New-York tribune., 1878-10-02
WAR OF THE WATCHMAKERS.
ORGANIZATION OF FOREIGN WATCH IN
PORTERS.
MIsUNDERsrANDINGs CAUSED BY TIE SPEECH OF
FAyRE-PRRRET-wHAT THE SWISS MASUFAC-

GOhl EhS.
MISUNDERSTANDING CAUSED BY TUE SPEECH OF
FAvRE-PRRREI-wHAT THE SWISS MANUFAC-
TURERs ARE DOING TO CORRECT THEM.
The speech of Edward Favre-Perret, one of
the swiss commissioners the Exhibition
at Philadelphia I'm relation 10 the rivalry the great
matchmaking industry OF Switzerland az likely TO
meet from the United States, had the effect for time 10
increase the demand for American watches and carried
the conviction to thousands that American machinery
produced better watch which could be sold for less
money, than the cheap hand labor OF Europe. This
speech IN whole in part, has probably been published
in every newspaper in the Eng.ish-sPeakinR world.
In self defence, the importers Of Swiss watches In
this city have formed association for the ptOfessed
purpose Of enghtening the public in regard to the
relative value of watches OF foreign and domestic manu-
facture They say that this has been necessary to pro
tect themselves agains. what they denounee decop
ton practised upon public Their side Of the
has not heretofore been widely heard Substantially
this Is what they have 70 say, and 1t is told here solely
on their responsibility.
They say the speech Of FavrePerret has been 80 pre-
sented tO the public to cOnveyan impression not only
erent from that intended by Its author, but s
from the truth Tney say that he designed
Only TO snow his countrymcn that an industry
which they had come to consider peculiarly
their had found rival the water
which might prove dangerous to their export
trade, un,c,s they eNerted themselves 10 main
tain the supremacy they had acquired. At first 1t was
believed that he had been induced by American manu-
fsciurcrs to make statements which he knew false
this was openly limited in letter by Albert IL Potter
an American watch manufactures in Geneva, Switz r
land; IL Is generally conceded by tnOse most in
terested In cOunteracting the Influence Of his speech
that he was simply careless In his remarks, ANA that
those remarks have been mlsransaed and their mean-
ing perverted. lie himself charges this IN letter pub
liscd III the Journal du LocIe and says tnat he IS to-
tally misreprcsented III the extracts which the American
Watch Company has caused to be published.
The lmporters Association further say that
these counter-statCments beginning to reach the
same readers who for the last two years have
heard OF the immense superiority OF American
watches aud causing many TO look into the subject
for Themselves This Investigation Is likely to be sharp
cned by what is represented by the foreign manufac
turers III success OF American watch manufac-
tur,rs at the Paris Exhibition, where they have
large and brilliant displays Of goods. 1t Is
even represented that the stock OF one OF the
American companies has fallen very heay-
lily The stock OF the other companies had
previously no market yaus. Inquiry among
importers and dealers Ia watches has eiicted
the following further statements: The claim
OF American manufacturers that their watches
are produced by machinery, while those OF foreign
workInen made by hand, Is uuwarranted the most
elaborate machinery Is employed In making the SWISS
watch but IN the case of the Sgss watch tie best work
begins who're the machine leaves of; skilled labor steps
IN and creates finished work OF art tt claimed that
this perfect HnsI enables Swss watch TO keep good
lime for many years. while machine-made watch.
without the finish, such as those OF the American
companies, will sun,r from friction and soon
wear out IL was the oDiniOa OF all who were
consulted the subject tnat skilled hand labor was aD
suutcly essential 10 accuracy and durability IL was
also stated that there no economy In the purchase
Of American watches. even II they were good time-
tl.tr.a frFtrNfIn ng fla
foreign watch in It's own home Is groundless, as Is
shown by the fact that foreign watches can be
imported and sold after paying u duty OF %
per cent, at less pTice than one OF nome
manufacture Of the same grade. II was stated that
neither Tiffany Kirkpatrick, nor Hammond, OF William
st who were recognized As leading retailers In the
trade would keep or sell an American watch.
gentleman at Tinny & Company's was asked the
reason why their rm had American watches IN their
large collection. He answcTed that most OF their
stock was OF their own manufacture at Gen.
eva; they also sold the productions OF the best
manufacturers but would sell goods which they were
unable 10 warrant. watch to be a good timekeeper
must be flushed all It's parts, can be done only by
the most sknlul hand labor. Take" be said, " the
best American machine-made watch. and an ordinary
s,siss watch; show them 10 Of our wOrkmen, aud
nsk him TO compare them Ho viii thAt there Is
no compatisou; one Is finished production, and
tho other crude beginning He said
that Fayre-Pcrret In his speech ALLUDED only
TO n cheap watch called the Riverside" which he
termed the NTH grade. tho price OF which S2j. lie
spoke ~ other and any comparisons which lac made
were between IL and the cheap grades Of swiss
watches. Tiffany & Company keep cheap watches.
Il must bo distnctly understood Of that these
are the opinions and expressions Of those who aro inter
csted In foreign rather than American watches.
Mr. Appleton Of the American Watch Company, was
asked IN regard TO the statements winch had been made
adverse 90 tho watches made by his company He
.Imply denied them, and said that Whatever FavTe-
Perret may have taken back they had his speech and
trcr could br no question about his having made It,