 'Unilectric', 'Targa Electric', 'Ermi', 'Gsell', 'Lafayette' and 'Croton'.
