The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-01-12
MATCHMAKING In AMERICA.

nj. Edouard Favre Ferret, 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 Ponds,
Locle, and Neuchatel. Being himself a
large watch manufacturer, his statements
made profound impression in Switzer-
land, and will be read with the ivehest
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 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
| 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 100000, 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 1t failed in 1885.
Another American, Mr.. Robbins, scented a
| good speculation aud bought the factory and
| tools for $4,000 A new company, 1.-The
| American Watch Company" was formed, with
a capital of 800. 900, which was increased to
$500, 900 before the war which put on foot
| million OF soldiers. and, RS every one wanted Q
watch there was great animation in the watch
business. At this juncture, which might have
been lucky one for our industry, we failed to
| comprehend our real interests. Instead OF
sending good watches to the Americana, 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 a better ordinary watch than the Swiss
watch. At the end Of several years the Ameri-
can watch enjoyed good reputation, while VIII.
ours we're discredited everywhere. In 1855,
the capital was increased to $3.50, 900, and the
operations Of the company grew TO immense
proportions. The Waltham Company give en-
ployment to 800 workmen, and mako about
425 movements per day. They have again in
creased their capital, till II amounts TO u ,6O0,
000 beside $500, 600 a. q reserve fund. The
! watch factory il q real power tere Is none
Ike IL in Europe. We have seen 1t 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 q mortal blow. The
Waltham Company announced redncuon OF
from 40 to 80 per cent on prices already lower
than their rivals, the reduction TO date back 70
JAN 1, 1876. 1t is unnecessary to tell you,
gentlemen, how very detrimental this was 70
the Swiss watch Still another and moro I'M
portant reason explains the growing prosperity
Of the American Company. Their tools WORK
10 regularly that all parts OF the watch may De
interchanged, by simple order on post J
| 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 1901 tne
American companies produced only 10, wv
can be easily doubled We sent to the United
States in 1872, 366, 900 watches. In 1876 we
shall barely send them $4,000 watchea. The
Americans have already begun to SEND tneii
manufacture to Europe. In England they
sell annually from 10000 to 3O0ec watches.
The American watch commences 70 arive
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 orsnon
offices. Their aim is to drive us first out o.
their own country, and then to compete with
us on our own soil. 1 sincerely confess tina
personally have doubted that competiuon.
But now have seen-I have felt it-snd am
terrified by the danger to which our industfy
is exposed. Besides, / am not the only one to
vnkA oxafn ali
sent delegate TO make inquiries, and his re-
port perfectly agrees with mine. Up TO TINS
very day we have believed America TO be DC
pendent upon Europe. We have been ms
taken. The Americans will send us then
products since We cannot send them our own
Their importation is not confined to watches
alone. Already America has commenced tC
send cotton goods to England, which hitherto
monopolzed that article in the markets Of the
| world
Can the Americans maintain their PRICES I
Yes, they can, for if they obtain good rofit
on their superior quality goods, they can afford
to be satisfied with a smaller profit on the lower
grades Of watches. In America, everything il
made by machinery; here we make everything
by hand. In Switzerland about 10000 work
men make, GA an average, each forty watches
per annum. In the United States, the average
Is about $50 Watches Therefore the machinery
produces three and half to four times more
| Lnhu tu6 WOThutu.
Had the Philadelphia Exhibition taken place
five years later, We should have been totally
annihilated without knowing whence nor how
we rect ived the terrible blow. We have believed
ourselves masters Of the situation, when we
| really have been on q volcano. And, to-day,
we must actually struggle IL we do not want
to encounter, in oil the markets, that rival
manufacture. For long time We have hoped
that the customs duties, amounting to rs per
cent, might be reduced. We cannot count
upon ii. America needs all her resources, and,
| whether Democrats or Republicans be IN
power, we cannot hope for q reduction OF i'm
port duties. We must therefore, make up
our mind to lose the American market. 1t has
been complacently said that the Americans do
not make the entire watch, but are dependent
upon Switzerland for several parts OF the
watch. This is a mistake. The Waltham
Company make the entire watch from the first
screw TO the case and dial. II would even be
difficult for them to use our products, 30 great
is the regularity. 30 minute the precision with
which their machines work.
They arrive ut the regulation OF the watches
80 to say-without having seen 1t. When
the watch is given TO the adjuster, the foreman
delivers to him the corresponding hair-spring,
and the watch is regulated. (Sensation among
the audience.l Here Is what have seen, gen.
tlemen! asked from the director OF the
Waltham Company watch OF the nth grade.
A large safe was opened before me ut random
took a watch out Of it and fastened II to my
chain. The director having asked me to let
i A. akcl, f,v fxuo or braa dave M