{{Short description|Swedish high-end watch manufacturer}} {{for|the botanist|Josef Jakob Halda}}
{{Infobox company | name = Halda Watch Company | logo = Halda_Watches_Logo_Aug_2021.png | logo_caption = | logo_alt = Halda logo | type = | industry = Watches | predecessor = <!-- or: | predecessors = --> | founded = {{Start date and age|1887}} in Svängsta, Sweden--> | founder = Henning Hammarlund | defunct = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | fate = | successor = Mikael Sandström | hq_location_city = | hq_location_country = | area_served = <!-- or: | areas_served = --> | key_people = | products = | owner = <!-- or: | owners = --> | num_employees = | num_employees_year = <!-- Year of num_employees data (if known) --> | parent = | website = {{URL|https://www.haldasweden.com/}} }}
thumb|Halda typewriter '''Halda Watch Company''' is a Swedish manufacturer of high-end watches. It was founded in 1887 by Henning Hammarlund in Svängsta in far southern Sweden.<ref>{{cite book|title=Halda: en svensk fickurfabrik|year=1987|author1=Sven Sandström |author2=Sture Carlsson|author3=Staffan Sjunnesson|editor=Stefan Sahlén|language=Swedish |location=Stockholm |publisher=Sveriges urmakareförb|id=LIBRIS-ID:730257}}</ref>
== History == Halda was founded in 1887 by the factory owner Henning Hammarlund (1857-1922) in order to primarily produce pocket watches.<ref name=":0" /> Its name is formed by a contraction of the founder's surname -'''Ha'''mmar'''l'''un'''d'''(''' a''').
The first pocket watches, called ''Haldauren,'' were sold in 1889. In 1893, they were rewarded two medals at the World Exhibition in Chicago. In 1890, Halda also began to produce typewriters and taximeters.
After World War II, Hammarlund developed new techniques for the manufacturing of typewriters and taxi meters due to the decrease in demand for pocket watches. After financial problems, the pocket watch production was closed in 1917. From opening until closing, about 8,000 pocket watches were manufactured.
In 1920 the company was split into AB Halda Fabriker, which manufactured the typewriters, and Fabriks AB Halda taximeter, which manufactured the meters for London cabs.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-03-01|title=Halda Watches: Is the Future really about Interchangeable Digi-Mech Watches? -|url=https://deployant.com/halda-watches-designed-race-space-dont-go-far-enough/|access-date=2021-07-15|website=DEPLOYANT|language=en-GB}}</ref> Fabriks AB Halda is now called Haldex AB. Using their knowledge of taximeters the company created a series of trip computers for use in rallying.<ref>[http://winktimber.com/vintagerally/gear/halda/hspdpilot_bj2.htm Motor Rally: The Magic Box], March 1956</ref> The Halda Speedpilot was called "a considerable advance upon anything of the kind previously marketed, as regards usefulness, compactness, mechanical simplicity (and hence reliability), simplicity of operation and price" by Autosport in 1956.<ref>[http://winktimber.com/vintagerally/gear/halda/hspdpilot_bj1.htm Autosport: A Most Accurate Average Speed Computer ], March 9, 1956</ref> This was succeeded by the Halda Tripmaster.
Production of pocket watches moved under the watchmaker Carl Borgström's housing, an employee of the Halda Fickursfabrik since 1904. He founded the company ''AB'' Urfabriken (ABU), and produced pocket watches until 1926 and then added in fishing equipment. ABU, now ABU-Garcia AB, is located in Svängsta.
In 2009, Halda Watch Company was restarted by the watch entrepreneur and engineer Mikael Sandström who developed a new watch with an innovative concept of a time-platform and two interchangeable time-modules. Halda now produces around 300 watches per year.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Colston|first=Penelope|date=2017-03-23|title=Swedish Watches Show Signs of Viking Past and Stellar Future|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/23/fashion/watches-sweden.html|access-date=2021-07-15|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The first modern Halda Watch was developed with the Swedish astronaut Christer Fuglesang who tested the watch on his space mission, STS-128.<ref name="watchtime">{{cite web|first=Mike | last = Disher|date=August 27, 2009|title=Reborn Halda Watch Co. to Send Timepiece Into Space|url=http://www.watchtime.com/2009/08/reborn-halda-watch-co-to-send-timepiece-into-space/|access-date=April 8, 2012|work=watchtime.com}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|https://www.haldasweden.com/}}
Category:Manufacturing companies of Sweden Category:Watch manufacturing companies Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1887 Category:Typewriters Category:Swedish brands Category:Watch brands Category:Manufacturing companies disestablished in 1993 Category:Re-established companies Category:Manufacturing companies established in 2009 Category:2009 establishments in Sweden Category:Swedish companies established in 1887 Category:1993 disestablishments in Sweden Category:Companies disestablished in 1993 Category:Swedish companies disestablished in the 1990s Category:Swedish companies established in 2009 Category:Karlshamn Municipality Category:Companies based in Blekinge County