The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-01-11
MATCHMAKING In. AMERICA.
Testimony of the Swiss Commissioner
American Superior to Foreign Watches.

NJ. Edouard Favre Perret, Swiss Com
missioner to the Centennial Exhibition.
and member of the international Jury
on watches, has given the results of his
observations on American Matchmaking
IN public address at Chaux-de-F onds,
Locle, and Neuclatel. Being himself
large watch manufacturer, his statements
made profound impression in Switzer-
land, and will be read with the hveliest
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 sub
stantially as follows:
For long time America has been the prin-
cipal market for our watches. To-day we must
earnestly prepare to struggle with the Ameri-
cans on the nelos where hitherto we have been
the masters. Mr.. Dennison, the father of
American Matchmaking, travelled Through the
canton of Neuchatei studying our mode of
manufacturing, seeking to inform himself of
everything, and carefully noting the weak
points IN our industry. After his return to
the United States, in 1854, he founded q fac
tory at Boston" The Boston Watch Com
pany." The capital, scarcely 300 900, was
subscribed by capitalists more than by prac-
tical business men. In the beginning, the COM
pany turned ont only the rough skeleton move
ment and attended to the finishing all other
parts, such as trains, balances, Jewels, etc.,
were imported from Switzerland. Little by
little, however, the factory extended its opera-
tons and produced other parts. But, as the
profits were small, the capitalists abandoned it
and it failed in 1851.
Another American, Mr.. Robbins, scented a
good speculation and bought the factory and
tools for $4,000 a new company, 1.-THE
American Watch Company" was formed, with
capital of $20l.000, which was increased to
$500, 900 before the war which put on foot
million OF soldiers, and, as every one wanted
watch, there was great animation in the watch
business. AT this iuncture, which might have
been lucky one for our industry, we failed to
comprehend our real interests. Instead Of
sending good watches to the Americans, the
worst trash was sent. The Americans, how
ever, went to work on an entirely different plan.
The company increased their plant and turned
out better ordinary watch than the Swiss
watch. At the end of several years the Ameri-
can watch enjoyed a good reputation. while
ours were discredited everywhere. In 1865,
the capital was increased to $3.50, 600, and the
operations OF the company grew to immense
proportions. The Waltham Company give en-
ployment to 900 workmen, and make about
425 movements per day. They have again in
creased their capital, till it amounts to 81, $780,
600, beside $500, 600 as reserve fund. The
watch factory is a real power there Is none
like 1t IN Europe. We have seen it in all its
Details and we have admired its splendid Or
ganization.
Last May, on the eve Of the Exhibition, we
still seemed masters of the situation. One
event, however, dealt as a mortal blow. The
Waltham Company announced a reduction Of
Fro 20 >rovA o1r "
than their rivals. the reduction to date back to
Jan. l, 1876. 1t is unnecessary to tell you,
gentlemen, how very detrimental this was to
the Swiss watch. Still another and more i'm
portant reason explains the growing prosperity
of the American Company. Their tools work
80 regularly that all parts Of the watch may be
interchanged, by simple order on apoets1
card, without necessitating the forwarding 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
ont OF the American market. In 1860 the
American companies produced only Is, 600
watches. To-day they produce ESQ, 600, which
can be easily doubled. We sent to the United
States in 1872, 366, 600 watches. In 1876 we
shall barely send them $4,000 watches. The
Americans have already begun to send their
manufacture to Europe. In England they
0OAA
The American watch commences to drive
from the English market the Swiss
watch and even the English watch.
The Americans began by creating
demand for their goods in the Indies and In
Australia, and then-thanks to some power
full importing houses-they invaded En-
gland. At Moscow and st. Petersburg they
have already established important branch
offices. Their aim is to drive us first out OF
%l1a;o 30
US on our own soil. I sincerely coufess tina
l 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, / am not the only one to
think 30. The Societe Intercantonale have
sent delegate to make inquiries, and his re-
port perfectly agrees with mine. Up to this
very day we have believed America to be de-
pendent upon Europe. We have been mis-
taken. The Americans will send us their
products since we cannot send them our own
Their importation Is not confined to watches
alone. Already America has commenced to
send cotton goods to En- gland, which hitherto
that article in the markets of the
world.
Can the Americans maintain their prices
Yes, they can, for if they obtain good -Jroft
on their superior quality goods, they can afford
to be satisfied with q smaller profit on the lower
SI&u0S VI WAEuoS- LII ~Au0rlC8s everything Is
made by machinery here we make everything
by hand. In Switzerland about 1000 work.
men make, On an average, each forty watches
per annum. In the United States, the average
ia about $50 watches. Therefore the machinery
produces three and half to four times more
than the workmen.
Had the Philadelphia Exhibition taken place |
i've years later, we should have been totally |
annihilated without knowing whence nor how |
We recs ived the terrible blow. We have believed
ourselves masters of the situation, when we |
really have been on volcano. And, to-day, |
We must actually struggle if we do not want |
10 encounter, in all the markets, that rival |
For long time we have hoped |
that the customs duties, amounting to Is per |
sent, might be reduced. We cannot count |
Upon it. America needs all her resources, and. |
whether Democrats or Republicans be in |
COVER. we cannot hope for reduction of inn
port duties. We must, therefore, make up |
our mind to lose the American market. It has |
oeen complacently said that the Americans do |
not make the entire watch, but are dependent |
upon Switzerland for several parts OF the
watch. This is mistake. The Waltham |
Company make the entire watch from the first
screw to the case and dial. It would even be
1o11f for fhora RI roc oyrr,