Essor: Difference between revisions
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Essor continued to produce and sell ebauches through at least [[1936]], flouting the industry's control. It could not be forced to comply since it did not have much debt to the Swiss banks and represented a small percentage of industry capacity. | Essor continued to produce and sell ebauches through at least [[1936]], flouting the industry's control. It could not be forced to comply since it did not have much debt to the Swiss banks and represented a small percentage of industry capacity. | ||
In [[1941]] the Swiss federal government provided a grant to resolve some of the remaining dissident issues. Essor was enticed to join the [[FH]] and conform to its rules at this time, becoming a [[manufacture]] focused on producing in-house movements for its own watches. | |||
==Post-War== | ==Post-War== | ||
Latest revision as of 16:00, 24 February 2023
Essor is a maker of ebauches and watchmaking machines in Court from 1915 through the present day. The company began as Rossé & Bueche, became Rossé, Bueche, & Affolter in 1917, and Rossé & Affolter in 1920. It was known as "L'Essor" ("the rise") as early as 1917 and continues to use this name today.
Founding
The company was registered as Rossé & Bueche on November 15, 1915. It specialized in machine turning and watchmaking tools.
Albert Affolter of Leuzingen joined the firm on February 23, 1917, and it was renamed Rossé, Bueche, & Affolter. It was at this time that the name "L'Essor" was added to the firm. A period advertisement specifies that the company specializes in finishing pinions with raised pivots but does not assemble watches.
Henri Bueche retired from the company on December 3, 1920, and it was known as Rossé & Affolter, L'Essor after this.
Dissident
Essor was one of the few "holdout" ebauche factories that did not join Ebauches SA by 1930, and was one of the so-called Dissident watchmakers that caused a major controversy in 1931. The foundation of the industry restrictions that year specifically called for Ebauches SA to purchase Essor and Meyer et Fils in Pontenet but the companies refused to sell. Degoumois & Cie purchased a number of ebauches from them and was brought to the Swiss federal court on charges of evading Fidhor restrictions on competition. The case was resolved in favor of the cartel.
Essor continued to produce and sell ebauches through at least 1936, flouting the industry's control. It could not be forced to comply since it did not have much debt to the Swiss banks and represented a small percentage of industry capacity.
In 1941 the Swiss federal government provided a grant to resolve some of the remaining dissident issues. Essor was enticed to join the FH and conform to its rules at this time, becoming a manufacture focused on producing in-house movements for its own watches.
Post-War
Fabrique L'Essor, Rossé & Affolter, continued after the war but focused now on precision machining for all industries, especially complete watch barrels.
Today Essor produces precision turned parts for the electronic, medical, automotive, and watchmaking industries.