River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-01-11
Matchmaking i'm America.
Testimony of the Swiss Commissioner.-Amer.
lean Superior to Foreign Watches.


NJ. Edouard Fayre Ferret, Swiss
Commissioner to the Centennial Exhi-
bition, and member of the Internation-
al Jury on watches, has given the re-
suit of his observations on American
matchmaking in public address at
Chaux-de-Fonds, Locle and Neuchatel.
Being himself a large watch manufac-
turer, his statements made profound
impression in Switzerland, and will be
read with the liveliest interest in this
country. After sketching the growth
of matchmaking in Besancon, by which
the French market for watches was
lost to Switzerland, he spoke substan-
TALLY as follows:
''For long time America has been
the principal market for our watches.
To-day we must earnestly prepare to
struggle with the Americans on the
fields where hitherto we have been
the masters. Mr.. Dennison, the father
of American matchmaking, travelled
through the canton of Neuchatel,
studying our mode of manufacturing,
seeking to inform himself of every
thing, and carefully noting the weak
points in our industry. After his re-
turn to the United States. in 1854, he
founded factory at Boston-"Ihe
Boston Watch Company" The capt.
tai, scarcely 100000, was subscribed
by capitalists more than by practical
business men. In the beginning, the
company turned out only the rough
skeleton movement and attended to
the finishing; all other parts, such as
trains, balances jewels, &C., were
imported from Switzerland. Little by
little, however, the factory extended
its operations and produced other
parts. But as the profits were small.
the capitalists abandoned it, and it
failed in 1856.
Another American, Mr.. Robbins,
scented good speculation and bought
the factory and tools for $4,000. A
new company, .'The American Watch
Company, was formed, with capital
of 100000, which was increased to
100000 before the war which put on
foot million of soldiers, aud as every
one wanted watch, there was great
animation in the watch business. At
this juncture, which might have been
lucky one for our industry, we fail
ed to comprehend our real interests.
Instead of sending good watches to the
Americans, the worst trash was sent.
The Americans, however, went to
work on an entirely different plan.
The company increased their plant and
turned out a better ordinary watch
than the Swiss watch. AT the end of
several years the American watch en-
joyed good reputation, while ours
were discredited everywhere. In 1865,
the capital was increased to $4,000,
and the operations of the company
grew to immense proportions. The
Waltham company give employment to
900 workmen and make about 425 move
ments per day. They have again in
creased their capital, till amounts to
81 800, 900, beside $500, 00r as reserve
fund. This watch factory is real
power there is none like it in Europe.
We have seen it in all its details, and
we have admired its splendid organi-
cation.
Last May, on the eve of the Exhibit
ton, we still seemed masters of the
situation. One event, however, dealt
us mortal blow. The Waltham COM
pany announced reduction of from 40
to so per cent. on prices already lower
NAittil IlNdiOs lllC lCuuCllOll W hdlC
back to January l, 1875. 1t is unne-
cessary to tell you, gentlemen, how
very detrimental this was to the Swiss
watch. Still another and more impor-
tant reason explains the growing pros
perity of the American Company.
Their tools work so regularly, that all
parts of the watch may be inter-
changed, by simple order on postal |
card, without Gecessitating the for
warding of the adjoining piece.
The question has often been asked. |
can the Americans sufficiently supply |
the demand Of their markets! Yes, |
they can: we are driven out of the |
American market. In 1860 the Amer |
lean companies produced only $4,000 |
watches. To-day they produce 100000, |
which can be easily doubled. We sent |
to the United States in 1872, 100000 |
watches. In 1876 we shall barely send |
them -, 900 watches. The Americans |
have already begun to send their man.
ufacture to Europe. In England they |
sell annually from 10000 to 10000 |
watches. The American watch COM |
mences to drive from the English mar
ket the Swiss watch and even the Eng. |
fish watch.
The Americans began by creating a
demand for their goods in the Indies |
and Australia, and then-thanks to |
some powerful importing houses
they invaded England. At Moscow |
and st. Petersburgh they have already |
established important branch offices. |
Their aim is to drive us first out of |
their own country, and then to com.
pete with us in our own soil. / sim |
Cerely confess that personally have |
doubted that competition. But now
| have seen-I have felt it-and | am |
terrified by the danger to which our |
industry is exposed. Besides, l am |
not the only one to think so: the So
ciete Intercantonale have sent dele |
gate to make inquiries, and his report |
perfectly agrees with mine. Up to
this very day | have believed Amer |
lea to be dependent upon Europe. We |
have been mistaken. The Americans
will send us their product since we
cannot send them our own. Their i'm
portation is not confined to watches
alone. Already America has COM
menced to send cotton goods to Eng
land, which hitherto monOpolized that
article in the markets of the world.
Can the Americans maintain their
prices Yes, they can, for if they OBJ
tain a good profit on their superior
quality goods, they can afford to be
satisfied with smaller profit on the
lower grades of watches. In America,
everything is made by machinery
here we make everything by hand. In
Switzerland about 10000 workmen
make, ON the average, each 40 watches
per annum. In the United States the
average is about $50 watches. There
fore the machinery produces three and
wOrkmen,
Had the Philadelphia Exhibition ia
Ken place five years later, we should
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