Factory Birth
In June of 1941, as 3 million German soldiers
and 3,300 tanks crossed the Russian border, the Soviet Union
scrambled to move its factories to east. One of the plants
was relocated to Chistopol, a town on the Kama River in the
Republic of Tatarstan, nearly 500 miles east of Moscow. The
factory was renamed Vostok, meaning, because of its new location.
Defense equipment was the only company output
during war years, but as soon as the war was over Vostok started
making mechanical wrist watches – the main production item.
Because of their strong ties to wartime production, they landed
several contracts with the USSR’s Defense Department and Vostok
became one of the preeminent timepiece suppliers to the Soviet
military in 1965.
This year marks the creation of the world-famous
"Komandirskie" ("Commander") watch. Military
watch grew very popular even with people who were unaware
which end of the gun bullet comes off, mainly due to high
precision, excessive reliability and durability. The appearance
of the watch also contributes to its appeal - functional and
clear-cut design invoked the feeling of belonging to the tough
world of combat professional. Russian watches can be a perfect
gift for any person. They are famous for its quality and design.
Watch souvenir is an original and functional present.
Main events
1942
July 1, in Chistopol Glavpribor watch factory NK MV 835, created
on the basis of the Second Moscow watch factory and DOS factory,
has earned in full force, manufacturing produces for needs
of front.
1943
Release of a K-43 man's watch and instrument production are
begun. The machine-tool construction for watch manufacture
is organized.
1949
Serial release of a K-26 "Pobeda" man's watch, wall-mounted
ship clocks with a luminous dial, clocks for a/m "ZiM",
"Volga", "Pobeda", wall-mounted and street
industrial clocks are begun. On July, 1950 the factory has
started construction of own industrial buildings.
1952
The factory began release of "Kama" shock-proof
watches in water-proof case, clock devices for various branches
of a national economy.
1957
Release of precision watches: K-28 "East", "Mir",
"Volna", "Saturn", "Cosmos"
with lateral and central second hands, a lens and shock-proof
movement is mastered. Export of Chisopol watches has increased
in 7 times.
1962
Precision watch "Vostok" are awarded with the big
gold medal of the Leipzig international fair. "Komandirskie"
watches are developed and started in manufacture and Chistopol
watch factory became the official supplier of these watches
to the Ministry of Defence of the USSR.
1968
Release of "Amphibian" watches is mastered. Since
1969 all watch of a factory are manufactired under "Vostok"
trade mark, and the factory began to refer "Chistopol
watch factory "Vostok".
1972
Release of a new 24 calibres man's watch with a numerical
calendar, a double calendar, with automatic movement are begun.
Watches are exported to 54 countries of the world.
1976
Cosmonaut G.Grechko during visit on a factory thanks watch-makers
for release of qualitative products and gives to chistopol
watch makers the "Vostok" watch which has visited
the space.
1980
This year the factory issues the plenty of a watch - 4,5 million
pieces. All production only the first and supreme categories
of quality.
1986
Release of water-meters, tahografov accustoms, release of
manometers are begun. The factory passes in the Ministry of
the radioindustry. Chistopol faculty “Vostok” of Kazan Aircraft
University is opened.
1989
The factory passes to self-financing, in 1990 - on rent. The
assortment of watches is annually updated on 70%, release
of watches with custom-made symbolics is mastered. Export
of wathces increases.
1992
The factory passes under jurisdiction of Republic Tatarstan
and becomes Open Joint Stock company. Small enterprises on
manufacture of completing for watches are created. The big
parties of watches are exported to Italy, USA, Switzerland.
In USA the greatest popularity was received with "Desert
storm" watch.
2000
Vostok Watch Makers Inc. is the leader of the domestic watch
and clock industry on volumes of release and sales of a man's
watch. Release of the female watches, expensive, prestigious
man's watch, a quartz alarm clock are begun.
2001
The factory became the owner of "The Russian National
Olympus” the prestigious premium in a nomination "To
Technology. A science" and the winner of "The Russian
organization of high social efficiency" competition in
a branch nomination.
2003
The year 2003 was declared by Vostok’s authorities as a Year
of Movements. Vostok has improved its movement production
significantly. The factory developed several non-standard
movements which are already in great demand of watch connoiseurs.
There are now following modifications of automatic watches:
24-hour indication and date-calendar; two versions of day/night
indicator; “open-heart”; classical small seconds.
2004
The year 2004 was declared by Vostok as a Year of Marketing.
“Our customer is the main person for the factory”, - this
is the policy of Vostok. Vostok gold watches and jewellery
sets created in co-operation with Kazan jewellers have already
appeared on the market. It is a modern “Amphibian” with fashionable
elements, long lasting luminescence and a lens-glass. Americans
were very positive about this product, it sells there very
well.
|
