Portescap: Difference between revisions
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Le Porte-Echappement Universel SA was established in [[1931]] to commercialize the [[Incabloc]] shock protection system, which was introduced two years later. The company was founded by [[Fritz Marti|Frédéric "Fritz" Marti]], inventor of Incabloc, who had learned of the need for an effective [[balance staff]] shock protector while working at [[Election]]. [[Georges Braunschweig]] was later said to be co-founder with Marti, but he did not officially join the board until [[1934]]. This may be because Braunschweig, son of the founder of Election, was embroiled in that company's [[1929]] bankruptcy, though he was absolved of responsibility as he was not a director. | Le Porte-Echappement Universel SA was established in [[1931]] to commercialize the [[Incabloc]] shock protection system, which was introduced two years later. The company was founded by [[Fritz Marti|Frédéric "Fritz" Marti]], inventor of Incabloc, who had learned of the need for an effective [[balance staff]] shock protector while working at [[Election]]. [[Georges Braunschweig]] was later said to be co-founder with Marti, but he did not officially join the board until [[1934]]. This may be because Braunschweig, son of the founder of Election, was embroiled in that company's [[1929]] bankruptcy, though he was absolved of responsibility as he was not a director. | ||
Instead of Braunschweig, Marti brought two others into Porte-Echappement as managers. Henri Quaile, of la Brévine, was responsible for manufacturing, a position he retained for decades. Roland Bloch of Bordeaux, France, served as board secretary and business manager, though he was replaced by Georges Braunschweig in [[1934]]. Le Porte-Echappement was located across the street from [[Election]]'s massive factory in La Chaux-de-Fonds, and Braunschweig would lead the company to become a dominant factory in the city as the rest of his family worked to re-establish Election. | Instead of Braunschweig, Marti brought two others into Porte-Echappement as managers. [[Henri Quaile]], of la Brévine, was responsible for manufacturing, a position he retained for decades. Roland Bloch of Bordeaux, France, served as board secretary and business manager, though he was replaced by Georges Braunschweig in [[1934]]. Le Porte-Echappement was located across the street from [[Election]]'s massive factory in La Chaux-de-Fonds, and Braunschweig would lead the company to become a dominant factory in the city as the rest of his family worked to re-establish Election. | ||
Fritz Marti was a prolific inventor, having patents for numerous inventions including [[electric clock]]s and watch cases in the 1920s and 1930s. His system, which would become known as [[Incabloc]], used cone-shaped jewel and distinctive lyre-shaped spring embedded in an easy to apply [[chaton]]. The system was extremely successful, and Portescap encouraged or required companies to use the Incabloc name widely, including adding it to the dial of watches so equipped. In [[1938]], the double-cone shock protection system was introduced, which remains dominant today. | Fritz Marti was a prolific inventor, having patents for numerous inventions including [[electric clock]]s and watch cases in the 1920s and 1930s. His system, which would become known as [[Incabloc]], used cone-shaped jewel and distinctive lyre-shaped spring embedded in an easy to apply [[chaton]]. The system was extremely successful, and Portescap encouraged or required companies to use the Incabloc name widely, including adding it to the dial of watches so equipped. In [[1938]], the double-cone shock protection system was introduced, which remains dominant today. | ||
Revision as of 21:04, 20 August 2023
Portescap was the common name for Le Porte-Echappement Universel SA, the maker of Incabloc, Triovis, Vibrograf and other watch-related devices. Today, Portescap SA continues as a maker of miniature electric motors while Incabloc SA, a separate company, continues in the watchmaking field.
History
Le Porte-Echappement Universel SA was established in 1931 to commercialize the Incabloc shock protection system, which was introduced two years later. The company was founded by Frédéric "Fritz" Marti, inventor of Incabloc, who had learned of the need for an effective balance staff shock protector while working at Election. Georges Braunschweig was later said to be co-founder with Marti, but he did not officially join the board until 1934. This may be because Braunschweig, son of the founder of Election, was embroiled in that company's 1929 bankruptcy, though he was absolved of responsibility as he was not a director.
Instead of Braunschweig, Marti brought two others into Porte-Echappement as managers. Henri Quaile, of la Brévine, was responsible for manufacturing, a position he retained for decades. Roland Bloch of Bordeaux, France, served as board secretary and business manager, though he was replaced by Georges Braunschweig in 1934. Le Porte-Echappement was located across the street from Election's massive factory in La Chaux-de-Fonds, and Braunschweig would lead the company to become a dominant factory in the city as the rest of his family worked to re-establish Election.
Fritz Marti was a prolific inventor, having patents for numerous inventions including electric clocks and watch cases in the 1920s and 1930s. His system, which would become known as Incabloc, used cone-shaped jewel and distinctive lyre-shaped spring embedded in an easy to apply chaton. The system was extremely successful, and Portescap encouraged or required companies to use the Incabloc name widely, including adding it to the dial of watches so equipped. In 1938, the double-cone shock protection system was introduced, which remains dominant today.
In just 15 years, it came so synonymous with anti-shock devices that the company was forced to take aggressive legal action against competitors and counterfeiters. Competing systems, notably KIF from Parechoc, were eventually able to offer similar performance without the advertising and dial labeling requirements. Portescap also produced testing equipment throughout the 1950s under the Vibrograf brand. With high-beat watches appearing, Portescap introduced the Triovis fine regulator in 1968.
Georges Braunschweig turned over management of Portescap to his son, Philippe Braunschweig, in 1960. He had been deeply involved with the company for many years, and would lead it for decades. Georges remained Chairman of the Board until 1973 and died in 1975 at the age of 83.
By 1970, Portescap was the largest employer in La Chaux-de-Fonds but had diversified into the production of electric motors and linear actuators. These would find use throughout the Swiss quartz watch market, making Portescap as important to high-end quartz movements as it had been to mechanical movements.
Portescap introduced a lower-priced alternative in 1974, Antichoc 2000. This used a synthetic material as both bushing and anti-shock membrane, replacing the cone jewel entirely. A later addition was Novodiac, a lower-priced jewel-set shock absorber with a three-leaf clover look reminiscent of KIF Trior.
In 1987, Portescap divested the watch testing market to Greiner, and the company divested Incabloc and other watch shock absorber technologies the following year. Incabloc SA, founded in 1988, received the equipment and some staff and began a new era of production in La Chaux-de-Fonds. In 2003, Incabloc became entirely independent of Portescap, which continued to focus on DC motors.