It all started when the 24 year old tradesman Jakob Kienzle married into the Schlenker family and became a shareholder in the family business, which from then on was called “Schlenker und Kienzle”. They start producing clocks that contain massive 14-day regulator clockworks under the brand name “Fluegelrad”. The number of employees quickly climbs over 60!
With Jakob Kienzle an incredible success story begins. This traditional watch manufactory is constantly expanding, even today. The industrial serial production of watches began in 1894, when Kienzle introduced the mechanised production of low priced watches. At this point the company already employs over 400 workers. The scope of production continued to grow and when his brother-in-law pulled out of the company, Kienzle become soul owner. A couple of years later over 600 workers produced almost half a million watches and clocks every year and the production of table-top clocks, fantasy alarm clocks, year clocks, car clocks and precision instruments is introduced.
In 1922 the Kinzle KG successfully floats its shares on the stock market. Jakob Kienzle dies in 1935, but the production and expansion continues. In 1939 over 3500 workers produce over 5 million watches and clocks every year. After a production stop, due to the second world war, Kienzle starts producing their first battery powered watches in 1956, which soon become some of the most sold watches in Germany. The first solar powered watch “Heliomat” is also introduced.
In 1973 Kienzle produces their first quart watch, and only two years later the 25-millionth “Kaliber 051” wristwatch is produced. 1975 Kinzle was the first German company to produce quartz-LED-watches. Then in 1999 the company was bought up by Asian manufacturers and the production was transferred to south-east Asia, where drives, clocks and watches are produced until today.