Centra/ZentRa, updated 20.12.2019
Junghans
Above a CENTRA marked dial with a CENTRA marked J32 movement.
Above a Zentra/Junghans with a J38/1 marked movement.
Above a Zentra watch where only the dial is marked with the Zentra symbol, the movement is a J38 without extra Zentra markings.
Junghans delivered a lot of movements for the "Markenuhr G.m.b.H" Centra, later ZentRa - Uhrenhandelsgesellschaft. First deliveries took place in the summer 1925 and the first Centra pricelist is mentioned in the "Deutsche Uhrmacher-Zeitung" August 1925, Nr. 35 page 716. The total timeframe is not known and no serial numbers available. You will find these watches either with "Centra" or "ZentRa" writing on the dial or with "ZentRa" plus "Junghans". The once with only "Zentra" on the dial are most probably made after 1940. In the "Deutschen Uhrmacher-Zeitung" 1939, Nr. 31 page 451 you can find a note that on the anual convention 1939 it was decided to only use the brand name "ZentRa" on the dial in the future.
If you can help with some information, please let me know.
First appearance of the idea for a "Markenuhr"
Deutsche Uhrmacher-Zeitung, August 1924, Nr. 33 page 517
Brief von der Reichstagung der Uhrmacher in Hamburg
... Der Schaffung von Markenuhren des Zentralverbandes stehen die Fabrikanten grundsätzlich sympathisch gegenüber. Die Besprechung der Einzelheiten soll alsbald nach Beendigung der Reichstagung erfolgen. Herr Trawny erklärte zu dem Antrage 36 (Schaffung einer Einkaufsgenossenschaft), daß es sich hier nicht um eine Einkaufsgenossenschaft, sondern um eine Verkaufs - oder, noch richtiger ausgedrückt, Reklamegenossenschaft handle.....
List of the known Centra, ZentRa watches with Junghans movements.
dreived from Junghans movement
J32
J38 (only dial marked with the ZentRa trade mark and Junghans)
J38/1 (only dial marked with the ZentRa trade mark and Junghans)
J47G, 7 Jewels
J47G, 15 jewels
J49G
J29a, one picture found at page 79
"Military Timepieces" by Konrad Knirim
J33B
Centra/ZentRa movement
Movement marked with the Centra trade mark, no number
23
26
627
62
625
Dial marked with the Centra trade mark, no number
Movement marked with the Centra trade mark, no number
Deutsche Uhrmacher-Zeitung, August 1925, Nr. 35 page 716.
I assume that
#2 is the J32
#6 could be a J13
#8 could be a J15
Following a Centra with J32
Centra
Following a ZentRa 625 which is a J49G
Zentra 625
Following a ZentRa 627 which is based on the J47G (J47a with new click spring)
Zentra 627
Following a ZentRa 62 which is based on the J47G (J47b with new click spring)
Lower left Zentra 62 picture courtesy of Ronald Ranfft
Well, there have been Centra watches with a J33b movement obviously! No documentation known about this.
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