In this article we will discuss Longines Wittnauer. Although many other watch manufacturers, namely, Breitling and LeCoultre, were also pioneers in the air-sea navigational involved in the design and production of so many different types of navigational timepieces and been involved in so many history-making expeditions as Longines. Longines created more than 100 special timepieces of air and sea navigation.
Longines was also the first to make scientific study of sport timing-making watches for sport, timing since 1878. Longines was testing the idea of electrically actuated watches for sporting events as early as 1905.
Electric timing apparatus with Longines split chronograph attached to it.
Longines has indeed been the constant companion and friend-in-need for many of our great pioneer aviators. Today, with radar, satellites, and may other electronic navigational aids, timepieces per se are not of such importance as they were prior to and during World War II. Before these developments, a good chronometer of watch was nearly a life or death matter to those who navigated the vast unknowns on land, sea, and in the air.
The various timepieces covered in this article, may have been created with one specific purpose in mind, while others were designed to perform several navigational of flight functions. The instrument may have been designed to be used by the navigator when making his celestial observations; however, because it was a time-measuring device with hands and dial, the pilot could also use this same piece to calculate gasoline consumption, ground speed, load lilting capacity, etc.
In 1866, Albert Charles Wittnauer, a man well versed in the science of horology, introduced to America the famous line Longines watches. The Longines Company first set up business in a modest little office at 24 John Street, New York City, in 1866. Six times, in 1871, 1877, 1889, 1908, and finally 1928, the ever-expanding business had to move to larger quarters. Because of the growth, Albert brought in his two brothers, Louis M., and later Emile J. Wittnauer, who subsequently took over the management of the firm upon the untimely death of its founder, Albert C., in 1908.
