New-York tribune., 1876-12-16
MATCHMAKING IN AMERICA.
A FOREIGNERS TESTIMONY.

fORElGNERS IESIlMON1.
SPEECH DELIVERED IN THE AMPHTrHEATER OF TUE
PRIMARY COLLEGE OF LA CHAux-DE-FoNDs. TUES
DAY, THE 14TH OF NOVEMBER, BY NJ EDoUARD
FAvRE-PERRET, MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL
JURY on WATCHES OF THE EXHIBITION AT
PHILADELPHIA, AND ONE OF THE SWISS COM
MIssIoNERs TO THE UNITED STATES
Mr.. Arnold Grosean, President Of the Board
OF Commerce. announced that NJ Edouard FayrePerret,
member Of the International Jury on Watches Of the
Exhibition at Philadelphia had kindly consented to
peat at la the speech already delivered
by him at Locle and Neuehate the situation Of the
Industry of Matchmaking in the United States.
The Board OF Commerce would have liked to be able to
present the public specimens OF American watch
making, but this not possible In few days from
now selection OF twelve American watches will be
placed In the Neurological School, where everybody may
examine them.
Mr.. Grosiean then added that after the lecture tho
orator would kindly any question that might be
put to him.
THE ADDRESS.
GENTLEMEN: must, TO start with, to you
that you have not orator before you, but anufac
turer, and as such ask your indulgence. shall give
you information, which, unlucky, is not cheerful on the
condition OF Swiss matchmaking compared with the
American competition shall tell you OF facts simply,
such have them, such have understood
them Frankness Is here more necessary than anything
cult situation that wy S S saGs ii IT, w
10 Is evident, gentlemen that do not present you with
Philadelphia. These will find space in my report which
shall address 10 the Federal Council. shall cOnine
my self TO speaking about American Matchmaking, and
in comparing IL with and that OF neighbOrs
shall speak TO you more about figures than about auy
thing else Figures you know have their own elOquence
For long time We have heard here OF American
petition without believing it: The skepticsand there
ton at once rapid and important. To-day
wo are forced to believe the proofs Of 1t and to ac-
We have had the proofs of 1t under eyes; we
have the American factories, and have been able
70 tn flatr huN
treated the American manufacture rs have treated
the neghbong manufactures In tho future Of which we
did not wish To believe at FIRST and which form to-day
u most serious competition. refer to BesancOn.
Bienne ST. Imier, Morat, and schanhauscn, We must
efforts TO keep aud maintain ourselves on the level OF our
competitors, ana EIust not allow ourselves be
taken them has been the in past years Before
passing to tie Matchmaking Of the United states, let u
examine some OF the gur OF the manufacture Of Besan
con- which everybody knows dates back TO the end Of the
last century. 1t was founded by colony of Neucha-
toO $:
In lst5 BesansOn turned OUT. , q 600 watches
r. i.$s i.$s ::::..:':.. ;S$S$S ;5$SS5
To day Besaucon supplies the great marGet Of France
and she prepares to contest with us the other European
Well gentlemen, we are on the same road as regards
the United State: For long time America has been
the principal market for Onr watches, our mkcow, SO
to speak. To-day must earnestly prepare 70 struggle
with the Americans the lcds whore hitherto we
have been the masters. Some OF you have known hr
matchmaking. Mr. Dennison Travelled through the
Canton OF NeuchAtel, studying our mode Of
and carefully not ny the weak parts IN our industry
After his return t0 the United states be founded fac
In 1854. The capita-scarccy O,OOO-was subscribed
by capitalists more than by practical business men In
skeleton movement and attended To the finishing; all
other parts such u, trains balance levels &C. &C.
over the factory extended its operations aud produced
other parts Notwithstanding all Ihs PROCESS &c TINS
40 little inclined 10 let capital remain almost unlro-
iucye, the capitalists abandoned tue factory ana IT
AnOihcr American. Mr. Robbins, whom you have
also known, gentlemen when he had business reia-
uDns with secuted good speculation and bought M
the entire factory tools Included for $4,000 new com
pany, Thc American " atch Company, was aferwa. i
inTmed with "A capital Of $40 900. soon this capital
became insufficient, and II was Increased 10 s3OOOOO pt
fore fho War ~ secession. This war; which seemed cal
cuatcd to destroy such an enterprise. was on ths cou
traIy the cIusc Of s prosperity America put on Ioot
million OF soldiers, aud every wanted his watch
there wa. great animation the watch business. Al
ihIs junctnre, which might have been iuchy ore
for our Industry, we fuilcd TO comprehend our
real interests. Instead OF sonding good watches
TO the Americans the worst trash was seht.
Had sKclciOu movements Deen sent IN cases IN
would have been thought good enough! The Amrri-
cans however, went To wo'E ON an ehtlteS uiurIcht
plan The company Increased thelt pant anu l'Het
out a better ordinary watch than lhe swiss WatT: Al
thr end OF several years ant Win th. au Oh pllOas,
the American Wach enloyed koou Si
our own discrcdtcd every where In 800 IN. capL
Increased 10 100000 ana ths % ne t ~
company grow 10 Immense proportions lI'nE ,o @ U
lowing years business went on 81 wen that cNe1yhhIS
new watch iactOrcs sprung UP. Every one wanted
TO make watches. To-day you can coult Hpcnt eSaon @
luctorrs. 1Eo most important aitcl INC Nai.h , ON
1.
iculs day. Tho Naltham company give enl"S @ irn a. -
800 WorkIncn, aud mako about 40 movements pr uay.
The cOmp1uy again increased thcr clnl.al III 80 u
today 10 100000 besides 100000 as res rye
uud or "A capital OF 9.OOO,OOO francs. lhis Mitch I@aS @
Tory 4, "a real power there u none IKE " III bHLo. W
hay, sren AZ i'm ali its details, ami have admired s
,urudid organization Llst May, on tho eve oi the iA-
hibition We still seemed masters oi tAe sluauo OI
nysnT however, dealt Us mortal blow. lie II
through the effect ~ the crisis or rom any oticI nv
live Inc III gin Company made AL OF sudden, q ftduc
~ ~, , nricc of their movements Of 40 per cent 10 %
T cent so AL stocks OF Swiss WacIes Nclv
affected Lever movements, win thi1 nder Snrh
sold at 10 francs. How can we meet th.oi IT.
circumstances. how can we MAINTAIN eompeut,Dh =, ~
will pe necessary turn ont our movements hl Id or
49, 20 nv The custom du;cs audt0 leavoa "A httc
,nargn of profit. The Maithdm Company, nov.
1Hoa' 1n' ,n nrrppsed 10 do better. They announced
A reduction OF price from 40 10 oO Pt, .c''' @ o ti,
fhry adg known that this reduction would go Dlek rs
far as jan. l. 1876 So that deal al m wa.o,s S u m ha
10 securr the rebate OF 40 or 30 per cent lhS cup "
commerce las cost the company $4,000 ,.o.. ,,,
,en,i ms was 10 the SWISS watch still another hnu
moro important reason explains TUE ErV",.,s 81!
irI fhnt nil plrts OF the watch may bo nterchans a.
by simple Ordcr postal cird Sth9nt 9 @
,Gc forwarding OF the adjOning piece Iho ques 1
,an hren asked whether the Americans can suheiehy
supply the demands OF their larhets |'i hreio @ ~
We are driven out OF the American MARKET! M neiu @ G
,indr however complicated watches, III Whlch VIZ IL'
now and hope shall always remain lhhsioisi orIr
- 200 watches: in 1863, 100000 To-day ihcy pro
duce $50 900 and this figure can DE easi'y @ s roi
case ca ,ac hnnd come to an end For must not foret
that If several factories have been closer @ @ berr
crS. rho tnols as well the wOrkmeh alo sun hoLt,,
ali ready 10 resume work again. Nor must W. bTh
Of sight the exorbtdnt custom duties ana Ls'g,
,nn,,nt IN about Is or 80 per cent when tahe aNhs
so ~ every possibility Of being able 30 stand the ngh
And now that We know the hgnres% % =, ~ Srsial re-
narts give an account OF what is that country % Go
sumption OF watches. We have seh' ~ '"' '"'''N
States: 100 900 watches
In ls62. 62..........'.''''''''''' 262,OOO