Busga

Busga was a Swiss watch manufacturer active from at least 1883 through 2001. Founded by Jules Schoepf (also spelled Schœpf), it was later called Schoepf-Courvoisier and then Buess & Gagnebin. The company was located in La Chaux-de-Fonds and specialized in watches for women. The company is said to have been founded in 1870.

Predecessors

Jacob Schoepf is listed under "Marchands-Tailleurs" at Rue Robert 154 in 1856 in Indicateur Davoine. This was re-numbered to become Robert 14, and Jacob Schoepf apparently partnered soon thereafter, as Ingold et Schoepf is listed at that address in 1861. The company was listed as a full watchmaking firm in the 1860s. In 1873 the company is listed at Rue de la Demoiselle 13.

Albert Bridler-Schoepf of Mullheim (Thurgovie) was listed as A. Bridler-Schoepf at Premier Mars 14 starting from 1879 through 1883. This may have been the successor to Schoepf et Selz. It specialized in small pendant watches ("pet. montres remont. et pièces à clef"). It appears that Albert was the brother in law of Jules Schoepf-Courvoisier, with Jacob Schoepf likely the father. In 1883 the listing changes to Vve. Jacob Schoepf, with A. Bridler-Schoepf moving to Progrès 20. Vve. Jacob Schoepf is no longer listed after 1887. A. Bridler-Schoepf moved to Demoiselle 55 in 1894 and was deleted in 1901 following the death of Albert Bridler-Schoepf.

Jules-Edouard Schoepf of Enges went into business with Jules-Victor Quilleret of Montmelon in 1884 selling watches and watchmaking tools at Rue Neuve 16 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. The partners split in 1886 with Quilleret continuing at Neuve 16 and J. E. Schoepf Fils moving to Rue du Parc 28. Marc Nicolet of La Ferrière was given power of attorney in 1887 and the firm registered a lantern trademark for watch cases that same year. The company faced bankruptcy in 1888 and was deleted in 1890. It is unclear if J. E. Schoepf is the same man as Jules Schoepf, founder of Busga.

Jules Schoepf

Jules Schoepf (about 1849-1903) formed a partnership with Leonhard Selz known as Schoepf et Selz in 1877. The firm was listed at Collége 5 that first year and at Envers 10 in 1879, but the partners decided to split the firm as of December 31, 1881. After this the company continued under the name of Jules Schoepf alone and was first listed in the 1880 edition of Indicateur Davoine. His address is Premier-Mars 14, the same address as Albert Bridler-Schoepf, who was also a maker of watches.

A direct line can be traced from watchmaker Jules Schoepf, registered in the 1883 business survey, to Montres Busga. Jules Schoepf was originally from Enges in Canton Neuchâtel but lived in La Chaux-de-Fonds by that year and his workshop was located at Rue du Premier Mars 14. In 1887, Schoepf registered a trademark of a dog's head over the initials JS in a scroll.

Schoepf was officially listed as Schoepf-Courvoisier in July 1888, as this was his alliance name after marrying Laure Courvoisier, daughter of Louis Courvoisier-Calame.

The company moved to Rue du Parc 30 in 1894. In 1899 Indicateur Davoine notes that Schoepf-Courvoisier specializes in "petites montres genres Allemand et Autriche."

Following the death of Jules Schoepf-Courvoisier on March 2, 1903, his widow took over the business. His son Charles-Otto Schoepf, also of Enges and living in La Chaux-de-Fonds, was given power of attorney.

Another trademark, Ródano, was registered in May 1910.

Buess & Gagnebin

Charles Buess (about 1871-1940) of Aarau and Achille Gagnebin (1883-1944) of Renan took over the company on July 1, 1911. Now officially called Buess & Gagnebin, Successeurs de Vve Schoepf-Courvoisier, Charles-Otto Schoepf was removed at this time. The firm continued operation at Rue du Parc 31 and continued to use the JS trademark.

The Busga Watch Co. name was added in December 1913 by Buess & Gagnebin. A shortened form of the partners' last names, Busga would be the company's primary name from then on. The Busga and Colma trademarks were registered separately in February 1927.

Busga was officially allowed to trade in gold, silver, and platinum waste by the Federal Council in 1916 along with Laplace & Humbert-Droz of Geneva. This suggests that the company was actively engaged in producing high-end precious metal watches.

The company was officially known as Buess, Gagnebin et Cie. after the 1928 investment of 15,000 francs by American Morton Ollendorf.

Montres Busga

In December 1934 the company was incorporated as Montres Busga SA (Busga Watches Ltd). The company was administered by president Fritz Bliss (1898-1973) of Zurich, Dr. Max Hollinger of St-Gall, and Charles Buess of Aarau. Emma Perret (1894-1987) of La Sagne gained signing authority. The company was located at Rue du 1er Août 39 in La Chaux-de-Fonds.

In 1938 Emma Perret replaced Charles Buess on the board, shortly before his death in 1940. Share capital was increased from 10,000 to 50,000 francs in 1941 as new shares were issued, and it was increased further to 100,000 francs in 1946 with another share issue. The company moved to Rue Alexis-Plaget 34 in 1949.

Fritz Bliss married Emma-Irma Perret on July 7, 1950. This followed the death of his first wife, May Wintsch (1898-1949). In 1952, following the death of Max Hollinger, Fritz and Emma Bliss took over sole control of the firm, though the couple had divorced by this time. Marcel Bliss of Zurich was given power of attorney in 1959.

Alfred Perret-Perret worked for the firm for 35 years but was found dead after hiking in 1955. He and Emma were the children of Jules Perret-Benoit (1865-1951).

A very unusual keyring watch was introduced in 1958 at the Basel Fair: The "Capitol Alarm Timer" was an alarm watch shaped as an automobile tire that featured a digital hour readout. A similar design in a more conventional pendant was the 1959 "Capitol Line".

Emma-Irma Bliss-Perret left the company in April 1967 with Marcel Bliss taking her place. His wife Christiane Bliss was added to the board in 1969 along with Charles-André Wintsch of Geneva.

Fritz Bliss died on January 18, 1973 at the age of 74, with Marcel Bliss taking his place as president of Busga. The company moved to Rue Avocat Bille 4 in 1978. Following the death of Charles-André Wintsch, Jean-Claude Bliss and Florence Horni-Bliss were given power of attorney and the company was moved to Rue Avocat Bille 2.

Emma Bliss-Perret died May 4, 1987, at the age of 93. The firm moved to Rue du Signal 8 in 1988.

Montres Busga was liquidated starting in 2000 by Christiane Bliss, Jean-Claude Bliss, and Florence Horni-Bliss following the death of Marcel Bliss. The liquidation was completed the following year.

Personnel

• Jules Schoepf (about 1849-March 2, 1903)
• Charles Buess (about 1871-November 6, 1940)
• Achille Gagnebin (September 16, 1883-November 16, 1944)
• Fritz Bliss (August 31, 1898-January 18, 1973)
• Emma-Irma Bliss-Perret (1894-May 4, 1987)
• Louis-Alfred Perret-Perret (October 31, 1888-June 13, 1955)