Gindrat-Delachaux
Gindrat-Delachaux was a watchmaking firm established in La Chaux-de-Fonds by 1893 to produce 8-day watches and clocks. André Gindrat-Delachaux worked with Charles Couleru-Meuri to patent an improved winding system and barrel for these clocks in 1903 and his firm became very successful in the first quarter of the 20th century. The company was taken over by Arthur Aubry-Gostely (son of Hebdomas inventor Irénee Aubry) in 1924. After a 1933 bankruptcy the firm was merged with Montres Brigos, and was a leading producer of 8-day clocks, travel clocks, and alarm clocks until switching to wristwatches and telephone meters in the 1960s. Brigos was liquidated in 1977.
Gindrat-Delachaux
Louis-Alfred Gindrat of Tramelan-Dessus moved to La Chaux-de-Fonds and both of his sons joined the watchmaking trade. André Gindrat married a Delachaux and took her last name while his brother Albert Gindrat worked under his father's name alone.
The firm of Gindrat-Delachaux was established in La Chaux-de-Fonds at Boulevard du Petit Château 17 by 1893. The company was run by André Gindrat-Delachaux of Tramelan and shared the famous Montbrillant Watch Manufactory building with Breitling and Couleru-Meuri. He acquired the patented for a novel calendar mechanism for watches from Rénold Kocher, industrialist from Bévilard, that same year
Gindrat-Delachaux was located at Avenue Léopold-Robert 72 by 1899. In 1908 the firm added "Fabriqui Huitaine" to the name, reflecting its most popular brand.
Brothers André and Albert Gindrat-Delachaux joined forces, merging their firms as Gindrat-Delachaux & Cie. on February 1, 1909. It was relocated to Rue du Parc 132 by 1913. On June 23, 1915 Albert left the firm and it was reorganized with André the primary owner and his son René Gindrat becoming a minority partner at 1000 francs. Albert formed his own namesake firm at Rue Jardinière 132. and Rue du Paix 87 by 1922. All three brands (Observator, Huitaine, and Rama) were taken on by André's new Gindrat-Delachaux & Cie.
René left the company in October 1922 with Alcide Racheter Sigiswil taking his place.
Arthur Aubry-Gostely
Arthur-François "Arthur" Aubry was born about 1891 in Muriaux, the sixth child of inventor and watchmaker Irénée Aubry.
Arthur's older brother, Francis, formed a watchmaking company, F. Aubry-Schaltenbrand, in 1911, hiring Arthur as a manager in 1917. But the company failed in the financial bust after World War I, closing in 1920.
In March 1920, Arthur opened his own namesake watchmaking firm at Rue Jaquet-Droz 39 in La Chaux-de-Fonds in March 1920, just as his brother's firm was failing. He had registered three patents earlier that year. The company adopted the name Montres Brigos in May 1921.
In December 1924 Aubry-Gostely took over the firm of Gindrat-Delachaux. The company was now located at Rue de la Paix 87. The company took over the brand names Observator, Huitaine, and Rama at this time. Arthur's wife Marguerite joined management the following July.
The company failed and was closed in December 1933.
Brigos SA
In March 1934, a new company called Brigos SA was incorporated with Marguerite Aubry-Gostely as manager. Arthur Aubry-Gostely became administrator in March 1936. Brigos took over the Observator and Rama brands in 1944 and registered BGS as well.
Pierre Aubry joined management from 1963 through 1972. The company was liquidated in 1975.