The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-01-10
Wo;;:hm"E.as 10 America.
Testimony Of the Swiss COMMISSIONER
lean Superior to Foreign Watches.

Testimony Of the Swiss Commissioner.-Amer-
lean Superior to Foreign Watches.
NJ. Edouard Favre Perret, Swiss
Commissioners to the Centennial Exhi-
bltlon, ano mem Der of the Internation-
al Jury On watches, has given the re-
suit OF his observations on American
matchmaking in a public address at
Chaux-de~ Fonds, Locle and Neuchatel.
Being himself a large watch manufac.
turer, bis 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 a 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-
turD to the United States, in 1854, he
founded a factory at Boston 1.-THE
Boston Watch Company The capis
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 10 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 a capital
of 100000, which was increased to
S300.000 before the war which put on
foot million of soldiers, aud as every
one wanted a watch, there was great
animation in the watch business. At
this juncture, which might have been
a lucky one for our industry, we fail
ed to comprehend oar 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 $3.50, 900,
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 it amounts to
81 SOC, 900, beside 100000 as reserve
fund. This watch factory is a real
power there is none like it in Europe.
| We have seen it in all it's details, and
we have admired it's splendid organi.
zation.
Last May, on the eve o; the Exhibi.
ton, we still seemed masters of the
situation. one event, however, dealt
us a mortal blow. The Waltham com.
pany announced a reduction of from &c
to so per cent. on prices already lower
than their rivals, the reduction to date
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 a simple order on postal
card. without 2ecessjtating the Tor
warding OF the adjoining piece.
| The question has oftea been asked
can the Americans sufficiently supply
the demand Of their markets? Yes
they can: we are driven out of thu