The San Francisco call., 1910-09-06
HAND MADE WATCH
DOOMED TO DEATH
Swiss Manufacturers Realize
Primitive Custom Must Make
Way For Machinery

Consul General Robert E. Mansfield
reviews the watch industry of Swift
zerland, as follows:
The Swiss watch industry suffered Sc
verely from the depression which pre-
vailed throughout the confederation
during 1908 and the first half of 1909.
The effect was most serious in Neu
chatel and Chau de Fonds districts
where the chief occupation is manufac-
turing watches, and where much of the
worl3 is done by hand.
1t is due to the work of the inhabi-
tants of the rural districts in French
Switzerland, the cantons of Neuchatel,
Vaud. Geneva and the Bernese Jura,
where the manufacture of watches fur
nishes the principal industry and sup
port of the people, that so much prog
ress has been made and Swiss manu-
facturers have been able to compete
successfully in the foreign markets,
and especially with American made
watches, which, owing to better me-
chanical processes in their construc-
tion, threatened at one time to sup
plant Swiss watches in the markets of
Europe.
The value of watches exported from
Switzerland in 1905 was, in round
numbers, S25,000,000 in 1906. $4,000
600, and the same in 1907 The effect of
the industrial depression of 1908 is
shown in the export figures, which
were $24,954,24O, a decrease of over
100000 as compared with the pre-
vious year. The export values for 1903
were $24,313,205 The situation result
ing from the depression, which contin-
ued until the middle of the year 1909,
was aggravated by the fact that the
greater part of the manufacturers en-
larged and increased the capacity of
their establishments during the pros
porous years of 1867, in order to meet
the increased demand for their prod
ucts.
About the middle of 1909 there was
a decided improvement in business.
Since that time most satisfactory prog
ress has been made, and the beginning
of 1910 showed an activity in the in
dustry equal to that of the most pros
porous year of 1907 Notwithstanding
the Improvement in the last half of the
year. business of 1909 was, on the
whole, disappointing, exports for the
IL MONTHS being below those iof 1908.
The Swiss watch manufacturers did
not, however, follow the usual custom
resorted to in industrial depressions,
that of closing their factories or dis
charging a portion of their employees,
but followed the more conserva tive
course of reducing the hours of work.
thereby retaining their complement of
hands and keeping their plants in
operation. The comparatively small
humber of factories that suspended
operation during the year and half
of depression through which it passed
proves the financial stability of the
Swiss watch industry.
Notwithstanding that the industry
started in under the most favorable
conditions and promised prospects for a
prosperous season, it is difficult to pre-
dict the outcome of the present years $
business. The large stocks accumu-
lated during the crisis, when there was
little export demand, and the keen COM
petition Of American machine made
Using than present activity would seem
to indicate.
A feature of the business that must
be taken into account in considering
the future. and one that promises to
effect a revolution in the Swiss in
dustry, is the passing of the hand made
watch to make room for the article
produced entirely by machinery. This
change from the primitive custom
which has prevailed in Switzerland to
the more modern method will bring
the Swiss manufacturers into direct
competition with factories using the
latest improved mechanical processes in
other countries, and also detract from
the interest that has been maintained
in Swiss watches, which have always
been regarded as being in particular
class. possessing special merits