Jaccottet

Paul-Emile Jaccottet (sometimes spelled "Jacotet" or "Jacottet") established a manufacturing business in 1842 and it quickly became one of the premier ebauche manufacturers in Switzerland. Under the management of Mauler, Ducommun, Méroz, and Blanc, the business lasted until the early 20th century.

History

Travers is the capital and namesake of the Val-de-Travers, and entered watchmaking in the 18th century. But it was the business of Paul-Emile Jaccottet, established in 1842, that would make the town famous. P.-E. Jaccottet was a gifted watchmaker and mechanic, focused on the improvement of watchmaking manufacturing through the use of mechanical resources. Many of the industrial processes that were later credited to the Americans originated with Jaccottet, but his ideas were not appreciated in Geneva, where they were seen as a threat to the status quo. Relocating to Travers, Jaccottet focused initially on the manufacture of the new anchor escapements while also working to design his own movements.

Ebauches from Jaccottet were admired for both their technical characteristics and superior level of finish from the factory. Although he charged more than his competitors (chiefly Fontainemelon but also Japy in France), Jaccottet's ebauches were in such demand that he was relatively insulated from the fierce price-based competition that buffeted these companies in the 1860s. Jaccottet movements were appreciated not only by Swiss manufacturers but also in France, where quality was prized over volume. In addition to various varieties of key and crown winding movements, Jaccottet also manufactured blanks for marine chronometers, assortments for anchor escapements, compensated balances, and finished wheels.

Jaccottet also maintained a hydraulic factory in Furcil, near Noiraigue, and this was used for heavier manufacturing. This factory specialized in laminated steel for springs, watch and clock hands, as well as other watchmaking supplies. Paul-Emile Jaccottet also designed and manufactured machine tools for other manufacturers.

Eugene Mauler

Eugene Mauler was born in 1835 in Lille, France. He apprenticed as a watchmaker, working in England, before being summoned by Paul-Emile Jaccottet to join his factory in Travers in 1858. Because his mother came from Motiers-Travers, Mauler was able to claim Swiss nationality. After Jaccottet's death in 1864, Mauler became his successor. By 1865, "Fabrique Paul-Emile Jaccottet" was operated by Eugene Mauler & Cie.

Mauler partnered with Paul Ducommun by 1871 as Mauler & Ducommun. But failing health forced Mauler to retire to Neuchâtel in 1880, leaving the factory as Paul Ducommun & Cie. Mauler continued to manufacture special watches in Neuchâtel using movements produced by the Travers factory. Eugene Mauler died in 1893 at 58.

Ducommun & Cie.

Paul Ducommun operated the Travers ebauche factory as Ducommun & Cie. From 1880 through 1892. But Ducommun was unable to divide his focus between Travers and Furcil and sold the Travers ebauche works to Blanc and Hainard in 1892. Thereafter, Paul Ducommun focused his work on the manufacture of springs, hands, and other components in Furcil.

In 1904, Paul Ducommun offered his lands and factory for sale.

Blanc & Cie.

In 1892, Ducommun sold the factory to Emile Blanc and Hainard, who ran it as Blanc & Cie. By 1894, the Travers factory was supplying ebauches to Paul-D. Nardin of Ulysse Nardin for marine chronometers, allowing them to be produced entirely in the Canton.

J. Meroz

By 1905, the factory was in the hands of John Méroz. He advertised heavily and was a proponent of the use of the metric system in watchmaking. Meroz also opened a watch factory in La Ferriere but the business was liquidated in bankruptcy on September 27, 1909. This sale included both the La Ferriere business and factory and all of the machines and tooling from the Travers factory.