Gallet & Company: Difference between revisions
Time Maven (talk | contribs) m punctuation correction |
Time Maven (talk | contribs) punctuation correction |
||
| Line 138: | Line 138: | ||
'''1935''' - As World War II becomes imminent, Gallet begins prolific production of wristwatches for the Allied Forces, boat clocks with 8-day movements, and military stopwatches for Great Britain, Canada, and the U.S.A. At the start of World War II, production again reaches 100,000 watches annually. |
'''1935''' - As World War II becomes imminent, Gallet begins prolific production of wristwatches for the Allied Forces, boat clocks with 8-day movements, and military stopwatches for Great Britain, Canada, and the U.S.A. At the start of World War II, production again reaches 100,000 watches annually. |
||
'''1936''' - Gallet introduces the first water resistant cases for protecting the delicate mechanism of chronograph wristwatches from the damaging effects of humidity. This ground breaking innovation become standard on many models in Gallet's "MultiChron" line of professional use timepieces, as well as the upcoming Flying Officer military issue pilot's watch.<ref>Horology, Volume VI, No. 11, Pg. 6, Feb. 1940, "Waterproof Watches |
'''1936''' - Gallet introduces the first water resistant cases for protecting the delicate mechanism of chronograph wristwatches from the damaging effects of humidity. This ground breaking innovation become standard on many models in Gallet's "MultiChron" line of professional use timepieces, as well as the upcoming Flying Officer military issue pilot's watch.<ref>Horology, Volume VI, No. 11, Pg. 6, Feb. 1940, "Waterproof Watches, Part Two"</ref><ref>The Jewelers' Circular-Keystone, January 1939, pg.52</ref> |
||
'''1938''' - Commissioned by Senator Harry S Truman for the pilots of the U.S. Army Air Force, Gallet creates the legendary [[Flying Officer Chronograph]]. This extraordinary timekeeping milestone provides a combination of extremely important new innovations. Besides the ability to accurately record events ranging from 1/5th second to 30 minutes in duration, this horological breakthrough features a rotating 12-hour bezel as well as a dial with major cities listed on the periphery. By rotating the bezel, pilots now have the ability to calculate changes in the time as lines of longitude are crossed. Truman wears a Gallet Flying Officer during his two terms as US president. |
'''1938''' - Commissioned by Senator Harry S Truman for the pilots of the U.S. Army Air Force, Gallet creates the legendary [[Flying Officer Chronograph]]. This extraordinary timekeeping milestone provides a combination of extremely important new innovations. Besides the ability to accurately record events ranging from 1/5th second to 30 minutes in duration, this horological breakthrough features a rotating 12-hour bezel as well as a dial with major cities listed on the periphery. By rotating the bezel, pilots now have the ability to calculate changes in the time as lines of longitude are crossed. Truman wears a Gallet Flying Officer during his two terms as US president. |
||
Revision as of 21:31, 28 January 2010
| File:Gallet 1466 200x58.jpg | |
| Company type | Privately held company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Watch movement & case manufacturing |
| Founded | 1466 by Humbertus Gallet, registered as Gallet & Cie in 1826 by Julien Gallet |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people | Walter Hediger (CEO) David Laurence (COO) |
| Products | Wristwatches, accessories |
| Website | Gallet Official Website |
Gallet is a high end Swiss manufacturer of professional-use timepieces.
Officially registered as a La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland company in 1826[1] by then family patriarch Julien Gallet (1806-1849), the Gallet watch making dynasty can trace its roots back to Humbertus Gallet, a clock maker who became a citizen of Geneva in 1466. (see: "Le Livre des Bourgeois de l'ancienne République de Genève", Alfred L. Covelle, 1897, page 59). Gallet-hist
Gallet is best known for its line of complex MultiChron chronograph wristwatches. Commissioned specifically for professional use by military and industrial clients with greater spending abilities that the average citizen, Gallet watches incorporated some of the most advanced innovations available to the Swiss timekeeping arts.
One of these unique watches was the famous Flying Officer Chronograph. Commissioned by Senator Harry S. Truman in 1939 for pilots of the US Army Air Force, the unique rotating 12 hour bezel and 48 cities dial made it easy to calculate changes in the time as a pilot flew across lines of longitude. Besides being the worlds first time zone calculating wristwatch, the Gallet Flying Officer was the first wrist chronograph to be housed in a water resistant case.[2] Truman himself wore a Flying Officer during his terms as 33rd president (1945–1953). After the war, the Flying Officer remained as a favorite timepiece of military and civilian aviators.
In 2007, an award winning design team was commissioned to assist the Gallet company in adjusting the utilitarian appearance of its professional-use watches to the tastes of the contemporary consumer of high-end timepieces.
Gallet Watch and Clock Making Dynasty
Humbertus Gallet (1430 - 1492) clock maker, became a citizen of Geneva on 18 April 1466
Gonin Gallet (1543 – 1610 ) grandson of Humbertus Gallet, clock maker, Geneva
Claude Gallet (1597 - 1663) son of Gonin Gallet, watch and clock maker, Geneva
Jacques Gallet (1649 – 1700) son of Claude Gallet, watchmaker and silk merchant, Geneva
Philippe Gallet (1679 – 1739) son of Jacques Gallet, goldsmith & watchmaker, Geneva
Pierre Gallet (1712 - 1768) son of Philippe Gallet, goldsmith & watchmaker, Geneva
Jacques Gallet (1745 - 1806) son of Pierre Gallet, goldsmith, watch & case maker, Geneva
Jean-Louis Gallet (1774 - 1809) son of Jacques Gallet, goldsmith, watchmaker, watch case maker, Geneva
Julien Gallet (1806 - 1849) son of Jean-Louis Gallet, watch & case maker, registered family business in La Chaux de Fonds as Gallet & Cie.
Louise Gallet (1808 - 1865) widow of Julien Gallet, ran the company after her husband's death
Léon L. Gallet (1832 - 1899) son of Julien Gallet, watchmaker, La Chaux de Fonds
Lucien F. Gallet (1834 -1879) son of Julien Gallet, watchmaker, La Chaux de Fonds
Julien Gallet (1862 -1934) son of Leon L. Gallet, watchmaker, La Chaux de Fonds
Georges Gallet (1865 -1946) son of Leon L. Gallet, watchmaker, La Chaux de Fonds
Léon Gallet (1899 - 1975) son of Georges Gallet, watchmaker, La Chaux de Fonds
Pierre Gallet (1926 - 1995) son of Leon Gallet, watchmaker, La Chaux de Fonds
Bernard Gallet (1930 – 2006) son of Leon Gallet, watchmaker, La Chaux de Fonds
Gallet Historic Time Line
1466 - Humbertus Gallet, living and working in Geneva, becomes a citizen of the republic on the 18th of April. Historical references point to his profession as a horloger or clock maker (see: "Le Livre des Bourgeois de l'ancienne République de Genève", Alfred L. Covelle, 1897, page 59).
1685 - As a result of the abolishment by French King Louis XIV of the tolerance agreement of Nantes, additional members of the Bourg-en-Bresse Gallet family, whose documented professions are as goldsmiths and watchmakers, join their relatives in Geneva to live and practice their trade.
1742 - Pierre Gallet (1712 - 1768) marries noblewoman Jeanne Renée de Rabours. The marriage contract records Pierre Gallet's profession as master goldsmith. This document also lists the occupation of Pierre's father, Philippe Gallet (1679 – 1739), as goldsmith and watchmaker.
1744 - Jeanne Renee gives birth to a son, Jacques, who follows in his father's occupation as jeweler and watchmaker
1774 - Jacques Gallet (1745 - 1806) fathers a son, Jean-Louis Gallet (1774 - 1809).
1804 - Napoleon annexes Geneva, naming it the Lemanique Republic. Jean Louis Gallet becomes a French citizen and continues his father's jewelry and watch making company until his pre-mature death in 1809 at age 35.
1826 - Julien Gallet (1806 - 1849), son of Jean Louis, relocates the family watch making business to La Chaux-de-Fonds, a major center for pocket watch production. At this time, the company name is registered as Gallet & Cie (Gallet & Company).
1849 - Julien Gallet dies at 43, after which, the company is run by his widow Louise, and sons Leon and Lucien.
1855 - Léon Gallet (1832 - 1899) becomes the patriarchal figure of the rapidly growing Gallet & Cie. He expedites the expansion of the company and the need for more workshop space by acquiring Grumbach & Co., which produces watches with the brand name Electa. Gallet & Cie. is renamed Electa Gallet & Cie. and produces watches under both the Gallet and Electa brand names.
1860 - Léon Gallet, together with Longines in St. Imer, found the "Intercantonal Company for Industrial Development" in the Jura area of Neuchâtel. Marketing is primarily European based with an emphasis on sales to England.
1864 - Léon Gallet's brother Lucien Gallet establishes the company's first US location in Chicago, with a New York City office following soon after. Together with Jules Racine, a cousin of the Gallet brothers living in the US, the company greatly expands its distribution to the American market.
1882 - A strategic partnership is formed with Jules Jeanneret & Fils, to supply this prestigious manufacturer’s highest quality mechanisms for Gallet’s professional use line of hand-held timers.
1883 - Léon hands over management of the parent company to his sons Julien (1862-1934) and Georges (1865-1946), but continues to remain involved until his death in New York in 1899. The company name is temporarily changed to Julien Gallet & Cie to reflect the older son's control of the company. By this time, the Gallet Company is producing more that 100,000 watches annually
1895 - Gallet introduces the first wrist-worn watches for mass consumption by men and women to the American market. These first "wristwatches" are immediately rejected due to public perception as being too unusual for women and too feminine for men. All unsold examples are soon returned to Switzerland for disassembly. In spite of initial resistance to this groundbreaking innovation, wristwatches are issued during WWI as a more useful way for soldiers to tell time in combat situations. As a result, this new concept first pioneered by Gallet, is soon added to the offerings of numerous other watch companies.
1896 - Gallet watches are chosen to keep the Canadian Railroads running on time. Ultra high quality, chronometer grade movements with special patented regulators are created by Gallet and distributed by Timothy Eaton (T. Eaton Department Store) for railway use as well as to Eaton's most discerning patrons.
1896 - Gallet wins a silver medal at the Swiss National Exhibition in Geneva.
1899 - Upon his death, Léon Gallet bequeaths a sum of 43,000 Swiss Francs (today equivalent to approx. 1,000,000 US dollars) to the town of La Chaux-de-Fonds, of which 25,000 Swiss Francs is used for the construction of the Musée international d'horlogerie (International Museum of Watch Making). To assist the museum in building its collection, the Gallet company donates over 100 of its most complicated and valuable timepieces[3]. Léon Gallet's son Georges serves as honorary director of the museum for the next twenty years.
1900 - Shortly after Léon Gallet's death, the company name is changed back to Gallet & Cie (Gallet & Co.).
1901 - Following the break up of the firm of Jules Jeanneret & Fils, Jules Jeanneret’s son, Henri Jeanneret-Brehm, establishes a new manufactory in partnership with Gallet. The company is given the name Excelsior Park to accommodate Gallet’s focus on sales to the American market. This joint venture between the two companies results in the eventual development of some of the finest time recording mechanism in history, including the famous Excelsior Park chronograph calibre 4. Georges Gallet devotes a part of his time working at Excelsior Park as the company’s financial director.
1905 - Gallet wins a Diploma of Honor at the Liege Exhibition.
1907 - The company name "Gallet & Cie, Fabrique Electa" is registered to reinforce Gallet's ownership and control of the Electa brand. Under the Electa name, Gallet produces some of the highest quality timepieces manufactured in Switzerland.
1912 - Gallet creates the first wristwatch for mass distribution to include a full-sized constant seconds hand originating from the center of the dial (face). This innovation proved useful for timing tasks that emphasized seconds over minutes and hours, including the measuring of the human heart rate. Gallet’s new “sweep second” wristwatches were issued to military nurses and medics during World War I.
1914 - Gallet is commissioned by the British government to provide special wrist worn timers with integral time recording functions for the armed forces during World War I. This world's first chronograph wristwatch was an obvious transitional timepiece. While technically refined and reduced in size from a traditional hand-held timer, it still retains the three-piece case, porcelain enamel dial, and center button crown of its larger predecessor.
Gallet wins the Grand Prize in the Chronometer category at the Swiss National Exhibition in Berne.
1915 - Gallet supplies hand held and cockpit mounted timers to the United Kingdom during WW I. Movements are produced in Gallet’s Electa workshop and marked with the Electa name.
1917 - Gallet wins the 1st place award for chronometer accuracy at the Canton Observatory in Neuchâtel.
1927 - Gallet produces a series of “Duo Dial” wristwatches for the medical and technical professions. The full-sized lower subsidiary seconds dial greatly simplifies the task of calculating a person’s per-minute heart rate.
1929 - While the company slowly develops viable markets for its new wristwatch innovation, it is able to flourish during the Great Depression as a result of its expertise in the area of professional use timepieces.
1935 - As World War II becomes imminent, Gallet begins prolific production of wristwatches for the Allied Forces, boat clocks with 8-day movements, and military stopwatches for Great Britain, Canada, and the U.S.A. At the start of World War II, production again reaches 100,000 watches annually.
1936 - Gallet introduces the first water resistant cases for protecting the delicate mechanism of chronograph wristwatches from the damaging effects of humidity. This ground breaking innovation become standard on many models in Gallet's "MultiChron" line of professional use timepieces, as well as the upcoming Flying Officer military issue pilot's watch.[4][5]
1938 - Commissioned by Senator Harry S Truman for the pilots of the U.S. Army Air Force, Gallet creates the legendary Flying Officer Chronograph. This extraordinary timekeeping milestone provides a combination of extremely important new innovations. Besides the ability to accurately record events ranging from 1/5th second to 30 minutes in duration, this horological breakthrough features a rotating 12-hour bezel as well as a dial with major cities listed on the periphery. By rotating the bezel, pilots now have the ability to calculate changes in the time as lines of longitude are crossed. Truman wears a Gallet Flying Officer during his two terms as US president.
1939 - Gallet breaks the gender barrier by producing the Multichron Petite. The Petite is the world’s first wrist chronograph engineered exclusively for enlisted woman assigned to technical and scientific tasks during WWII. Powered by the extraordinary 10 ligne Valjoux 69 movement, and measuring only 26.6mm in diameter, the MultiChron Petite becomes the smallest production chronograph ever manufactured.
1946 - With the end of World War II, and the death of his father Georges, Léon Gallet assumes management of the Gallet Company. Only minor changes are needed to transform the appearance of Gallet's military style watches into trendy chronographs for sportsmen and civilian pilots.
1965 – Gallet introduces the Excel-O-Graph. This particularly refined pilot’s wristwatch features a rotating bezel with integrated slide rule for making navigational calculations, and becomes the prototype for later models by other Swiss watchmakers.
1970 - Asian manufacturers begin releasing electronic quartz regulated timepieces onto the world markets. By continuing to build fine mechanical timepieces of uncompromising quality for a clientele not influenced by changing fads and convention, Gallet flourishes during the so called "quartz crisis" that results in the demise of numerous other Swiss brands.
1975 - Upon the death of Léon Gallet, sons Pierre and Bernard assume management of the company. They acquire the Racine Company, which has been struggling as a result of devaluation of the U.S. dollar.
1981 - Excelsior Park closes its factory due to the lack of family successors. To continue to support owners of Excelsior Park powered watches, Gallet acquires the balance of the company’s remaining inventory and assets.
1984 – Wein Brothers, a Canadian distributor of timing instruments for military use, contracts with Gallet to manufacture wristwatches for distribution to the US Government. To facilitate the initial transactions, Gallet transfers its long held Marathon trademark to its Canadian partner. Wein Brothers continues to distribute military timepieces and related products under the Marathon brand to the present day.
1990 - Gallet supplies 30,000 “Navigator” wristwatches to the new Marathon Company for distribution to the U.S. military. Prior to Marathon’s fulfillment of the contract, prototypes are arduously tested by the US Government to withstand the most adverse of conditions. All examples exceed the military's strict requirements for being highly accurate, virtually indestructible, and completely functional in all possible circumstances. Marathon’s Gallet manufactured timepieces become the model from which most later military style wristwatches are designed.
1991 - Pierre Gallet retires from the company due to ill health. His brother Bernard assumes control of the company, which continues to focus on the manufacture of high quality professional use timepieces.
1996 – To facilitate expansion, Bernard Gallet enters into a partnership with B. Neresheimer Ltd., a company with over a hundred years experience in the manufacture and distribution of fine silver wares and high-end luxury goods.
2002 - The Gallet factory is relocated from La Chaux-de-Fonds to Grandson, a canton of Vaud approximately one hour from Geneva. Walter Hediger, a member of the Neresheimer family with decades of experience in handling the financial and managerial affairs of entities within the watch making industry, takes the reigns of Gallet as its CEO. Mr. Hediger reconfirms the company's commitment to producing only the finest in timekeeping instruments for professional use.
2004 - Company activity becomes concentrated near Zurich. Bernard Gallet remains active with the company until his death in 2006.
2008 - Gallet & Co co-sponsors "Time in Office" at the National Watch and Clock Museum, an exhibition of timepieces worn by America’s presidents extending back to the pocket watches of George Washington. One of the featured items in the exhibit is the Gallet Flying Officer chronograph worn by Harry S Truman during his years in office as the 33rd president of the US.
2009 - Gallet & Co co-sponsors "Time & Exploration" at the National Watch and Clock Museum, an exhibit highlighting the importance of time and timekeeping in the fields of exploration and navigation.
Wrist Watch Models - 1900 to the Present
- Desert Storm (Adanac & Marathon Navigator) – issued to the US and Canadian armed forces
- Excel-O-Graph – pilot's navigational chronograph with rotating slide rule bezel
- Flying Officer - time zone chronograph with world cities on periphery of dial
- MultiChron 12 - professional chronograph with 12 hour recording capabilities
- MultiChron 30 - professional chronograph with 30 minute recording capabilities
- MultiChron 45 - professional chronograph with 45 minute recording capabilities
- MultiChron Astronomic - 12 hour chronograph with triple date and moon phase
- MultiChron Commander - mid-size chronograph for both men and women professionals
- MultiChron Decimal - Professional chronograph for technical & scientific use
- MultiChron Navigator GMT - professional chronograph with additional 24 hour hand
- MultiChron Officer - small square dress of formal chronograph for officers
- MultiChron Petite - miniature chronograph for professional and enlisted women
- MultiChron Pilot - pilot's chronograph with rotating time zone bezel
- MultiChron Pilot Petite - miniature chronograph with time zone bezel for women pilots
- MultiChron Rattrapante - chronograph with simultaneous dual function recording
- MultiChron Regulator - professional chronograph with offset minute and hour dial
- MultiChron Yachting - professional chronograph with regatta countdown timer
Vintage Wrist Watch Gallery
-
Gallet MultiChron Regulator Chronograph (1929) - Used by drivers and pit bosses during the early years of the Indianapolis 500 Speedway -
Gallet Flying Officer Chronograph (1939) - Commissioned by Harry S Trumans's senatorial staff for issue to pilots of the US Army Air Force -
Gallet MultiChron Officer Chronograph (1941) - high quality square timer for woman professionals and as a dress chronograph for gentlemen and military officers -
Gallet MultiChron Navigator GMT Chronograph (1945) - World's 1st wrist watch with separate 24 hour GMT hand -
Gallet MultiChron Rattrapante Chronograph (1948) - Sports and racing wrist watch with ability to simultaneously record 2 separate events -
Gallet MultiChron Yachting Chronograph (1955) - special chronograph with regatta countdown feature, powered by an in-house manufactured Excelsior Park movement -
Gallet MultiChron Astronomic Chronograph (1959) - highly complex chronograph with 12 hour recoding capabilities, accurate automatic day, date, month, and moon phase features -
Gallet MultiChron 45 Chronograph (1960) - Used by drivers and pit bosses at the Indianapolis 500 Speedway -
Gallet Excel-O-Graph Chronograph (1965) - professional pilot's wristwatch with rotating slide rule bezel and outer dial ring for navigational calculations, in-house Excelsior Park calibre 40-68 movement -
Gallet Flying Officer Chronograph (1970) - special version for pilots of the Swiss Air Force, rotating 12 hour bezel and 24 cities dial for time zone calculation, Swiss military markings on reverse
-
Gallet MultiChron Pilot Chronograph (1975) - 12 hour recording chronograph with rotating 12 hour bezel for time zone calculations, dial indications for determining miles-per-hour -
Marathon Navigator or Adanac (1990) - specially created by commission for the US Government, issued to pilots of the United States Air Force
References
- ^ Kathleen H. Pritchard, Swiss Timepiece Makers 1775-1975, (2 Bände), West Kennebunk 1997
- ^ Horology, Volume VI, No. 11, Pg. 6, Feb. 1940, "Waterproof Watches, Part Two"
- ^ Catherine Cardinal, Jean-Michael Piquet, Catalogue of Selected Pieces, Institut l'homme et le temps, pg. 5
- ^ Horology, Volume VI, No. 11, Pg. 6, Feb. 1940, "Waterproof Watches, Part Two"
- ^ The Jewelers' Circular-Keystone, January 1939, pg.52