Tick Talk
[Moderator Emeritus]
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Speaking of Antitrust; the Longines-Wittnauer Watch Company
Another fascinating tidbit illuminated by these papers is found on the footer of the introductory letter; Subsidiary of Longines-Wittnauer Watch Company, New York USA. About the same time this documentation was being distributed, the Longines-Wittnauer Watch Company of New York, USA, was engaged in anti-trust hearings before the United States Senate. Thanks to Google Books, one can gain an understanding of the relationship between Longines-Wittnauer and Vacheron et Constantin from the transcripts:
In 1898 Wittnauer & Co. was organized in Geneva, Switzerland, and, after some intervening changes, incorporated in Switzerland in 1927 under the name Wittnauer et Cie., S.A. (hereafter referred to as "Wittnauer-Geneva"). Wittnauer-Geneva has always been a wholly-owned subsidiary of Longines-Wittnauer and has never owned any stock in its parent.
Other wholly-owned subsidiaries of Longines-Wittnauer are Vacheron & Constantin and Le Coultre Watches, Inc., a New York corporation originally named Vacheron & Constantin and Allied Watches Inc.
Ed. This marketing relationship between V&C and Le Coultre, through joint distribution by Longines-Wittnauer, has been the source of much confusion in vintage circles when some inferred there was a manufacturing relationship.
Longines-Wittnauer has been the exclusive distributor of "Longines" brand watches in the United States since 1866. Since then Longines-Wittnauer has become the sole seller of "Wittnauer" brand watches in 1927 and the sole distributor of "Vacheron & Constantin" brand watches since 1938, and "Le Coultre" brand watches since 1939 in the United States.
Ed. So the relationship between Longines-Wittnauer and Vacheron & Constantin began at the time of V&C's merger with Jaeger-Le Coultre in 1938. JLC also had a relationship with Longines-Wittnauer.
By 1946 Longines-Wittnauer's business consisted of importing into the United States "Longines", "Wittnauer", "Vacheron & Constantin" and "Le Coultre" brand watches and movements and selling completed watches under those brand names in the United States and elsewhere.
Wittnauer-Geneva's principal business, prior to 1946, was accepting delivery of, inspecting, and shipping to Longines-Wittnauer, watches and watch movements manufactured by Thommens Watch Co., Ltd., S.A., Ancienne Fabriques Georges Piaget & Co., Fabrique Vacheron & Constantin, S.A. and Societe de Vente Des Produits Jaeger-Le Coultre, S.A., that had been purchased from those companies by Longines-Wittnauer. In addition, Wittnauer-Geneva, at the direction of Longines-Wittnauer, obtained additional watch movements from assemblers and termineurs located in Switzerland and sold the movements to Longines-Wittnauer.
The provisions of Longines-Wittnauer's exclusive distribution agreements with its Swiss manufacturer suppliers, Longines S.A., Thommens, Piaget, Vacheron & Constantin and Jaeger-Le Coultre, preventing Longines-Wittnauer from exporting from the United States watches produced by these companies and requiring these companies to ensure that their watches were not imported into the United States from third countries were designed for the sole purpose of protecting Longines-Wittnauer from price competition in the United States...
Ed. this publication; International Aspects of Antitrust: Hearings Before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Antitrust and Monopoly 1966, offers a fascinating glimpse into the Gordian Knot of relationships between Swiss manufacturers and their American distributors. A dry but worthwhile read if you are so inclined ;-)
Glad you enjoyed it :-)
I enjoy collecting the ephemera that goes with vintage watches like boxes, catalogues, etc.
45% off !
Was it in the early 1970s? It's hard to believe that this would happen in the 1950s —— 1960s
Read pleasure
Fine read stuf. I think many watch brands like to advert as a royal watch deliverer. This watch i have advertise as they made the president’s watch. So i am a president. Not a Vulcain, but Revue did made a cricket too. ...
certainly we should distinguish between
items given to royalty or other famous "influencers" and those they seek out for themselves. Many a watch was presented to someone, whether Queen Elizabeth or Cory Richards, that wouldn't have been their personal choice - just a protocol or business neces...
Vulcain Cricket
When Harry S Truman was happy with his Vulcain, the white house replaced Rolex and other big players for a Vulcain. I reed that story a long time ago, and the funny side rolls out of it. If Nixon wore a Vulcain? There is a story Vulcain kept a note from a...
it would be hilarious
to submit one of these approval cards today! Which three would you choose to trial for a week?
Proud Possession of Royalty Since 1755
This from a 2013 article published on The Hour Lounge. Not too long ago, a visiting non-WIS friend approached the watch cabinet with interest. I prepared for the usual questions on age and cost but was caught by surprise when he pointed to a display box a...
Impressive post
Royals, VC, a team. The last of your post is very interesting. The protestant refugees who ran to Switzerland as the save heaven. When the VC Ceo visit a pope, it’s ironic for shure. Watches for the ones they were afraid of. The winter. When Swiss farmers...
Great historical document
It’s great to see the differences in the pre-printed template and the font of the content which has clearly been typed in with an older fashioned typewriter using hammers and lint Also one bad thing about this post: when I look at it I go “tsjeee that’s r...
Same here, my friend
But I’ve taken advice from Clint Eastwood who was recently asked how he can manage being so busy at his age. He said that every morning, when he first looks in the mirror, he tells himself; “don’t let the old man in”. Brilliant! On the subject of typewrit...
"V&C watches are price-maintained in all Fair Trade States"
That interesting line appears in the 7-day approval plan. The term "fair trade" generally refers to fair prices paid to producers between countries so as not to exploit third world labour, and is not a phrase commonly used in the watch world. The use of c...
Speaking of Antitrust; the Longines-Wittnauer Watch Company
Another fascinating tidbit illuminated by these papers is found on the footer of the introductory letter; Subsidiary of Longines-Wittnauer Watch Company, New York USA . About the same time this documentation was being distributed, the Longines-Wittnauer W...
