Armand Schwob & Frère

This 1890 photograph shows the building at Avenue Léopold-Robert 12-14 in La Chaux-de-Fonds which housed both Schwob Frères and Armand Schwob & Frère

Armand Schwob & Frère was a finisher and reseller of watches in La Chaux-de-Fonds active in the 1880s. It is best remembered for a scandal caused when the company was caught producing and selling watches inscribed with the name "Pateck & Cie, Genève" at the Universal Exposition in Antwerp in 1885. The company lost a court case against Patek, Philippe & Cie and was forced into bankruptcy in 1892. This case established that the Swiss trademark and branding laws were enforceable in court.

Armand Schwob and his brother Abraham Schwob are noted as being "de Bâle" in the 1883 registry of businesses. This suggests that the pair were born in Basel, though immigrants were often listed as being from the Swiss location of their immigration. Other sources claim that the brothers specifically came from Hégenheim, a suburb of Basel with a strong Jewish community that saw anti-Jewish riots in 1848. A later business registration suggests that their father was named Aron Schwob. They are not directly part of the Schwob-Weill or Schwob Frères families of La Chaux-de-Fonds.

The earliest definitive listing of the form of Armand Schwob & Frère is in the 1879 edition of Indicateur Davoine, which shows "Schwob, Armd & Frères" (sic) as a watchmaker at Rue Léopold-Robert 14 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. This is corrected to "Schwob, Armand & Frère" at the same address in the 1879 edition and remains consistent after this. The house at Rue Léopold-Robert 14 was also home to other watchmakers and business people, suggesting it was little more than an office and not a workshop or factory as the brothers claimed.

According to the 1891 announcement of the verdict of the Swiss Federal Court in the Patek Philippe case, the firm of Armand Schwob & Frère was established "in Paris and La Chaux-de-Fonds since November 22, 1881." Given the earlier listings above, we can infer that the Schwob brothers came from Hégenheim outside the gates of Basel and established a watch trading business in La Chaux-de-Fonds in the late 1870s. Finding some success, they established an official business in Paris and La Chaux-de-Fonds in November of 1881. Both brothers lived in Paris by 1883 and remained there for the rest of their lives.

The firm exhibited at the Universal Exposition in Amsterdam in 1883. It was noted to be "among the richest in terms of furnishings". In 1884, a watch by Armand Schwob & Frère takes the first prize at the chronometer competition at the Neuchâtel Observatory. It featured a tourbillon built by Albert Pellaton-Favre, who is called an "excellent artist" by Dr. Hirsch.

In 1887 this listing adds the description, "pour tous pays; maison à Paris, 19 Boulv. Bonne-Nouvelle". It must have been a small operation, since the address is shared with other tenants. The firm placed an ad in the 1891 and 1893 editions of Indicateur Davoine claiming "Horlogerie en tous genres - Achat et Vente - Exportation pour tous pays". The 1893 edition of Indicateur Davoine is the final appearance of the firm there.

In September of 1889, a branch of the firm Armand Schwob & Frère of Paris is established at the Abattoirs of Plainpalais in Geneva to trade in leather goods. The Paris office of the firm is located at Boulevard Bonne-Nouvelle 19, the same address specified for Armand Schwob & Frère of La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1879, and the partners are Armand and Abraham Schwob, so it is likely that this is the same company. It further specifies that the two are sons of Aron Schwob and are domiciled in Paris.

The bankruptcy Office of La Chaux-de-Fonds began the bankruptcy process for Armand Schwob & Frère on May 6, 1892. This is suspended on May 24 and ultimately cancelled on July 8, 1895.

Timeline

• 1883, January - The first survey of Swiss businesses lists the general partnership Armand Schwob & Frère, headquarters in La Chaux-de-Fonds; partners are Armand Schwob from Basel, domiciled in Paris, and Abraham Schwob from Basel, also domiciled in Paris; "this house existed before January 1, 1883"; type of trade: Manufacture of watches; offices: Rue Léopold Robert 14
• 1884, November 7 - Armand Schwob & Frère receives Swiss trademarks for Mortimore Watch Co (with a heron) and Marly Watch Co (with a swan).
• 1884, November 13 - Armand Schwob & Frère receives Swiss trademarks for Page Brothers Liverpool and Kent Brothers Liverpool
• 1885, January 23 - Armand Schwob & Frère receives Swiss trademark for Draper Watch Co
• 1886, April 19 - Armand Schwob & Frère receives Swiss trademark for Macolin Watch Co with a funicular
• 1886, June 25 - Armand Schwob & Frère receives Swiss trademark for A S & F Argentino with shaking hands
• 1886, July 19 - Armand Schwob & Frère receives Swiss trademark for "Munting?"
• 1887, May 24 - Armand Schwob & Frère receives Swiss trademark for A S & F Seguridad
• 1888, December 24 - Armand Schwob & Frère receives Swiss trademark for A S & F Cadenas
• 1889, April - Armand Schwob & Frère revokes the power of attorney conferred on Isidore Ulmann and gives power of attorney to Fritz-Arnold Droz from Chaux-de-Fonds, domiciled there
• 1889, September 19 - Armand Schwob & Frère, established in Paris, Boulevard Bonne-Nouvelle 19, following a certificate issued by the registry of the Commercial Court of the Seine department, founded in Plainpalais under the same name, a branch that began on September 19, 1889; The general partners are Armand and Abraham Schwob, both sons of Aron Schwob, domiciled in Paris; the purpose of the Plainpalais branch is the leather trade, and is represented vis-à-vis third parties by the signature of one of the two partners designated above; Office and premises: At the Abattoirs de Plainpalais
• 1890, April 26 - Armand Schwob & Frère receives Swiss trademark for La Marionette with a sun and star
• 1891, May 8 - Armand Schwob & Frère receives Swiss trademark for AS&F Trademark with gryphon heads
• 1891, October 1 - Armand Schwob & Frère receives Swiss trademarks for Pandora, Amazon, and Ceres
• 1892, May 6 - The bankruptcy Office of La Chaux-de-Fonds begins the bankruptcy of Armand Schwob & Frère, watchmaking dealers, in La Chaux-de-Fonds, at Rue Léopold-Robert 14; First meeting of creditors: Wednesday, May 25, 1892 at the City Hall in La Chaux-de-Fonds; Deadline for production: June 18, 1892
• 1892, May 24 - After the decision of the cantonal court of Neuchâtel, dated May 24, pronouncing the suspension of the bankruptcy operations of the house Armand Schwob et frères, the meeting of creditors that had been set for May 25 could not take place, the undersigned office again summons the creditors or interested parties of said house Armand Schwob & frères, for Wednesday, June 29, at 2 p.m., at the City Hall of La Cbaux-de-Fonds. As a result of this same suspension, the period for the production of claims or claims accompanied by supporting evidence, originally set for June 18, was extended until June 28, 1892, at 6 p.m.
• 1892, July - Armand Schwob & Frère in La Chaux-de-Fonds was automatically removed from the bankruptcy of the holders; Consequently, the power of attorney conferred by the said house to Fritz-Arnold Droz is extinguished
• 1895, July 8 - Bankruptcy Office of La Chaux-de-Fonds revokes the bankruptcy of Armand Schwob & frère, Rue Léopold-Robert 14