Happenings: Glashtte Original's Ulrike Kranz To Lecture At The Horological Society Of New York

April 24, 2017

For its May meeting, the Horological Society of New York will welcome a special guest from Germany, Ulrike Kranz. Kranz will lecture on the history of the German Marine Chronometer, a topic she is very familiar with after her time working at the German Watch Museum and her position today at Glashtte Original. In addition to the lecture itself, a selection of historic timepieces from the German Watch Museum will also be on display. With the founding of the German Empire in 1871 and growing interest in international trade, the German Navy became more and more important to the German government. To reduce reliance on English imports (including the well-known English marine chronometers), significant support was provided to encourage the production of marine chronometers in Germany. In 1886 the first marine chronometers from Glashtte were sent to the German Naval Observatory in Hamburg for testing. In the following years, numerous innovations and technical improvements brought international attention to marine chronometers manufactured in Glashtte. After World War II, Germany was divided, but the production of chronometers in Glashtte continued. The state-owned company VEB Glashtter Uhrenbetriebe took up the tradition and manufactured a large number of both mechanical and quartz marine chronometers. These were deployed primarily on GDR ships but also exported worldwide. Although today navigation at sea is performed around the world using GPS, Glashtte in Saxony remains a significant location for the production of marine chronometers and observation watches. Following the reunification of Germany, the Glashtte astronomical observatory was restored. Today it houses a chronometer testing facility, which also officially certifies the chronometers made by Glashtte Original C the legal successor of the VEB Glashtter Uhrenbetriebe. About Ulrike Kranz Ulrike Kranze, Glashtte Original Ulrike Kranz is the head of Corporate Communications for Glashtte Original. Previously, Kranz worked at the German Watch Museum in Glashtte. She holds a MSc in Ethics & Corporate Governance from the University of London and a B.A. from the University of Greenwich.All HSNY lectures are free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:00 PM; lecture begins promptly at 7:00 PM. For more information, visit HSNY's website.Monday, May 1, 2017, 6:00-9:00 PMHSNY at the General Society Library, 20 West 44th Street, between 5th & 6th Avenues, New York, NY 10036HODINKEE is a sponsor of the Horological Society of New York.