Moscow Watch Factory, First

(full name, the S. M. Kirov First Moscow Watch Factory), one of the largest enterprises of the watch industry in the USSR; it manufactures men’s wristwatches. Founded in 1930, it was named in honor of S. M. Kirov in 1935.

Between 1930 and 1940, the factory produced 2.4 million pocket watches. At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, it was evacuated to the city of Zlatoust. In 1942, the factory resumed production in Moscow, manufacturing watches for the armed forces at the front. Between 1946 and 1961 it produced watches with the brand name Pobeda.

In the 1970’s, the factory was remodeled; this greatly increased the level of mechanization and automation of production. A number of shops and sectors have been throughly mechanized; automatic equipment and automated production lines have been installed. In 1973, the factory produced more than 3 million Poljot [brand name] watches in 114 styles with various accessories. Part of the production is exported. In 1961, the factory received the title of Enterprise of Communist Labor. It was awarded the Order of Lenin in 1966.