Gustave Geiser

See Also the unrelated firm of Emile Geiser

Gustave Geiser was a maker of watch springs in Sonvillier in the second half of the 19th century. His widow continued the business following his death, and it was ultimately taken over as Geiser Frères and independently by the sons of Louis-Adolphe Geiser. The firms lasted in business from 1857 through 1945.

Gustave Geiser

Gustave Geiser (1829-1881) was born in Langenthal to Johann-Jakob Geiser (1804-1867) and Elisabeth-dite-Lisette. His younger brother Louis-Adolphe Geiser founded a watch factory in Tavannes, and his sons ultimately took over Gustave's business following his death. Gustave married Adéle Jeanneret-Grosjean in early 1854 but the couple had no children. Their marriage notice states that she was also a watchmaker and that the couple lived in Renan at this time.

A 1910 advertisement claims that the firm was founded in 1857, and this is supported by contemporary documentation. Gustave Geiser is first listed in Indicateur Davoine in the 1860-1861 edition as the head of an atelier focused on production of watch springs. We also see him in the 1866-1867 and 1879-1880 editions.

Gustave Geiser died on March 9, 1881. In the 1882-1883 edition we see Vve. Gustave Geiser listed. The initial survey of Swiss businesses in 1883 clarifies that she is Adèle née Jeanneret, widow of Gustave Geiser from Langenthal. She is listed in Indicateur Davoine through 1891.

In December 1890 the firm of Vve. Gustave Geiser-Jeanneret was officially turned over to Jules-Adolphe Geiser from Langenthal who now lived in Solvillier. The company was re-named J. Geiser, successeur de Madame Vve. Gve. Geiser-Jeanneret at this time. It is likely that this was Gustave Geiser's nephew, Jules Geiser (1863-1940), son of Louis-Adolphe Geiser.

Geiser Frères

Note: An unrelated clockmaker called "Geiser Frères" was active in La Chaux-de-Fonds in the 1830s

A new company called Geiser Frères was created on November 1, 1909, to take over the business. This company was run by Louis-Auguste Geiser and Arthur-Emile Geiser (commonly known as Arthur Geiser-Jeanneret), both from Langenthal and living in Sonvilier. These were the sons of Louis-Adolphe Geiser, founder of the first major watch factory in Tavannes, which inspired the town to establish the Tavannes Watch Co. It is likely that the Jules Geiser they replaced was their older brother.

A 1910 advertisement claims that the company was founded in 1857 and that the company produces springs in all genres and all types. The company registered a trademarked design of watch springs with the brand name "Lagea GFS" in March 1911. They advertised widely in industry publications for the next few decades, typically including the Lagea mark.

Louis Geiser represented the company in the Société Suisse des Fabricants de Ressorts from 1916 through 1930. He also joined the board of the mutual aid society of Sonvilier from 1916.

The firm of Geiser Frères is last listed in Indicateur Davoine in the 1920 edition; the 1922 edition features two separate firms for the brothers.

Arthur and Louis Geiser

The 1922 edition of Indicateur Davoine shows two separate firms producing springs in Sonvilier: A. Geiser-Jeanneret and Louis Geiser.

Arthur Geiser-Jeanneret officially registered his firm in 1926. The company produced watch springs in Sonvilier and used exactly the same wording in advertisements as the previous Geiser Frères. The firm used the initials AGJ as a brand. When Arthur Geiser died in 1936, his widow Antoinette Geiser-Jeanneret continued the business for a time, being last listed in Davoine in 1942.

Louis Geiser also established his own namesake company, officially registering it in 1930. He also used many of the same words to describe his business as his brother, though he added that he specialized in reversed curves over 5 lignes. He used a stylized triangle logo with the initials "LGS". This firm was decommissioned in September 1945 due to a cessation of activity. He served on the board of the Savings and Loan Bank of Sonvilier from 1922 until his death in 1949, by which time he was secretary. He was president of the Consumer Society of Sonvilier in this same time period.