The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1877-01-25

MATCHMAKING IN AMERICA.
TESTIMONY OF TUE Swiss COMMISSION EH,-AMsRI
CAN SUPERIOR TO FoRgIgs WATCHES.

$50 ""s' ~
Mr.. Edouard Eavre Ferret, Swiss Commits.
sioner TO the Centennial Exhibition, and
member OF The International Jury oil watches,
has given the results Of his observations on
American watch making in a public address
at ChauI de Fonds, LOcle and Neuchstel.
Being himself a large watch manufacturer,
his statement made a profound impression
in Switzerland, and will DO read with the
l~lvellest interest in this country. After
sketching the growth Of Matchmaking in
Besanqon, by which the French market for
watches was lost to Switzerland, he spoke
substantially as follows: .
For a long time America has been the prin
cipal market for our watches. To-day we
must earnestly prepare TO struggle with tho
Americans on the fields 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 in.
form himself OF everything, and carefully
noting the weak points in our industry. Al.
ter his return 10 the United States, in 1854,
he founded IL factory al Boston-"Thc Bos.
ton Watch Company" The capital, scarcely
100000, was subscribed by capitalists more
than by practical business men. In the begin.
nlng,th e company turned out only the rough
skeleton movement and attended 10 the fin.
ishins;. all other parts, such as %traius, hal.
ances, jewels, &C., were imported from Swift.
zerland. Little by little, however, Inc f,r.
tory extended its operations and produced
other parts. But as the profits were small
the capitalists abandoned it and Ii failed in
1856.
Another American, Mr.. Robbins. accented
a good speculation and bought the factory
and tools for $4,000. Anew company, 'eThee
American Watch Company" was formed,
with Il capital OF $4,000 which was In.
creased.to 100000 before the war, which nut
on foot a million Of soldiers, and az eyery
one wanted n watch, there was q crea, ami.
nation in the watch business, At thc ipnr.
ture, which might have been a lucky one for
our industry, we failed 10 comprehend our
real interests. Instead Of sending GOOD
watches TO the Americans, the worst trash
was sent. The Americans, however. went 10
work on an entirely different plan. The com.
pany Increased their plant and turned out a
better ordinary watch than the Swiss watch
Az the end OF several years the American
Watch enjoyed u good reputation, while ours
was discredltcd everywhere. In 1898. tho
capital was increased to S7a0,O0O, and the
operations OF the company grew 10 immense
proportions. The Waltham ompDny r,ve
employment to 900 workmen and make
aboutl2j movements per day. Tber have
ugaiE increased their capital till il amount.
to 81, 100000, besides $500, 900 as n reserve
fund. This watch factory is a real mower,
there is none IKE il in Europe. We have sren,
1t in all its details, and we have admired its
splendid organization.
Last May, on the eve Of the Exhibition. W.
still seemed masters of the situation. One
event, however, dealt Us n mortal blow. Tho
Waltham Company announced a reduction Of
from 40 to 50per cent. on'prices dread " lower
than their rivals, the reduction to date back
TO January I, 1876. II is unnecessary 10 tel
you, gentlemen, how very detrimental this
was to the Swiss watch. Still another and
more important reason explain. the growing
prosperity OF the American Company. Their
tools work 40 regularly, that all parts OF the
watch may be interchanged, by a simple or.
der on a postal card, without necessitating
the forwarding OF the adjoining piece.
The question has often been asked, can the
Americans sufficiently supply the demand Of
the market? Yes, they can we are driven
on, Of the American market. Ia 1860 the
American Companies produced only $1,000
watchers. To-day they produce 250, COO, which
tiu UO Chblly uOu'lNu, StHL 20 u1e Inlt50
States In 1872, 800, 600 watches. Ia 1876 we
shall barely send Is go watches. The Amer
leans have already begun to send their manu-
~facture to Europe. In England they sell an
nually from 10000 to 10000 watches. The
American watch commences to drive from
the English market the Swiss watch and even
tho English watch. The Americans began bv
cresting a demand for their goods IN The In.
dies and in Australia, and th%en-thanks to
some powerful importing houses-tbsv in.
vaded England. At Moscow and ST.. Peters
burgh they have established important
branch offices. Their aim is to drive us first
cut Of their own country, and then 10 com.
pete with us on our own soil. | sincerely
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, lam
not the ouly one 10 think on the Societe In.
telcantonale have sent sdelogate tomake in.
quiries, and his report perfectly agrees with
mine. Up 10 this very day we have believed
America TO be dependent upon Europe. We
have been mistaken. The Americans will
send us their products since we cannot send
them our own. Their importation is not con.
fined to watches alone. Already America
has commenced to send cotton goods to Eng.
land, which has hitherto monopolizsd that
article in the markets OF the world.
Can the Americans maintaia their prices?
Yes, they can, for II they obtain a good profit
on their superior quality OF goods, they can
afford to BIO satisfied with n smaller profit on
the clover grades Of watches. In hmerica,
everything is made by machinery; here we
make everything by hand. In Switzerland
about 10000 workmen make on an average.
each 10 watches por annum. In the United
states, the average is about $50 watches.
therefore the mschinery produces three
ana a nall 70 TOUR times moro thsn the work.
men.
Had the Philadelphia Exhibition taken plae
i've years ago we should have been totally
annihilated without knowing whence nor
how we received the terrible blow. We haeo
believed ourselves masters OF the si;ua,jou.
when we really have been on a volcano. And
to day, we must actually struggle il we do moi
want to encounter, in all the markets, tina.
rival manufacture. For a long time we have
hoped that The custom duties, amounting to
% per cent, might be reduced. We canno,
count upon il. America needs all her re.
sources, and whether Democrats or gepub,i.
cans be in power, we cannot hope for q re.
ductlOn OF import duties. We must. there.
fore, make up our mind to lose the American
market. IL has been complacently said, that
the Americans do not make the entire watch.
hat are dependent upon switzerland for sew.
ersl parts OF The watch. This is a mistake.
The Walthnm Company make the entire
watch from the first screw to the case and
dial. 1t would even be difficult for them 10
use our products, SO grsst is the regularity. :
so minute the precision with which, their
machines work.
They arrive at the regulation OF the
watehcs-so to say-vithou, having seen II.
When the watch !, given to the adjuster,the
foreman delivers t. him the corresponding
hair.spriny,and the watch Is regulated. Tsen.
SETON siaons the eudieufe.l, Here 1, what