Swiss dial manufactures of the 1930s-1940s

Syrte · Jul 27, 2018

Fialetti
He also built the Villa Schwob for Anatole Schwob, whose father had co-founded Cyma. Unfortunately the project went over budget and Schwob sued for damages, inducing Corb to leave for Paris. The rest is history.

Thanks for sharing that.
I wonder if anyone looked into the potential connection between his ideas and all of that horology and austere calvinist environment.

Turns out I’m planning a week end in the area and figured I’d stay in Neuchatel to enjoy the lake, but I’m now led to consider staying in La Chaux de Fonds and just go to Neuchatel for a walk at the end....

Fialetti · Jul 27, 2018

Syrte
Thanks for sharing that.
I wonder if anyone looked into the potential connection between his ideas and all of that horology and austere calvinist environment.

Turns out I’m planning a week end in the area and figured I’d stay in Neuchatel to enjoy the lake, but I’m now led to consider staying in La Chaux de Fonds and just go to Neuchatel for a walk at the end....

Thank you! I had never realised just how close his family connection to watchmaking was before.

The connection between horology and his theories is very intriguing, particularly as he is so insistent on the need to create an architecture based on standardised components in Vers une architecture. He uses the car as his example there, but it is not as though he had much experience of automotive manufacturing. Will ask the next architectural historian I meet.

Enjoy your vacation, wherever it takes you.

Syrte · Jul 27, 2018

Fialetti
The connection between horology and his theories is very intriguing, particularly as he is so insistent on the need to create an architecture based on standardised components in Vers une architecture. He uses the car as his example there, but it is not as though he had much experience of automotive manufacturing. Will ask the next architectural historian I meet.

There must be a connection because according to Wikipedia, La Chaux de Fond was entirely rebuilt after a fire in 1794 with perpendicular street planning which is unique in Switzerland and with such vast web of manufacturing structures that Karl Marx called it a «factory city ».

@bubba48 I bet you did not expect your beautiful Tavannes watch with Jeanneret dial to lead us so far... !
@ulackfocus, @LouS @ConElPueblo @watchknut you might appreciate the thread drift, and again we go from horology to functionalist architecture!

bubba48 · Jul 27, 2018

That Tavannes brought me even farther...

Vitezi · Jul 27, 2018

Stern and Singer show up as a supplier of certain UG dials as seen in this thread:
https://omegaforums.net/threads/sas-polarouter-black-dial.66263/

Vitezi · Jul 27, 2018

What about Beyeler & Cie? Now part of Rolex, they apparently did dials for UG and Omega:
https://omegaforums.net/threads/a-h...vintage-ploprof-dials-long.19309/#post-209327

JimInOz · Jul 27, 2018

It's like a 6º of separation thing this thread drift.

@Syrte, did you know one of your fellow Citizens lives in a house designed by one of Le Corbusier's students?

Syrte · Jul 28, 2018

JimInOz
It's like a 6º of separation thing this thread drift.

@Syrte, did you know one of your fellow Citizens lives in a house designed by one of Le Corbusier's students?

Really? I think I know the person and I might have even seen the house in question. it makes sense!.... 👍

Syrte · Jul 29, 2018

Vitezi
Stern and Singer show up as a supplier of certain UG dials as seen in this thread:
https://omegaforums.net/threads/sas-polarouter-black-dial.66263/

Thanks much for flagging this thread- quite an intense read I must say. I’m unclear as to what parts are in dispute and which are not after those intricate arguments, as my brain on week ends tends to demand a vacation.

However they concern 1950s watches as it seems the whole discussion is about Polerouters / Polarouters. But I’ll definitely have to check out the Hodinkee article about Stern.

Tony C. · Jul 29, 2018

Vitezi
What about Beyeler & Cie? Now part of Rolex, they apparently did dials for UG and Omega:
https://omegaforums.net/threads/a-h...vintage-ploprof-dials-long.19309/#post-209327

Also made (very high quality) IWC dials...

Syrte · Aug 19, 2018

A stern dial uncovered. (the little captions were intended as the equivalent of a watermark.)

Syrte · Aug 19, 2018

Continuing major thread drift— this is how far an OF thread drift can lead. For @bubba48, first picture below is the former administrative headquarters of Tavannes Watch Co., which is also notable for its art nouveau facade ornaments. La Chaux de Fonds rue Numa-Droz 136. Followed by a couple snap shots from famous Le Corbusier houses- maison Fallet, which he built as a young man under the tutelage of the inventor of the local art nouveau style, with famously typical “pine tree” motifs (“art nouveau sapin”.)
“Maison Turque” built as stated above for the Schwob family.
And “Maison Blanche” aka Maison Jeanneret, which he built for his parents— and where I am now sitting.
With best wishes from La-Chaux-de-Fond,
Fondly,
S

Syrte · Aug 19, 2018

Going back to the main topic of the thread, Le Corbusier writes in a moving letter that his father, a man born of “ultra humble origins”, very intelligent and of fine taste, had been practicing for 40 years a stenchful and humiliating trade, the making of dials.
So probably not closely related at all to the owner of the dial manufacture “Louis Jeanneret”. And interesting to hear how painful and degrading those jobs could be.

LouS · Aug 19, 2018

I wonder what was so nauseating about dial manufacturing?

Syrte · Aug 19, 2018

LouS
I wonder what was so nauseating about dial manufacturing?

I wondered exactly the same thing. The French words he used are extremely strong, so much so that I struggled to find an English equivalent and I did not succeed.
However the guide who gave a tour I took separately of the city’s urban design was saying the rank and file laborers in the industry really had painful jobs and were squeezed together like sardines.

Very Interestingly La-Chaux-de-Fond with its very peculiar urban structure where the production of watches ws intertwined with life and private dwellings became a hotbed of socialism and union activity.
Karl Marx called it a « manufacture-city » and famous anarchists such as Bakunin visited. A «House of the People » was built for union activity which still exists today. (see picture below).

OMTOM · Aug 19, 2018

Syrte
Stern Frères -Genève used on:
Longines -
-certain Chronographs?-
-certain Patek?
-History: Purchased by Richemont in 2000

Also used on (finer) Omegas

merchandiser · Aug 19, 2018

LouS
I wonder what was so nauseating about dial manufacturing?

In this case nauséabond may have meant foul smelling. Perhaps the odor of the paint and lacquer?

LouS · Aug 19, 2018

merchandiser
In this case nauséabond may have meant foul smelling. Perhaps the odor of the paint and lacquer?

That's what I was thinking, but it seems a bit dramatic. He could have been working in the Gruyere barns or tanning leather for lederhosen.

Syrte · Aug 19, 2018

merchandiser
In this case nauséabond may have meant foul smelling. Perhaps the odor of the paint and lacquer?

That’s right, foul smelling is the meaning. From what I read on Wikipedia initially, the father was making enamel dials. I did not see any specifics elsewhere- at least for now.

Tony C. · Aug 19, 2018

merchandiser
In this case nauséabond may have meant foul smelling. Perhaps the odor of the paint and lacquer?

Or perhaps it was simply the recognition that, inevitably, some peasants posing as an artisans would one day "refinish" at least some of their masterworks... 🙄