Reconvilier Watch Company

The Reconvilier Watch Company was founded in 1853 by Dr. Tièche in Reconvilier.

Tièche Ebauches

On February 13, 1850, the executive council of the canton of Berne granted authorization for the construction of a weir and lock across the river Birse in Reconvilier for the production of hydraulic power. This was done at the request of Dr. Emmanuel-Aimé Tièche (1810-1867), who sought to promote the industrial development of Reconvilier.

The ebauche factory was established three years later by Dr. Tièche, who sought to challenge the Fabrique d'Horlogerie de Fontainemelon and build industry in the village.

In 1855 Dr. Tièche also founded the first brass foundry in Switzerland, Bueche, Boillat et Cie, with Guillaume-Olivier Bueche, his son-in-law Edouard Boillat, and Ernest Kraft. The two firms worked closely together for the rest of the 19th century.

Kuhn et Tièche

On January 1, 1870, Charles Kuhn (1831-1888) and Emile Tièche took over the Tièche ebauche factory. The two were brothers-in-law, having married daughters of banker Louis Barbier of Bienne. Kuhn was primarily a banker but had previously founded a hardware supply business in Bienne in 1861 and would go on to become a municipal councilor, mayor of Bienne, and representative in the national council. Emile Tièche's father was the founder of the firm and a prominent doctor but had died in 1867.

Kuhn and Tièche installed a bell in the tower of the factory in 1870, and this became famous in Reconvilier. It called the workers to the factory every morning and sounded again at night to call the children home. It was also used to alert the fire brigade. Following the demolition of the factory in 1961 the bell was taken to Africa, where it was used in a hospital in Lambaréné.

The factory was initially called Tièche, Kuhn & Cie. but was simply called Kuhn et Tièche by 1873. It was listed as a "Fabrique d'ébauches, finissages et remontoirs et tuilerie mécanique" ("factory of ebauches, finishing and reassembly, and mechanical tools").

They expanded production to include the manufacturing of ebauches in addition to cases and complete watches. In 1883 the company received a diploma at the Swiss National Exhibition in Zurich. According to an 1884 article in Journal Suisse d'Horlogerie, the firm exhibited "pendant and key components of a wide variety of calibres and winding systems, with special arrangement for calendar. Their showcase also contained gold watch boxes from their workshop, and an assortment of watches with various decorations, gold, silver and metal. Kuhn & Tièche also works according to the principle of interchangeability of movement components, with ebauches that are completely finished by machine. By a cutting process, the angles of the bridges and thin plates come out as well finished as by hand." In 1885 the company was awarded a bronze medal at the Universal Exhibition in Antwerp for the excellence of its products.

The headquarters of the company was moved to Bienne in 1883 though the factory in Reconvilier remained in operation. Initially located at Pasquart 53, it was moved to Rue Haute 35 in 1886, Fontaines 4 in 1893, and Rue Haute 5 by 1900. This was a residential and office building in the old town of Bienne.

Kuhn et Tièche received Swiss Patent number 8 on November 15, 1888, behind only Paul Perret among watchmakers receiving the first Swiss patents on the day registration opened. Just behind the firm in line were Edouard Heuer (no. 9), Auguste Goy-Golay (no. 10), Hermann Bovet (no. 12), and Charles Humbert Fils (no. 15).

Charles Kuhn-Barbier died in Bienne in 1888. Emile Tièche-Barbier continued the company with Charles Kuhn-Bloesch, son of the late Charles Kuhn-Barbier, on March 1. The firm was able to continue under the same name since Tièche's new partner shared his father's name. Robert Vogt was added to management at the same time.

The partners' private bank, Tièche, Kuhn & Cie, failed in November 1901, with the watchmaking assets formally becoming known as Kuhn & Cie. This business was no longer able to continue, so a buyer was sought. It was taken over by a new consortium on March 3, 1902.

Tièche, Kuhn & Cie

The name Tièche, Kuhn & Cie reappeared as the name of a private bank in Bienne in 1895. This was located at Rue Haute 5 alongside the headquarters of Kuhn et Tièche through 1903.

Tièche, Kuhn & Cie. began as Barbier-Moser & Cie. in 1859, founded by Louis Barbier in Biel. After Barbier's death in 1876, the bank passed to his sons-in-law and was renamed Tièche, Kuhn & Cie.

Emile Tièche-Barbier, Charles Kuhn-Blösch, and the widow Josephine Kuhn-Barbier formed the firm Barbier-Moser & Cie in Bienne on January 1, 1893. It took over the banking business of Tièche, Kuhn & Cie. It operated until November 1901 when it closed, with Volksbank Biel assuming its assets. The bank's closure marked a shift in Biel's banking landscape, influenced by industrial crises and competition.

Société Horlogère Reconvilier

On March 3, 1902, The assets of the Reconvilier watch factory, known as Kuhn & Cie since the failure of the partners' bank in November 1901, were taken over by a new company. The Société d'Horlogerie Reconvillier was created with 240,000 francs share capital and was administered by Bienne industrialist Ferdinand Bachschmid, Le Noirmont watchmaker Georges Ruedin-Mathez, who also became director of the firm, and Solothurn lawyer Robert Marti. But this firm was dissolved just 3 months later, on June 19, with Georges Ruedin seeking other investors.

On September 5, 1902, another public limited company took over the factory. Georges Ruedin's new partners brought sufficient capital to stabilize the company and expand it. This is the date referenced throughout the 20th century as the founding date of the firm, despite the fact that it was already 50 years old at the time. The company, now called Société Horlogère Reconvilier (later Reconvilier Watch Co) saw Lausanne investor Ferdinand Grillet and St-Saphorin sur Morges based lawyer Ernest Krayenbühl join Georges Ruedin-Mathez, who was again made the director. Lausanne-based lawyer and investor Aloys (or Aloïs) du Mont also invested in the venture. Grillet would remain chairman of the board through the 1920s.

Specializing at first only on higher-quality Roskopf watches, the factory soon began to manufacture anchor pocket watches and wristwatches. The Roskopf System watches produced there included an elegant model only 22 twelfths high, and Reconvilier also manufactured the watches under the name of Louis Roskopf.

The Reconvilier factory in 1935

Aloys du Mont died in 1923 and was replaced on the board by his grandson, Roger Krayenbühl. Share capital of the firm was reduced on November 19, 1925 from 120,000 to 80,000 francs by deletion of a number of shares. Ernest Krayenbühl became vice-chairman of the company at this same time.

André Ruedin (1902-1947), son of Georges Ruedin, joined the firm in 1926. Georges Ruedin registered the firm Louis Roskopf SA in 1926 with Henri-Léon Reinbold. By this time he lived in Le Landeron. On August 15, 1928, Georges Ruedin acquired the entire watchmaking business, removing Grillet and the Krayenbühls from the board. He took sole control of Louis Roskopf SA in October 1929.

In the 1930s the company added production of 8-day clocks and other specialties such as automatic switches for radios, illuminated advertisements, and more. By 1935 the firm employed nearly two hundred workers, of which more than a third had been with the firm for more than 25 years.

Georges Ruedin retired from the company in June 1933 and it was reorganized under his sons. Jean Ruedin became general manager, his brother André Ruedin became manager of ebauches, Henri Benoit was named accountant, Edouard Friedli head of manufacturing.

Georges Ruedin died on February 24, 1935, leaving the Reconvilier firm in the hands of his sons Jean (sole owner) and André. The company met on October 15, 1936 to reorganize following the death of Georges Ruedin. Share capital was reduced from 120,000 to 60,000 francs, paying out his widow. Lawyer Ferdinand Degoumois was made chairman of the board, with Fritz Fischbacher and Jean Ruedin rounding out the board. Jean Ruedin was also appointed as director of the company. On October 15, Edouard Friedli, André Ruedin, and Henri Benoit retained their positions as head of the factory, ebauches, and finance.

In 1942 the Reconvilier Watch Co. celebrated its 50th anniversary. Contemporary advertisements show a range of watches in various popular styles with the words "Qualite" and "Precision". The company used the brands Reconvilier, Hercules, and Louis Roskopf on various products.

André died suddenly in 1947 of a heart attack. His widow Angèle Ruedin-Broccard, took over his role as administrator while Alfred Seinet (formerly of A. Bréguet) became director and Auguste Steudler (formerly of Malleray Watch Company) was appointed technical director. On June 4, 1948, the company issued 424 new shares, increasing share capital from 61,000 to 212,000 francs. The directors now consisted of Jean Ruedin, president, Angéle Ruedin, secretary, and Werner-Alfred Seinet. Fritz Hãni was designated as a proxy. On November 30, 1949, the company again increased share capital to 292,000 francs by issuing 320 new shares. William Jeanneret of Le Locle joined the directors but was quickly removed in 1951.

From 1959 through 1961 the factory in Reconvilier was used by Baumgartner Frères to produce ebauches. But the factory was acquired in 1961 by Boillat SA, descendant of the other major Reconvilier company created by Dr. Tièche in the 1850s.

On February 19 and March 24, 1971, the company was acquired. It moved its headquarters to Neuchâtel and changed the corporate name to Société Horlogère Rodé. The share capital remained 292,000 francs. The company was administered by a board of directors under chairman Jean-Victor Degoumois, with Charlotte-Alice Degoumois-Monnier as secretary. Laurent Grosjean-Degoumois was proxy, with Jean Ruedin's signature cancelled. Henri Benoît, René Philippin, Louis-Auguste Thiébaud, Max Henri Arnold Lohner, and Henri-Gervais Gindrat were also removed from the company.