Rodania

Rodania (formerly called Rodana) is a Swiss/Belgian watchmaker active since the 1930s. The company was founded by the Baumgartner family in Pieterlen before moving to Bienne, Lengnau, and then Grenchen.

The company that would become Rodania was created in 1930 by Hans Baumgartner in Pieterlen. He had previously been part of the Wasa ebauche factory there along with his brothers Fritz and Ernst (or Ernest) Baumgartner. Ebauches SA took over the factory between 1929 and 1932, with Hans Baumgartner remaining in management along with Sydney de Coulon and Virgile Juillerat representing the parent. Despite this connection, Wasa faced issues as a "dissident" that resisted the control of Fidhor and Ebauches SA and skirted export controls through a French buyer, leading to bankruptcy and closure in 1935.

Rodana SA is said to have been incorporated on October 9, 1930, as the company celebrated in 1980 on their 50th anniversary. But the company appears to have been initially incorporated as Siwa AG in Bienne/Biel and modified to become Rodana SA on June 10, 1932. Siwa AG Bienne was registered on April 15, 1932 as a continuation of Joseph (or Josef) Rudolf, Neuchâtel, with Joseph Rudolf of Selzach remaining as president and Walter Ramseyer of Eggiwil as secretary. Siwa was located at Rue de la Garre 34 in Bienne. Joseph Rudolf was removed as president on October 3 of that year, just four days after Orwa SA was registered by the non-Baumgartner partners from Wasa.

Rodana SA failed and was transferred to Quartierstrasse 17 in Grenchen on April 30, 1935. Former secretary Walter Ramseyer of Eggiwil was in charge of liquidation along with Albert Kohler of Wynigen. Rodana SA was removed from the register on August 30, 1935. The creditors of the company (along with those of Mendel Weinzieher of Geneva) were warned in November of that year to submit their statements, including Gnomon of Sofia, R. M. Halpern of Montreal, Karl Hrabak of Prague, and J. Wiener of Bielsko. Rodana SA in Liquidation was removed from the books on May 10, 1937, suggesting that the bankruptcy proceedings were complete.

Roskopfuhren, Joba, and Rodana of Lengnau

Roskopfuhren AG was registered by Hans Baumgartner at Bâtiment 115 in Pieterlen on October 31, 1930. The company was focused on producing watches using the Roskopf design. Administrators were Paul Glocker of Basle, president, and Hans Baumgartner. The company moved to Kapellstrasse 54 in Grenchen on February 23, 1932, with Glocker and Baumgartner still in charge.

Roskopfuhren AG was renamed Joba SA on July 15, 1935, just a month before the closure of Rodana, with Paul Glocker removed from administration. Located in Grenchen, Joba produced watches under the Miki and Joba brands. The company added Grety Baumgartner (nee Schwab) and Greta Kirchhofer to management on January 1, 1937. Joba relocated to Lengnau on October 8, 1937 and was also using the Rocar brand name the following year. On April 16, 1940, Joba SA was recapitalized in Lengnau to 100,000 francs.

Joba SA of Longeau/Lengnau returned to the Basel Fair with the Rodana brand in 1942, having started advertising watches using that name the previous year. The company was known as "Rodana SA, Montres Joba SA" in 1943, and simply as Rodana SA at the fair in 1944. A complete range of contemporary watches are seen in a 1946 advertisement.

Rodania

In 1953, Rodana became Rodania.

References

• 1930-1980: 50 years Rodania, Europa Star, 1980