American watchmaking flourished in the late 1800s and early 1900s, with major manufacturers like Waltham and Elgin pioneering mass production techniques. However, the industry faced challenges during the Great Depression and World War II, which ultimately led to the Swiss reclaiming their position as the global leader in watchmaking. [1, 2, 3]
The oldest American watch company is the Waltham Watch Company, founded in 1854. They were pioneers in the American System of Watch Manufacturing, which revolutionized the global industry by mass-producing watches with interchangeable parts. This innovation made watches more affordable and accessible, and also helped establish the American watch industry. The Waltham Watch Company was also the first to produce a 100% American-made watch, further solidifying their legacy in the industry. [1, 2, 3]
[2] https://weisswatchcompany.com/pages/american-watchmaking
[3] https://wristbuddys.com/blogs/blog/the-us-watch-industry-a-historic-player
- Mid-1800s: American watchmaking began with the establishment of the first major watch factories in Waltham, Massachusetts. [1, 2]
- Late 1800s: Mass production techniques, inspired by Swiss models and American small-arms manufacturing, were developed, leading to the creation of reliable and accurate watches, according to Renaissance Watch Repair. [1, 4]
- Early 1900s: American watch brands gained international recognition for their quality and craftsmanship, according to Gnomon Watches. [4, 5]
- Mid-1900s: The Great Depression and World War II severely impacted the American watch industry, says Chrono24. [3]
- Post-War: The Swiss watch industry saw a resurgence, while American watch companies struggled to compete in the global market. [3]
Notable American Watch Brands: [1, 2]
- Waltham: Pioneer of mass-produced watches, according to First Class Watches. [1, 2]
- Elgin: Another major player in the mass production of watches, says Wristbuddys. [2]
- Hamilton: Known for their railroad watches and supply to the American military, according to ATimelyPerspective. [4, 6]
- Bulova: Founded by Joseph Bulova, known for innovations like the Accutron, according to ATimelyPerspective. [2, 6]
- Other notable brands: Ingersoll, Waterbury Clock Company, Gruen, and E. Howard, says Renaissance Watch Repair. [4, 7]
Sources Of Watch Knowledge
[1] https://www.firstclasswatches.co.uk/blog/2016/08/history-american-watchmaking/
[2] https://wristbuddys.com/blogs/blog/the-us-watch-industry-a-historic-player
[3] https://www.chrono24.com/magazine/top-5-american-watch-brands-p_136573/
[4] http://www.pocketwatchrepair.com/histories/history_main.html
[5] https://www.gnomonwatches.com/blogs/news/american-vintage-watches
[7] https://americanbusinesshistory.org/battle-of-the-giant-watchmakers/
The Elgin National Watch Company was founded in 1864. They began producing watches, specifically pocket watches, in 1867. The company later started producing wristwatches in 1910. [1, 2, 3, 4]
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elgin_National_Watch_Company
[2] https://watchdoctor.biz/elgin/
[3] https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/guide/company/elgin/history
[4] https://elginil.gov/496/Elgin-National-Watch-Historic-District
