Connecticut western news., 1877-02-02
MATCHMAKING IN AMERICA.

Testimony of the Swiss Commissioner
 American Superior to Foreign. Watches.
 M. Edouard Favre Ferret, Swiss commits sioner to the Centennial Exhibition, and mem Der of the international jury watches. has given the results of his observations on Ameri- can watchmaking in public address at Chaux- de-Fonds, Locle and Neuchatel. Being himself large watch manufacturer, his statements made profound impression in Switzerland, and will be read with the iveest interest in this country. After sketching the growth of watch making in Besaneon, by which the French market for watches was lost to Switzerland, he spoke substantially as follows la
 For a long time America has been the princi- pal 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 watchmaking, travelled through the canton of Neuchatel, studying our mode of manufactur- ing, seeking to inform himself of everything, and carefully noting the weak points in our in- dustry. After his return to the United States, i'll 1854, he founded factory at Boston-"The Boston Watch Company" The capital-scarcely $1OO, co twas subscribed by capitalists more than by practical business men. In tie begin ming, the company turned out only the rough skeleton movement and attended to the finish ing; all other parts such as trains, balances, jewels, etc., were imported from Switzerland. Little by little, however, the factory extended it's operations and produced other parts. But as the profits were small, the capitalists aban- doned it and it failed in 1856.
 Another American, MT. Robbins, scented a good speculation, and bought the factory and tools for $75OGO. new company" The American Watch Company was formed, with a capital of s200, ,000, which was increased to $500, ,000 before the war, which put on foot a million of soldiers, and as every one wanted 8 watch, there was great animation in the watch business. At this juncture, which might have been a lucky one for our industry, we failed to comprehend our real interests. Instead of send ing 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 dis credited everywhere. In 1865 the capital was increased to $750, ,000, and the operations of the company grew to immense proportions. The Waltham Company gives employment to 900 workmen, and make about 425 movements per day. They have again increased their capital till it amounts to $1, 100000, besides $500, ,OOO as reserve fund. This watch factory is real power; Htere IS none like it ia Europe We have seen it in all it's details, and we have ad- mired it's splendid organization. ...e Last May, on the eve of the Exhibition, we still seemed masters of the situation. One event, however, dealt us a mortal blow The Waltham Company announced a reduction of from forty to fifty per cent on prices already lower than their rivals, the reduction to date back to January 1, 1876. It is unnecessary to ] tell you, gentlemen, how very detrimental this
 was to the Swiss watch. Still another and more important reason explains the growing prosper ity of the American Company. Their tools work regularly that all , parts & of the % watch may be