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
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 that same year
Arthur Aubry-Gostely was a watchmaker and businessman in La Chaux-de-Fonds in the first half of the 20th century.
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.
On August 5, 1920, Arthur Aubry married Marguerite-Agnès Gostely (born about 1899) and took the alliance name Aubry-Gostely. Her name was spelled "Gosteli" in the announcement but was consistently listed as Gostely later. A daughter, Claudine-Emma Aubry, was born in April 1926. Their children likely include Huguette Aubry, Madame Paul Magnin-Aubry, Madame Jacques Voïta-Aubry, and Pierre Aubry-Kirchhof.
A. Aubry-Gostely
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 the company was renamed again, becoming Aubry-Gostely, Succ. de Gindrat-Delachaux et Co. The company was now located at Rue de la Paix 87. The company used the brand names Observator, Huitaine, and Rama. 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.
Arthur Aubry-Gostely died December 28, 1984 at the age of 93. His wife Marguerite (née Gostely) died June 2, 1990 at the age of 91.