The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-02-01
MATCHMAKING IN AMERICA.
Testimony Of the swiss Commissioners T.
American superior to Foreign Watches.


NJ. Edouard Favre Peiret, Swiss commits
sioner to the Centennial Exhibition, and menl-
Der of the international jury on watches, has
given the result of his observations on Ameri-
can Matchmaking in public address at Chaux-
defends, Loclc and Neuchatel. Being himself
a large watch manufacturer, his statements
made a profound impression in Switzerland,
and will he read with the liveliest interest in
this country After sketching the growth of
Matchmaking in Besangon, by which the French
market for watches was lost to Switzerland, he
spoke substantially as follows:
For long time America has been the princi-
pal 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 Neuchatol, 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 factory at Boston
1.-THE Boston Watch Company" The capital
--scarsely 300, ,000-was subscribed by capital
lists more than by practical business men. In
the beginning, the company turned out only
the rough skeleton movement, and attended to
the finishing; all other parts, such as trains,
balances, jewels. ETC., were imported from Swift
zerland. Little by little however, the factory
extended its operations and produced other
parts. But as the profits were small. the capi-
talists abandoned it and it failed in 1856.
Another American, Mr.. Robbins, scented a
good speculation. and bought the factory and
tools for $4,000. A new company-''The
American Watch Company"-was formed, with
q capital of 5000, 000 which was increased to
$500, 900 before the war, which put on foot a
million of soldiers, and as every one wanted a
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 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
better ordinary watch than the Swiss watch. At
the end Of several years the American watch
enjoyed good reputation, while ours were dis
credited everywhere. In 1865 the capital was
increased to $780, 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 $1,000, 900, besides 1900, 900
as a reserve fund. This watch factory is real
power; there is none like ii IN Europe We
have seen it in all its details, and we have adj
mired its splendid organization.
Last May, on the eve of the Exhibition, we
still seemed masters of the situation. One
event, however, dealt us a mortal blow. The
Watham Company announced reduction of
from forty to fifty per cent. on prices already
lower than their rivals, the reduction to date
back TO January l, 1876. 1t is unnecessary to
tell you, gentlemen, how very detrimental this
was 10 the Swiss watch. Still another and more
important reason explains the growing prosper
ity of the American Company. Their tools
work SO regularly that all parts OF the watch
may be interchansed by simple order ON a
postal card without necessitating the forward
ing 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
out of the American markets. In 1860 the
American Companies produced only $4,000
watches. To-day, they produce 100000, which
can be easily doubled. We sent to the United
States, in 1872, $4,000 watches. In 1876 we
shall barely send them 10000 watches. The
Americans have already begun to send their