Philippe Hüther: Difference between revisions
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On March 26, [[1883]], Hüther registered the name Ph. Hüther at Rue du Centre in [[Aigle]]. This was a grocer, haberdasher, and general merchandise store. The business was taken over by his wife, Augustine-Henriette (née Leuba) on June 28, [[1899]] and it was then known as A. Hüther. | On March 26, [[1883]], Hüther registered the name Ph. Hüther at Rue du Centre in [[Aigle]]. This was a grocer, haberdasher, and general merchandise store. The business was taken over by his wife, Augustine-Henriette (née Leuba) on June 28, [[1899]] and it was then known as A. Hüther. | ||
Philippe Huther established a watchmaking business in [[ | Philippe Huther established a watchmaking business in [[Colombier]], where he now lived, on July 20, [[1917]], registering it 3 days later. Yet the home and watchmaking workshop there, at Pontenet 13, was listed for sale in August [[1918]]. Although Philippe was still alive, the listing says that A. Héritier-Hüther of Auvernier handled the sale. | ||
A death announcement made March 18, [[1925]] does not list a date of death but does show the name of his wife as Lina Hüther-Schlegel. His supplies were liquidated in May, suggesting that his wife did not continue manufacturing watches after his death. But Lina Hüther did re-register the company (now as "Veuve de Philippe Hüther") on February 24, [[1926]], so the retail operation continued. | A death announcement made March 18, [[1925]] does not list a date of death but does show the name of his wife as Lina Hüther-Schlegel. His supplies were liquidated in May, suggesting that his wife did not continue manufacturing watches after his death. But Lina Hüther did re-register the company (now as "Veuve de Philippe Hüther") on February 24, [[1926]], so the retail operation continued. | ||
Revision as of 17:18, 17 February 2023
Philippe Hüther was a merchant from Baden who is remembered for establishing the Tudor brand.
Philippe Hüther was born before the 1860s and died in 1925. Many sources list his name as "Huther" though it appears that it was officially spelled "Hüther" with an umlaut. He married Augustine-Henriette Leuba (daughter of Auguste Leuba) before 1899 but his wife is listed as Lina Hüther-Schlegel on his death. Lina outlived him and was primarily responsible for the registration and establishment of The Tudor brand and the sale of the name to Hans Wilsdorf in 1936.
On March 26, 1883, Hüther registered the name Ph. Hüther at Rue du Centre in Aigle. This was a grocer, haberdasher, and general merchandise store. The business was taken over by his wife, Augustine-Henriette (née Leuba) on June 28, 1899 and it was then known as A. Hüther.
Philippe Huther established a watchmaking business in Colombier, where he now lived, on July 20, 1917, registering it 3 days later. Yet the home and watchmaking workshop there, at Pontenet 13, was listed for sale in August 1918. Although Philippe was still alive, the listing says that A. Héritier-Hüther of Auvernier handled the sale.
A death announcement made March 18, 1925 does not list a date of death but does show the name of his wife as Lina Hüther-Schlegel. His supplies were liquidated in May, suggesting that his wife did not continue manufacturing watches after his death. But Lina Hüther did re-register the company (now as "Veuve de Philippe Hüther") on February 24, 1926, so the retail operation continued.
The Tudor
On March 9, 1926, Veuve de Philippe Hüther registered the brand name "The Tudor" for watches, watch components, and cases. This would be Philippe Hüther's lasting legacy and it occurred nearly a year after his death. There is no indication of official activity for the brand, but many sources say that Tudor-branded watches began appearing soon after. Sources claim specifically that Tudor watches were created for the Australian market in 1932, with the T lengthened across the rest of the letters. It seems that some watches were signed Rolex as well.
On November 14, 1936, the registration (Swiss number 61318) was taken over by Hans Wilsdorf, Rue du Marché, Geneva, home of Rolex. Wilsdorf created Montres Tudor SA in 1946 and the company continues to this day. Master Horologer quotes Wilsdorf on March 6, 1946 as saying "For some years now I have been considering the idea of making a watch that our agents could sell at a more modest price than our Rolex watches, and yet one that would attain the standards of dependability for which Rolex is famous. I decided to form a separate company, with the object of making and marketing this new watch. It is called the Tudor Watch Company."
Huther SA
A Société Anonyme, Huther SA, was created on April 26, 1947 to take over the assets of Veuve de Philippe Hüther. This new firm was established with 50,000 francs and operated by André Ochsner of La Chaux-de-Fonds, president, and Suzanne Huther of Colombier, vice president. The company was located at Rue de la Côte 12 in Colombier.