Société Suisse des Spiraux: Difference between revisions

From Grail Watch Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Line 7: Line 7:
Fanned by incendiary articles in [[La Fédération Horlogère]], a group of watchmakers immediately coalesced with the idea of creating a competing spring factory.
Fanned by incendiary articles in [[La Fédération Horlogère]], a group of watchmakers immediately coalesced with the idea of creating a competing spring factory.


On July 28, [[1898]], the Société Suisse des Spiraux (SSS) was officially organized at an assembly of watchmakers. The group elected [[Louis-Constant Girard-Gallet]] (1855-1945), son of [[Girard-Perregaux]] founder [[Constant Girard]], as their first chairman, with La Chaux-de-Fonds watchmaker [[Paul Ditisheim]] (1868-1945) selected to serve as secretary. The organization was headquartered at Rue du Parc 8 in [[La Chaux-de-Fonds]].
On July 28, [[1898]], the Société Suisse des Spiraux (SSS) was officially organized at an assembly of watchmakers. The group elected [[Louis-Constant Girard-Gallet]] (1855-1945), son of [[Girard-Perregaux]] founder [[Constant Girard]], as their first chairman, with La Chaux-de-Fonds watchmaker [[Paul Ditisheim]] (1868-1945) selected to serve as secretary. Additionally, [[Louis Muller]] and [[Ernest Goering]] served as vice presidents and [[Edmond Picard]] as treasurer. The organization was headquartered at Rue du Parc 8 in [[La Chaux-de-Fonds]] with a small factory established in the [[Montbrillant Watch Manufactory]]. Even at the first meeting the group decided to establish a second factory in Geneva.
 
Member companies were [[Benassy-Philippe]] and [[A. Savoye]] in Geneva, [[Louis Muller]] and [[Arthur Huguenin]] in Bienne, [[Ferdinand Bourquin]] in Saint-Imier, [[Ariste Chatelain]] in [[Tramelan]], [[Alfred Besse]] in Le Locle, and [[L.-C. Girard-Gallet]] of [[Girard-Perregaux]], [[Paul Ditisheim]], [[Alphonse Gogler]], [[Ernest Goering]], [[Edmond Picard]], and Albert Bourquin-Jaccard]] of La Chaux-de-Fonds.


==Timeline==
==Timeline==

Revision as of 03:25, 19 March 2023

Société Suisse des Spiraux (SSS) is a balance spring factory created by major Swiss watch manufacturers to compete with the cartel known as Fabriques de Spiraux Réunies (FSR). The group succeeded in building a competitive factory in La Chaux-de-Fonds and producing springs for their own use, blunting the impact of the cartel.

Establishment

When the five largest makers of balance springs in Switzerland came together as a cartel to control the market in 1895 it was met with much controversy. The Fabriques de Spiraux Réunies (FSR) announced that they would immediately double the price of springs and would not allow any competition between member factories. They also bought out (or forced out of business) all other spring makers so watchmakers were forced to buy from a single central depot in Neuchâtel.

Fanned by incendiary articles in La Fédération Horlogère, a group of watchmakers immediately coalesced with the idea of creating a competing spring factory.

On July 28, 1898, the Société Suisse des Spiraux (SSS) was officially organized at an assembly of watchmakers. The group elected Louis-Constant Girard-Gallet (1855-1945), son of Girard-Perregaux founder Constant Girard, as their first chairman, with La Chaux-de-Fonds watchmaker Paul Ditisheim (1868-1945) selected to serve as secretary. Additionally, Louis Muller and Ernest Goering served as vice presidents and Edmond Picard as treasurer. The organization was headquartered at Rue du Parc 8 in La Chaux-de-Fonds with a small factory established in the Montbrillant Watch Manufactory. Even at the first meeting the group decided to establish a second factory in Geneva.

Member companies were Benassy-Philippe and A. Savoye in Geneva, Louis Muller and Arthur Huguenin in Bienne, Ferdinand Bourquin in Saint-Imier, Ariste Chatelain in Tramelan, Alfred Besse in Le Locle, and L.-C. Girard-Gallet of Girard-Perregaux, Paul Ditisheim, Alphonse Gogler, Ernest Goering, Edmond Picard, and Albert Bourquin-Jaccard]] of La Chaux-de-Fonds.

Timeline