Swiza
Louis Schwab (1876-1935) was a Swiss entrepreneur who established himself as a pioneer in the watchmaking industry. His dream was to create his own business and take advantage of the development opportunities offered by the industrialization of the watchmaking industry. Schwab began working at a young age and through his economies, he managed to purchase some machines and partnered with Mr. C. Schaller in 1904 to found the Bellevue factory in Moutier.
The factory quickly gained success and by 1906, Schwab bought out his partner to become the sole owner of the enterprise. The outbreak of World War I posed significant challenges to the factory as all laborers were mobilized, and orders were canceled. Despite the difficulties, business picked up, and the factory had to be expanded eventually.
After the war ended in 1918, Schwab added a new department, "Lève-Toi," that produced alarm clocks, making the factory one of the first manufacturers of these pin-lever timepieces in Switzerland. In 1935, he launched a popular alarm clock, but he was unable to enjoy the success as he passed away the same year.
Under the leadership of his sons, the Swiza alarm clocks achieved enormous success, with output increasing from 20,000 to 500,000 per year. The factory specialized in the production of table clocks in the later years, which became increasingly popular due to the rising standard of living in various countries.
The Swiza factory is a true manufacture as all the parts that go into the makeup of a watch, with few exceptions, are fabricated by its own machines. In the stamping workshop, presses of 40, 60, and even 150 tons are in operation, and workers cut pieces destined to become complicated elements of alarm clocks, table clocks, or watches. The screw-cutting department now works only for the factory's own products.
The factory also has electro-plating shops, dial counter-drawing sections, and modern installations that are indispensable for the finishing of alarm clocks and watches. The Swiza Company also has its own repair shop, where special apparatus and tools used in its numerous departments are produced. In the final assembly division, specialists assemble the timepieces, and modern control devices immediately detect irregularities to save useless subsequent dismantlings.
Louis Schwab's visionary approach and business acumen helped establish the Swiza factory as a leading manufacturer of high-quality timepieces. The factory's dedication to precision and innovation has allowed it to thrive and continue producing excellent products to this day.