Stefan Anderson

Knut Stefan Anderson (born December 26, 1878, Enköping, Sweden, died May 8, 1966, Ludvika) was a Swedish industrialist, journalist and master craftsman watchmaker decorated with badges of chivalric orders by the Kings of Sweden, Denmark and Norway and the President of Finland.[1] He was the son of August T. Anderson and Hildegard von Reis and began to learn watchmaking in 1892 at age 13 in Norrköping.[2]

Anderson in a formal birthday portrait in 1958

From 1910 to 1953 he wrote regular articles in trade papers and was also their editor,[3] often using the pseudonym Stander.[4]

Anderson was instrumental in organizing watchmakers and craftsmen into permanent trade organizations in Scandinavia and Germany, which he then led as CEO in terms of service lasting for decades.[3] He is considered by some the most important industrial organizer in his field in the history of his country[5] and in 1971 had a watchmaker's college named for him in Borensberg.[3]

Ludvika Town Hall has a clock designed and installed by Anderson in its tower since the building was dedicated in 1938 (mechanism replaced in 2004).[6]

The well-known quality classification Stjärnurmakarna for Swedish watchmakers and merchants was originally registered and protected by Anderson, who also in 1944 created a specially designed insurance policy for them, and since 1952 a Swedish gold medal for contributions to watchmaking bears Anderson's likeness and name.[3]

Anderson married Ragnhild Sandberg of Ludvika in 1907. Of their five children one son was Swedish senator Stig Stefanson, a daughter was singer Birgit Ridderstedt and a grandson is photographer Mattias Klum.[7]

References
  1. Vem är vem Svealand (Stockholm), 1964
  2. Mitt långa liv har lart mig essays by Prince Oscar Bernadotte, Sven Hedin, Anna Branting & 30 others; Nordisk rotogravyr, Stockholm, 1949 (Swedish 302 p.) p. 38
  3. Lars Magnus Jansson in Mästares verk, Sveriges Urmakareförbund 100 år LIBRIS-ID:3311604 pp. 29 & 39 (long-term executive positions), pp. 31, 39 & 48 (trade papers), pp. 39, 48 & 66 (school's name), p. 39 (quality label & medal)
  4. Svensk Urmakeri-Tidning December 1913 LIBRIS-ID:711856
  5. Svenska Dagbladet, May 9, 1966 p. 24 & Dagens Nyheter, May 9, 1966 p. 23
  6. Ann Marie Gunnarsson in Cyrillus Johansson, stadsarkitekt i Ludvika 1931-1941 Ludvika kommun 2010 LIBRIS-ID:12100490 pp. 4-5
  7. Nya Ludvika Tidning 2001-05-08 p 14-15
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