The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1877-01-18
MATCHMAKING IN AMERICA.

TESTIMONY OF THE SWISS COMMISSIONER
AMERICAN SUPERIOR TO FOREIGN
WATCHES.
NJ. Edouard Favre Ferret, Swiss Commits
,ioner TO the Centennial Exhibition, and
member of the International Jury on
watches, has given the results OF his obser-
vations on American Matchmaking in
public address at Chaux.de-F0nds, Locle
and Neuchatel. Being himself large watch |
manufacturer, his statements made a pro-
found impression in Switzerland, and will |
be read with the liveliest interest in this |
After sketching the growth of
Matchmaking in Besancon, by which the
French market for watches was lost to Swift
zerland, he spoke substantially as follows:
For 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, trav-
eled through the canton Of Neuchatel, study
ing 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 a factory Mt Boston," The
Boston Watch Company" The capital,
scarcely 100000, was subscribed by CAPT.
talists more than by practical business men.
In the beginning the company turned out
only the rough skeleton movement and at.
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 1t and
| it failed in 1856. -.
Another American, Mr.. Robbins, scented
| a good speculation and bought the factory
and tools for $75, 900. A new company, "The
| American Watch Company" was formed
creased to $780, 900 before the war, which
put Oh 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 compre'
bend our 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
enjoyed good reputation, while ours
were disregarded everywhere. In 1865,
the capital was increased to $3.50, 900, land the
operations of the company grew to immense
proportions. The Waltham Company give
employment to 900 workmen aud make
about 425 movements per day. They have
again increased their capital, till 1t amounts
to 81, 500 900, besides $780, as reserve
fund. This watch factory is a real power
there is none like IL IN Europe. We have seen
it in all its details, and we have admitted its
splendid organization.
Last May, on the eve of the Exhibition,
| An ~ 4 ts,vx
One event, however, dealt us mortal
blow. The Waltham Company announced
reduction of from 40 to 80 per cent
on prices already lower than Their
rivals, the reduction to date back to
January 1, 1876. 1t is unnecessary to tel
you, gentlemen, how very detrimental thii
was to the Swiss watch. Still another and
more important reason explains the growing
prosperity of the American Company. Theil
tools work so regularly, that all parts Of the
watch may be interchanged, by simple
order on postal card, without necessitatint
the forwarding of the adjoining piece.
The question has often been asked, can tn,
Americans sufficiently supply the demand o
their markets? Yes, they can: we are driver
out of the American market. In 1860 tn
American Companies produced only ,0O
watches. To-day, they produce 100000
which can be easily doubled. We sent to tn
1876 we shall barely send them 1900
watches. The Americans have already be
gun to send their manufacture to Europe
In England they sell annually from 10000 Il
10000 watches. The American watch com
mences to drive from the English marke
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 powerful import
ing houses they invaded England. At Mos
cow and st. Petersburgh they have alread,
established important branch Offices. Thei
aim is to drive us first out of their own coun
try, and then to compete with us on our owl
soil. l sincerely confess that PERSONAL,
, have doubted that competition. But now
have seen-I have felt it-and l an
terrified by the danger to which our indus
one to think SO; the Secietc international
! have sent a delegate to make inquiries, ant
his report perfectly agrees with mine. Vi
, to this very day we have believed Americ
{ to be dependent upon Europe. We hav
been mistaken. The Americans will sen,
us their products since we can not sent
them our own. Their importation is no
: confined to watches alone. Already Amer
lea has commenced to send cotton goods I,
, England, which hitherto monopolized tina
article in the markets Of the world.
Can the Americans maintain their price
Yes, they can, for IL they obtain a gooC
profit on their superior quality goods, the,
can afford to be satisfied with smalle
profit on the lower grades OF watches. Ii
America, everything is made by machinery
here we make everything by hand. Ii
Switzerland about AZ, 900 work men make, OF
an average, each 40 watches per annum. Ii
the United States, the ave rage is about 15t
watches. Therefore the machinery produce
} three and half to four times more that tn,
wOrkmen.
Had the Philadelphia Exhibition tax e,
place five years later, we should have beer
totally annihilated without knowing whenc,
nor how we received the terrible blow. w,
! have believed ourselves masters of tn,
situation, when we really have been on
volcano. And, to-day, we must actual,
struggle il we do not want to encounter, il
,, oil the markets, that rival manufacture. Fo
long time we have hoped that the custom
duties, amounting to 20 per cent, nigh
be reduced. We cannot count upon ii
: America needs all her resources, ant
whether Democrats or Republicans be il
, power, we can not hope for reduction o
. import duties. We must, therefore, max,
up our mind to lose the American market
, 1t has been complacently said, that tn
Americans do not make the entire watch
, but are dependent upon Switzerland TO
several parts of the watch. This is q mis-
. take. The Waltham Company make tn
, entire watch from the first screw to the cas-
and dial. 1t would even be difficult 10
them to use our products, so great lis tn
regularity, SO minute the precision witt
which their machines work.
They arrive at the regulation of tn
watches--to say..-without having seen il
When the watch is given to the djuster, tn
foreman delivers to him the corresponding
} hairspring, and the watch is regulated
[Sensation among the audence.l Here
what have seen, gentlemen! asked fror
the direclor of the Waltham Company
watch of the fifth grade. A large safe wa
|, opened before me; at random took wstc
out of it and fastened IL to my chain
The director having asked me to lie
! him have the watch for two or three days, g
as to observe its motion, 1 answered, 90
the contrary, persist in wearing it just a
, il is to obtain an exact idea of your manu-
facture." At Paris, set my watch by reg
: ulator on the Boulevard, and on the sixt
, day observed that it mad varied thirty.tw
secopdsl And this watch is Of the fftl