Otto Schild-Wyss

Otto Schild-Wyss (1873-1961) was a well-known businessman and watchmaker from Grenchen who lived and worked in La Chaux-de-Fonds. He was the founder and namesake of the Schild & Co factory in the watchmaking city, which was famous for producing the Hebdomas 8-day pocket watch with Arthur Graizely and later produced the Reform brand electric clock.

Otto Schild was born November 4, 1873 in Grenchen. He was not the son of Urs Schild-Rust, founder of Eterna - his son Leo Otto Schild founded Solothurner Zeitung with Gottlieb Vogt-Schild. But Schild-Wyss was certainly connected with the wider Schild family of Grenchen.

Otto Schild lived in Neuchatel in 1898 but moved to La Chaux-de-Fonds by 1902.

On April 7, 1903, Otto Schild married Blanche-Cécile Wyss (August 21, 1874-June 13, 1931). The couple had four children: Elsa Matthey-Doret-Schild (1904?-September 22 1977, married Robert Matthey-Doret), Max Schild-Buess (died before 1977, married Paulette Buess), Werner Schild-Carré (died after 1977), and Léon-Bernard Schild-Gerber (1909?-January 25 1976 married June 12 1961 Hélène-Madeline Gerber). Werner and Léon succeeded their father as managers of Schild & Co.

Otto Schild was active in the military in La Chaux-de-Fonds. He was promoted to first lieutenant in charge of the troops in La Chaux-de-Fonds in January 1902. He was a lieutenant colonel by 1921 and was promoted to head the supply section. He ultimately achieved the rank of colonel (Kriegskommissar) by his death in 1961.

On July 15, 1902, Otto Schild founded a branch of Arthur Graizely's La Ferriere watchmaking operation in La Chaux-de-Fonds. It was located at Rue da la Serre 4. On May 1 1904 these operations were merged, forming Graizely et Cie under the direction of Graizely and Schild. The new company was located at Rue des Terreaux 33 in La Chaux-de-Fonds.

For 1912-1913, Otto Schild was vice president of the Comité de Direction de la Société des Fabricants d'Horlogerie de La Chaux-de-Fonds. He served with president Paul Ditisheim, secretary Albert Mosimann, vice secretary Louis Rosat, and treasurer Arnold Braunschweig, the best-known business men in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Schild continued in this position for 1914-1915. Otto Shild was named president of the Société for 1916, with vice president Arnold Braunschweig, secretary Albert Mosimann, vice-secretary Louis Roast, and treasurer Charles Delimoges. But he stepped down to become a member in 1916, with Arnold Braunschweig taking over the presidency. He was a member of the Chambre Suisse de l'Horlogerie in 1919.

Schild represented the Syndicat des Fabriques de Montres in the unemployment commission formed in 1913.

On May 1, 1913 Otto Schild went into business with Léon-Joseph Wyss, likely his father in law, forming a new company called Schild & Co to take over the former Graizely et Cie business in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Schild was the unlimited partner in the business, with Wyss contributing 100,000 francs. The company was located at Rue du Parc 137.

Otto Schild died on September 26, 1961, in La Chaux-de-Fonds. He was survived by his children, Elsa Matthey-Doret-Schild, Max Schild-Buess, Werner Schild-Carré, and Léon Schild-Gerber, as well as Roland Schild.