Wittnauer
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(August 2023) |
 | |
| Company type | Currently a brand ofBulova |
|---|---|
| Industry | Watch and clockmaking |
| Predecessor | E. Robert & Co |
| Founded | NY,U.S.(1885) |
| Founder | Albert Wittnauer |
| Headquarters | New Rochelle,New York , |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Martha Wittnauer,CEO |
| Products | Wittnauer, Wittnauer AllProof, watches, clocks |
| Website | Wittnauer |
Wittnaueris awatchandclockcompany, founded inNew Rochelle, New Yorkin 1885 bySwissimmigrant Albert Wittnauer, that is now abrandof theBulovacompany, which is owned by Japanese conglomerateCitizen Watch Co.
History
[edit]Albert Wittnauer was aSwiss immigrantwho arrived inNew York Cityin 1872 at the age of 16, and was employed by his brother-in-law, Eugene Robert, an importer ofSwiss watches.He began working for his brother-in-law, Eugene Robert. Albert Wittnauer felt there was a market in America for a lower priced Swiss made watch.[1]
Importing Swiss watches got expensive due to the heavy taxes placed on them so Wittnauer came up with an idea for reducing the expense without losing the quality. The watches could be produced by a subsidiary of their own in Switzerland or they could assemble the watches domestically.[2]
The first Wittnauer's watch line was crafted starting from 1880, but the Wittnauer brand was formally established 1888 when Wittnauer took over Eugene Robert’s company and renamed it the "A. Wittnauer Company".[3]Wittnauermovementswere at the beginning generally made for them by Swiss firms (Revue Thommenand others), while in later years Wittnauer used a number of different sources for their movements. The company began as a small family business, catering to the ever-growing world of both scientific and private exploration, which gained them a reputation for use by those who needed reliability: navigators, explorers, and astronomers.[1]
The A. Wittnauer Co. became further involved with theUnited States Navyfor early tests in the budding fields ofaviationandnavigation.Of the Wittnauer Company and products, horologist Marvin E. Whitney wrote: "No one company has been more involved in the design and production of so many different types of navigational timepieces and been involved in so many history making expeditions...".[4]
In the following years, Wittnauer Co. steadily grew and moved to theNew Yorkcenter. During the 20th century, it also bought a production plant inPuerto Rico.[5]When the last Wittnauer brother died in 1916, their sister Martha Wittnauer, became the first woman watchmakerCEO.[citation needed]
DuringWorld War IWittnauer produced instruments and watches for the early aviation units.[1]The most famous model was probably the Wittnauer AllProof, produced for the first time in 1918, and one of the first all proof models ever used by daredevilJimmie Matternin his 1933 attempt to fly around the world in his Vega 5B, "Old Cromwell", and byNeil Armstrongduring theGemini 8mission.[6][7]In 1926, theNBCselected Wittnauer Company to provide the official timing for its radio broadcasting.[1]
On May 20–21, 1932Amelia Earhartmade the first solo flight by a woman across theAtlanticwith herLockheed Vega-5B equipped with Wittnauer instruments.[1]Wittnauer products were widely used in scientific expeditions and exploration,[1]and was - withLonginesmovements - one of three contenders for the firstmission on the moonalong withOmega SpeedmasterandRolex Daytona.[citation needed]
DuringWorld War 2,Wittnauer started its major production line of compasses, used by soldiers and aviators during combat. These compasses were produced on a large scale and often had the letters US imprinted on the front of their case. To show their brand name, the name Wittnauer was usually placed on the face of the compass, in line with the large "S" (South) on the face. Wittnauer's long history with watch manufacturing and case manufacturing expedited their speed and precision with which their compasses were made. Furthermore, Wittnauer had previously attained a good relationship with theU.S. military,and was permitted to produce such compasses. These compasses vary in value, but trend at around 30-300 USD, or more with additional pieces such as original boxes or paperwork.[citation needed]
In 1950 the Swiss companyLonginesbought Wittnauer, and marketed some very similar lines of watches under both brand names, maintaining separate factories.[citation needed]
In 1957, Wittnauer announced a line of 14 cameras with lenses and accessories. These included the CineTwin, a combination 8mm movie camera and projector, as well as many still cameras with Wittnauer branding. Most of them were manufactured in Germany by Braun, while the Wittnauer Festival model was made by Bolsey. Wittnauer sold cameras until about 1963.[citation needed]
Recent history
[edit]In 1995Swatchbroke the 125-year collaboration between Longines and Wittnauer and took over the Longines distribution.[5]The Wittnauer Company retained its reputation for most of the 20th century. After some budget problems, it was eventually bought byBulovafor $11.6 million in September 2001.[5]
Bulova launched a new 'Nightlife' range of fashion watches under the Wittnauerbrand.[citation needed]
References
[edit]- ^abcdefboard (21 December 2009)."The History of Wittnauer".sonartist.Archived fromthe originalon 22 December 2013.
- ^"Wittnauer Vintage Watches: History & Iconic Models | Vintage Watch Inc".vintagewatchinc.16 September 2020.Retrieved16 August2023.
- ^"Wittnauer Vintage Watches: History & Iconic Models | Vintage Watch Inc".vintagewatchinc.16 September 2020.Retrieved17 August2023.
- ^Reyne Haines,Vintage Wristwatches,Krause Publications, 2010,ISBN978-1-4402-0409-8,page 237
- ^abcWilliam George Shuster,Wittnauer Bought by Bulova; Sector Group Sold, Restructured,JCK, 2001
- ^Norma Buchanan,The Watch Buff's Book of Trivia,Watch Buff Books, 2005,ISBN978-0977251209
- ^Life Magazine, 8 April 1966, page 87, ( "Neil wore the watch that a wonderful guy called Jimmy Mattern [...] had worn when he attempted the first solo around-the-world flight in 1933. Jimmy's Lockheed Vega 5B," Old Cromwell "had a frozen oil line and cracked up in Siberia, so we decided to make sure the watch went all the way round the world this time" [...] "It was almost 11 hours since liftoff, and Jimmy Mattern's old wristwatch was still keeping good time" )
External links
[edit]- William George Shuster,Wittnauer Bought by Bulova; Sector Group Sold, Restructured,JCK, 2001