https://bellatory.com/fashion-accessories/Review-of-the-TUW-Ruhla-1892-Automatik

While Thüringer Uhren Werke (TUW) Ruhla is fairly new on the scene, they are based in the heartland of German Horology.

In 1862, Georg and Christian Thiel founded a metal factory in Ruhla, manufacturing products such as door hinges and pipe fittings. Gebruder Thiel GmbH proved to be successful, enabling the company to expand.

A children’s clock they created became very popular in England and the USA. In the early 1890s, Gebruder Thiel moved on to pocket watches and, in 1908, wristwatches. Over time, this company developed a reputation for manufacturing solid and reliable timepieces at a reasonable price.

After World War Two, the USSR assumed management of Eastern Germany. Although much of its equipment was expropriated as war reparations, this company continued to perform well. In 1952, it was nationalized and renamed Uhren und Maschinenfabrik Ruhla. A few years later, watch manufacturers Ruhla, Glasshutte, and Weimar were merged into VEB Uhrenkombinat Ruhla.

In 1974, Ruhla invented the first fully automatic assembly line for the assembly of the basic gear-work of a mechanical watch. This system used magnetism and gravity to place tiny gears into exactly the proper position inside each individual case.

By the late 1980s, Ruhla began to experience difficulties. Western buyers demanded greater variety and frequent product changes. This required investments in additional machinery that the company could not afford.

Ruhla was relatively top-heavy. Of 77,000 workers, one-third were either management or support personnel, such as doctors, optometrists, and garbagemen. As sales faltered, expenses could not be reduced.

In 1991, shortly after the reunification of Germany, Ruhla failed. The remains of this company were split into several private companies. One of these—Gardé watches and precision mechanics Ruhla GmbH—remains in operation, and their timepieces can be found on eBay and Amazon.