Guido Kottmann
Guido Kottmann (1913-1965) was a businessman in the watchmaking industry famous for leading the Kottmann family's Lanco factory in the post-World War II era with his brother, Hans. Guido was involved from the 1930s through his death in 1965, just a few months after the death of his brother. Lanco was taken over by SSIH afterwards, ending four generations of Kottmann control.
Guido Kottmann was born in 1913, the son of Lanco manager Ernst Kottmann and Dora, née Stünzi. Guido married Elsbeth Portmann.
He followed his brother, 3 years older, into business school and later into management of the family firm. The brothers rose in management in the 1940s, taking responsibility for the workers and pension funds. Following the death of their father, their uncle Rudolf Kottmann was promoted to chairman and the brothers joined the board of directors together in 1945. They were well-positioned to take over the firm smoothly following Rudolf's death in 1952.
Guido Kottmann was overshadowed by his older brother throughout his career but nevertheless contributed to the success and growth of the Lanco factory. He was vice president of the workers' fund from 1938 and became treasurer in 1943. He was named president of both the crisis and retirement funds in 1952 following the death of his uncle Rudolf. He was also president of the Langendorf football club.
Guido is the only member of the Kottmann family to be named on a watchmaking-related patent. In total, three were registered in his name: CH335183 in 1958 for a clock with a dead-beat seconds hand, CH350611 (US2970426) in 1959 for a spherical portable clock, and CH366497 in 1959 for an escapement with an electronic actuator.
Hans Kottmann was killed in a traffic accident on December 10, 1964. This was particularly hard on his brother, as the two had collaborated closely and were considering offers to acquire the firm by SSIH and ETA. Guido died suddenly of a heart attack on June 15, 1965, and the firm was acquired by SSIH.