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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Frankfurt, Germany

Wolf, Jahn & Co.

Partially verified

Precision lathes and specialized tools for watch and clock making

History

The company was established in 1887 and earned a reputation for its high-quality engineering in the production of precision machinery.

Headquartered in Frankfurt, the firm focused on manufacturing specialized machine tools including precision bench lathes, screwcutting versions, and milling machines for various technical industries. Their equipment served sectors ranging from the watchmaking industry to optics and electrical engineering. The company utilized a system of model letters and numbers to categorize their diverse product range, which often varied based on headstock and slide rest configurations.

In international markets, distributors like Hirst Brothers & Co. often rebranded Wolf Jahn lathes under trade names such as Roscoe and Lancaster.

The extended history summarises the open references listed under Sources; each statement was checked against the cited passage. Confirm key dates in period documents before relying on them.

Key models

Model LL
The Model LL was a high-quality screwcutting toolmaker's lathe featuring a detachable gap bed and backgear.
Model A and AA
Models A and AA were identified as heavier WW type lathes with 50 mm and 70 mm center heights.
Model C, D, and DD
These models represented the firm's series of plain-turning precision bench lathes.

Known markings

  • Distributors occasionally marketed the company's lighter Geneva-type lathes under the Roscoe brand.
  • Heavier machines built to the American WW design were sometimes sold under the Lancaster trade name.

Serial numbers

No serial-number system for this maker is recorded in the cited references.

Collecting significance

The catalogued pieces listed on this page show the kinds of objects auction houses, dealers and museums attribute to this maker; each attribution is the source's own.

In the object catalogue

2 catalogued objects are recorded under Wolf, Jahn & Co. Attributions are as given by each source and are not independent authentication.

  • Wolf, Jahn & Co. 6 mm watchmaker's lathe mounted inside its fitted wooden box with assorted chucks and accessories
  • Wolf Jahn & Co. watchmakers' lathe set with electric motor and accessories

Sources & references

  1. Wolf, Jahn & Co.: Präzisions-Drehbänke (System: Jahn) für Uhrenindustrie, Optik, Mechanik, Elektrotechnik etc., Deutsches Museum, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  2. Wolf Jahn lathes. "Roscoe Lathe" and "Lancaster lathe"", lathes.co.uk, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  3. Der deutsche Beitrag zum Ausbau des physikalischen ..., comdeg.eu, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  4. Other Center Indicators, circuitousroot.com, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)

Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.