M.A. Brønnum

Martin Andreassen Brønnum (1858 - 1911) was born in Sandeherred (now Sandefjord), Norway

Martin Andreassen Brønnum
Langgaten, Sandefjord, Norway, 1890

M.A. Brønnum was a master watchmaker and he started his business in 1879 in Langgaten. In 1880 he married Helle Pauline Olsdatter-Buer, they would have 6 children. To accommodate his expanding family he built the villa "Frogner" in 1896 (located on Nedre Movei 5). In 1897 he started a "manufakturhandler" business “M. A. Brønnum & co.” and took on Endre Lind as his apprentice. Endre would also become a watchmaker and he maried one of M.A. Brønnum’s daughters, Helga.

In april 1900 part of the town of Sandefjord along with Brønnum’s house and shop was destroyed due to a fire that started in the “Nordmanden” bicycle factory. After the fire the streetplan was changed. Brønnum commisioned the construction of Kongens gate 9, designed by architect Gustav Gulbrandsen, to again house his watchmaking and manufacturing business. He also commissioned the contruction of Kongens gate 10, opposite no. 9, that would house the Firm C. Oscar Schelbred A/S. In 1908 Tobiassen & Schau settled in no. 9 with their manufacturing business and in 1909 goldsmith August Midling setled there too. Midling also bought Kongens gate 7 in 1919 that was before used by another watchmaker, Christian Hansen.

In villa Frogner lived in 1910 his son-in-law Endre Lind with his Helga and their children, but also M.A.'s father, Andreas Brønnum, born 1833. After the death of Martin Andreassen Brønnum in 1911 his watchmaking business has seen a few successors, Endre Lind (Storgata 10 until 1958), Gunnar Gulseth (Storgata 20 and 2 until 1979), Ragnar Gulseth (until 2007) and is now run by Trond Frøstrup Næss, owner of Protid Urmaker Næss and still located at Storgata 2.