Fabrique d'Horlogerie de Delémont: Difference between revisions
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The Fabrique d'Horlogerie de Delémont (Delémont Watch Company) was the primary maker of | The Fabrique d'Horlogerie de Delémont (Delémont Watch Company) was the primary maker of [[ebauche]]s in [[Delémont]] from [[1890]] through [[1928]]. It grew out of the watchmaking activities established by [[Emile Maître]] in the late 19th century, which became Maître, Frêne & Künzli in [[1886]] when [[Hippolite Frêne]] and [[Léon Künzli]] joined as partners. In [[1890]] Emile Maître partnered with [[Raphaël Picard]] and his sons to form E. Maître & Cie as a supplier to their successful [[La Chaux-de-Fonds]] watchmaking firm, [[Les Fils de R. Picard]]. In [[1895]] the operation became known as Weber, Ruedin & Cie under [[Jämes Ruedin]], then simply Ruedin & Cie, and finally Fabrique d'Horlogerie de Delémont from [[1921]] until it was shut down by the [[Ebauches SA]] cartel in [[1928]]. | ||
==Maître, Frêne & Künzli== | ==Maître, Frêne & Künzli== | ||
Revision as of 18:41, 7 July 2024
The Fabrique d'Horlogerie de Delémont (Delémont Watch Company) was the primary maker of ebauches in Delémont from 1890 through 1928. It grew out of the watchmaking activities established by Emile Maître in the late 19th century, which became Maître, Frêne & Künzli in 1886 when Hippolite Frêne and Léon Künzli joined as partners. In 1890 Emile Maître partnered with Raphaël Picard and his sons to form E. Maître & Cie as a supplier to their successful La Chaux-de-Fonds watchmaking firm, Les Fils de R. Picard. In 1895 the operation became known as Weber, Ruedin & Cie under Jämes Ruedin, then simply Ruedin & Cie, and finally Fabrique d'Horlogerie de Delémont from 1921 until it was shut down by the Ebauches SA cartel in 1928.
Maître, Frêne & Künzli
- See Also: Emile Maître
On April 1, 1886, Emile Maître partnered with Léon Künzli (perhaps related to Ernest Künzli or the same person) and Hippolyte Frêne to construct a new ebauche and toolmaking factory in Moutier. The business was called Maître, Frêne & Künzli and appears to have been somewhat successful especially in supplying machine tools to other ebauche makers.
La Fédération Horlogère reported in November 1890 that a new ebauche factory in Delémont started production with tools made in Moutier by Maître, Frêne & Künzli. The article continued, mentioning a new ebauche factory in Tavannes (likely Henri Sandoz' Tavannes Watch factory) and another in Tramelan (perhaps Nicolet or A. Reymond). The firm of Maître, Frêne & Künzli in Moutier continued until Emile Maître's death in 1891, suggesting that he was the key partner.
This was likely a reference to the company called E. Maître & Cie, which was established in Delémont by Emile Maître on February 18, 1890. His partners were the sons of Raphaël Picard (founder of Invicta), and his three sons Edmond, Gabriel, and Armand Picard, each limited to 10,000 francs. The firm produced ebauches for pocket watches until Emile Maître died and it was dissolved in August of 1891. The operation was then taken over as a branch of the sons' firm, Les Fils de R. Picard of La Chaux-de-Fonds.
Weber, Ruedin & Cie
- See Also: Jämes Ruedin
On January 15, 1895, Jämes Ruedin partnered with Jules Weber to take over the ebauche factory of Emile Maître. Other partners in this business were Edmond, Gabriel, and Armand Picard of Les Fils de R. Picard, a prominent firm in La Chaux-de-Fonds that was later known under the Invicta brand. The company was called Weber, Ruedin & Cie.
Following the death of Jules Weber. Ruedin took over the majority partnership in the company, which was then known as Ruedin & Cie, manufacture d'Horlogerie de Delémont. Ruedin parted ways with the Picard brothers in August 1916, with the company now called J. Ruedin.
Fabrique d'Horlogerie de Delémont
Following Ruedin's retirement on April 20, 1921 the company was taken over by Emile Fasnacht and Paul Fasnaeht as Fabrique d'Horlogerie de Delémont.
The ebauche making operations of the Delémont factory were taken over by Ebauches SA by 1928, with the Fabrique d'Horlogerie de Delémont dissolved on November 13 of that year. Production in Delémont was not continued by the cartel.