Henri Thalmann

Henri Thalmann was a watchmaker active in Bienne in the late 19th century. He became active in local industrial organizations, including the Syndicat des Fabricants d'Horlogerie des Cantons de Berne et de Soleure.

Henri Thalmann was born around 1843 or 1844 in Lignières, where his father worked as a plasterer. He grew up in Bellach in Canton Solothurn, and assisted his father in his work, but this profession did not suit him. Thalmann went to Dombresson to apprentice as a watchmaker, and later went to work at the Moutier watch factory. It was there that Henri Thalmann met Julie Chodat, who became his wife. He was related to Saint-Imier and Bienne watch dealer Fritz Thalmann, possibly his brother.

Proving himself a skilled and dedicated worker, Thalmann was called to Reconvillier, where he became director of part of the manufacturing at the Reconvilier Watch Company. But he did not believe that the small town could accommodate further business development and moved instead to the bustling city of Bienne in the 1870s. A man of the same name was noted as the treasurer of the Mutual Labor Credit branch in Moutier in 1875. And a Henri Thalmann sold his possessions in Tavannes in May 1876 as he was moving to Bienne. He was noted to be the treasurer of the Société de Consummation de Bienne in 1878.

Thalmann soon opened his own watchmaking workshop in Bienne. In March 1880 he advertised for employees: He was hiring a remonteur, two pivoteurs, and an acheveur for anchor escapements. This shows that the operation, while fairly small, was set up to produce finer finished watches.

Thalmann was caught up in the failure of the Banque Populaire de Bienne in early 1880. He was charged with mistreatment of a police officer during the "riot" at the offices of the bank at their shareholder meetings on January 18 and February 1. In June 1881 Thalmann was found guilty of "resistance to the police" and fined 20 francs, along with a number of other watchmakers and businessmen involved in the affair.

In 1885, Thalmann produced an unusual pendant winding watch for the Tir Cantonale featuring a 24 hour hand in addition to a standard hour hand. The two hour hands were linked and moved together, not requiring special adjustment. Thalmann won a bronze medal at the 1885 Antwerp exposition. His display featured 10 and 12 ligne gold watches for ladies.

In 1888 the Syndicat des Fabricants d'Horlogerie des Cantons de Berne et de Soleure was created, with Henri Thalmann serving as the president of this organization. He was joined by Louis Muller as vice president, L. Girardin-Bourgeois as treasurer, and Fritz Huguenin and Jean Aegler as secretaries. Thalmann was re-elected as president in 1890. He organized regular watch markets in Bienne through this organization, operating every Tuesday in 1892.

Thalmann spoke at the funeral of Jules-Prosper Cousin of Reconvilier along with Hippolyte Frêne. It is suggested that the two knew each other from school.

Henri Thalmann was an outspoken proponent of trade unions, speaking at the national council in 1893. He saw these as a way to increase worker productivity and morality and stave off strikes.

In 1894 Thalmann was named chairman of the Seeland watch company. He served alongside Louis Müller.

Thalmann began working with other partners, growing his businesses rapidly in the 1890s. But this caused serious issues when his partners proved not to be up to the task. He soon faced financial trouble along with British watchmaker Hans Born-Brown. In May 1895 a group of watch producers in Saint-Imier and La Chaux-de-Fonds sued the company Henri Thalmann & Cie of Bienne and London for fraud and breach of trust. Born was pursued through Bienne by Léon-N. Robert and reported to the police in July of that year. On August 10, 1895, a bankruptcy sale was arranged for the remaining watches and components owned by the company. His home was sold at auction in October 1896 to cover his debts.

In addition to watchmaking, Henri Halmann served on the school commission for the Bienne watchmaking school, the city council, and the technicum supervisory commission. He belonged to the liberal and progressive party and served as a sergeant major in company 331 of the riflemen. Later in life Thalmann devoted his energy to the society for the protection of animals.

Thalmann fell to his death down the stairs at his home on February 28, 1904. He was 61 years old. He was survived by his widow, Julie Thalmann-Chodat, Sophie Guenot-Thalmann of Le Landeron, Fritz Thalmann of Saint-Imier, and many others. His funeral oration was given by watchmaker Paul Moser.