Schwob-Weill

See Also: Schwob and Schwob Frères

Schwob-Weill (later called Schwob & Cie) was a watchmaking company in La Chaux-de-Fonds around the turn of the century. It was established by members of the Schwob family around the same time as Schwob Frères and was located a few doors down on Rue Léopold-Robert. There were many crossovers between the firms, and the companies were merged on December 31, 1919.

Relationship with Schwob Frères, Tavannes, and Cyma

There is undoubtedly a strong relationship between the firm of Schwob-Weill and Schwob Frères, which was itself associated with Tavannes Watch Co and the Cyma brand. Both were founded by immigrants from Alsace who established themselves in La Chaux-de-Fonds, and both obviously share the same surname. But these families were little more than cousins until they connected through watchmaking.

The firms were located next to each other on Rue Léopold-Robert in La Chaux-de-Fonds through the turn of the 20th century and remained neighbors on Rue Numa Droz following their 1917 incorporation. Georges Schwob (1891-1979) served on the board of both firms following this incorporation, which occurred on the same day for the same share capital and corporate structure.

Schwob & Cie represented both Tavannes Watch Co and Cyma in the early 20th century alongside Schwob Frères, though the latter is much more strongly associated with these brands. It was said that the two companies "split up the world", selling Tavannes-made watches in different countries to avoid competition.

On December 31, 1919, Schwob & Cie SA was merged into Schwob Frères SA. Thus, the families were merged, at least through business.

Schwob-Weill

This 1890 photograph shows the building at Avenue Léopold-Robert 12-14 in La Chaux-de-Fonds

The firm of Schwob-Weill is first noted in Indicateur Davoine in 1871. It was located at Rue Léopold-Robert 30, close to the firm J. Schwob-Lévy (at number 24) and Schwob, Bloch & Cie (at number 19). Schwob Frères appears in the 1875 edition at number 22, perhaps replacing the latter firm.

In 1875 it is noted that Schwob-Weill specializes in bronze and aluminum watches, a notable choice of materials in this period. The initial survey of Swiss businesses in 1883 notes that the head of the Schwob-Weill company in La Chaux-de-Fonds is Joseph Schwob-Weill (1829-1901). Originally from France, Joseph came to the village of Cerneux-Péquignot in Canton Neuchâtel before moving to La Chaux-de-Fonds. The company is focused on manufacture of watches, purchase, and annuity from an office at Rue Léopold Robert 30.

In 1883 the firm of Joseph Schwob-Weill registered a trademark for "F.A.C. Marque de Fabrique Locle" as a maker of watch cases. The firm registered another for "P.D.A. Monopole" in a shield featuring a ringed planet in 1885 to cover watch cases and movements and another in 1886 for "J.R. de B." with a moon and star. The company registered a trademark for their own name, "S-W" with the ringed planet in 1887. Another 1887 trademark for cases and movements reads "Fabrique de la Côte, Locle Suisse". A similar trademark for Fabrique de la Côte in 1890 specifies "Ancre" and "15 Rubis" and features a racing horse.

Schwob-Weill moved to Rue Léopold-Robert 11 on April 21, 1884. It was located on the first floor of the building, the former Hôtel-des-Postes. In 1890 the company gave power of attorney to Edmond Schwob (1864-1900), likely the son of Joseph Schwob-Weill. A new brand added in 1891 was "Bellevue", with logos featuring a sitting lion.

Schwob & Cie

The new Tavannes Watch building at Rue Numa Droz 156-158 was advertised on the reconstructed Avenue Léopold-Robert in this 1900 photograph

On January 1, 1892, a new company called Schwob-Weill & Fils was established. It took over the existing company and continued the same brands and products. Joseph Schwob-Weill, Moïse Schwob, and Edmond Schwob were the members of the firm. All of them originally came from Cerneux-Péquignot but lived in La Chaux-de-Fonds.

In 1896 the company is listed as specializing in "montres de la Tavannes Watch Co", the exact same business as Schwob Frères who was then located next door at number 12.

Five years later, on January 1, 1897, a new general partnership was formed to take over the company. Schwob & Cie, Successeurs de Schwob-Weill & Fils of La Chaux-de-Fonds was owned by Moïse Schwob, Edmond Schwob, and Adrien Schwob (1869-1957), all from Cerneux-Péquignot and domiciled in La Chaux-de-Fonds. The company remained focused on "manufacture and trade of watchmaking" and was still located at Rue Léopold-Robert 11 in La Chaux-de-Fonds.

Joseph Schwob-Weill died on December 15, 1901 at the age of 73. Edmond Schwob died by May 1903, leaving Moïse and Adrien Schwob in charge of the firm. Assuming this is Joseph's son, Edmond had died on July 27, 1900, at the age of 36. He was replaced by Anatole Schwob (1874-1932) from Morteau in December 1905, and he was elevated to the board in December 1910.

Georges Schwob (1891-1979), son of Moïse Schwob, was given power of attorney at Schwob & Cie in July of 1914. He would become the driving force for the company in later decades and would establish formal connections with Tavannes Watch Co and Cyma.

Although currently numbered 134-138 and occupied by Girard-Perregaux, the Schwob factory was numbered 156-160 in 1919

On December 6, 1917, a public limited company called Schwob et Cie SA was founded in La Chaux-de-Fonds to take over Schwob & Cie. Share capital was 2,000,000 francs. The board of directors was composed of Moïse Schwob, Adrien Schwob, Anatole Schwob, and Georges Schwob and the company was located at Rue Numa Droz 158. On the same day, an identical public limited company called Schwob Frères & Cie SA was founded to take over the general partnership Schwob Frères & Cie. Its board consisted of Isaac Schwob, Raphael Schwob, René Schwob, Maurice Schwab (of Tavannes), and Nephtaly Woog and it was located next door at Rue Numa Droz 156.

Schwob & Cie SA was merged into Schwob Frères et Cie SA at that company's general meeting on December 31, 1919. This was accomplished by combining the shares of the two firms, each worth 2,000,000 francs, into a single company worth 4,000,000 francs. The board of directors included the previous directors (Isaac, Raphael, René, and Maurice Schwob and Nephtaly Woog) as well as Moise, Adrien, and Georges Schwob of Schwob & Cie SA. The company's offices spanned Rue Numa Droz 156, 158, and 160.

Timeline

• 1829, October 8 - Joseph Schwob is born in France
• 1864, August 6 - Edmond Schwob is born in Cerneux-Péquignot
• 1869, August 7 - Adrien Schwob is born in Cerneux-Péquignot
• 1874, March 11 - Anatole Schwob is born in Morteau, France
• 1881, June 28 - Joseph Schwob is naturalized as a Swiss citizen of Cerneux-Péquignot
• 1883 - The initial registry of businesses notes that the head of the Schwob-Weill company in La Chaux-de-Fonds is Joseph Schwob from Cerneux-Péquignot, domiciled in Chaux-de-Fonds; the company began before January 1, 1883; type of business: Manufacture of watches, purchase, and annuity; offices: Rue Léopold Robert 30
• 1884, April 21 - The Schwob-Weill company moves to the first floor of Rue Léopold-Robert 11, the former Hôtel-des-Postes
• 1890, January - Schwob-Weill gives power of attorney to Edmond Schwob from Cerneux-Péquignot, domiciled in La Chaux-de-Fonds
• 1891, November 1 - Georges Schwob is born in La Chaux-de-Fonds to Moïse and Camille Schwob-Blum
• 1892, January 1 - Schwob-Weill is replaced by a new company called Schwob-Weill & Fils; members are Joseph Schwob-Weill, Moïse Schwob, and Edmond Schwob, all originally from Cerneux-Péquignot and domiciled in La Chaux-de-Fonds
• 1896, September - Adrien Schwob marries Jeanne Schwob
• 1897, January 1 - A general partnership is formed in La Chaux-de-Fonds called Schwob & Cie, Successeurs de Schwob-Weill & Fils; members are Moïse Schwob, Edmond Schwob, and Adrien Schwob, all from Cerneux-Péquignot and domiciled in La Chaux-de-Fonds; this company took over the assets and liabilities of Schwob-Weill & Fils; type of business: Manufacture and trade of watchmaking; Offices: 11, Rue Léopold-Robert
• 1900, July 27 - Edmond Schwob dies at age 36
• 1901, December 15 - Joseph Schwob-Weill dies at 73
• 1903, May - Following his death, Edmond Schwob is removed from management of Schwob & Cie
• 1905, December - Schwob & Cie gives power of attorney to Anatole Schwob, from Morteau France, domiciled in La Chaux-de-Fonds
• 1910, December - Anatole Schwob is elevated to partner in Schwob & Cie
• 1914, July - Georges Schwob from Cerneux-Péquignot, living in La Chaux-de-Fonds, is given power of attorney at Schwob & Cie
• 1917, December 6 - A new public limited company called Schwob et Cie SA is founded in La Chaux-de-Fonds to take over Schwob & Cie; share capital is 2,000,000 francs divided into 400 registered shares of 5000 francs each; the board of directors are Moïse Schwob, Adrien Schwob, Anatole Schwob, and Georges Schwob; the offices are at Rue Numa Droz 158
• 1917, December 6 - Another public limited company called Schwob Frères & Cie SA was founded in La Chaux-de-Fonds to take over the general partnership Schwob Frères & Cie; share capital is 2,000,000 francs divided into 400 registered shares of 5000 francs each; the board of directors are Isaac Schwob, from La Chaux-de-Ponds, domiciled in Lausanne; Raphael Schwob, René Schwob, both in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Maurice Schwab, domiciled in Tavannes, and Nephtaly Woog, domiciled in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the latter four from Morteau, France; the offices are at Rue Numa Droz 156
• 1919, June - The general partnerships Schwob & Cie and Schwob Frères & Cie are dissolved, having been taken over by their respective Sociétés Anonyme
• 1919, December 31 - At the general meeting, Schwob Frères et Cie SA and Schwob et Cie SA are merged; this is accomplished by combining the shares of the two firms, each worth 2,000,000 francs, into a single company called Schwob Frères et Cie SA worth 4,000,000 francs, divided into 800 registered shares of 5000 francs each; the board of directors includes the previous directors (Isaac, Raphael, René, and Maurice Schwob and Nephtaly Woog) as well as Moise Schwob, Adrien Schwob, and Georges Schwob; the company maintains offices at Rue Numa Droz 156, 158, and 160
• 1922, May 29 - Georges Schwob marries Cécile-Thérèse Ditesheim
• 1932, April 3 - Anatole Schwob dies at 58
• 1957, August 5 - Adrien Schwob dies at 88
• 1979, August 13 - Georges Schwob dies at 87