The History of Stauffer, Son & Co. (Chris Balm Antique & Vintage Watches)

The History of Stauffer, Son & Co.

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Stauffer was founded in 1830 in Chaux de Fonds, Switzerland. By 1860 they were trading as a partnership (Jules Stauffer and Francis Claude) and as well as their factory in Chaux de Fonds, they also had a London office at 12 Old Jewry Chambers, London EC. Jules Stauffer subsequently retired with his place being taken by Charles Nicolet. The Anglo-Swiss company was listed in directories during this period as wholesale watch manufacturers and importers. In 1874 Francis Claude retired, leaving Nicolet to take control of the firm. The trade mark, ‘Stauffer, Son & Co’ was registered in January 1876 and the following year Nicolet registered the “C.N.” maker’s mark with the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, London.

The company exhibited chronometers and repeating watches at the Inventions Exhibition of 1885 and moved to 13 Charterhouse Street, Holborn, London EC in 1887. From 1894 the company supplied watches which were marked with the trade name, “Peerless”, whose movements were manufactured by IWC (International Watch Company, Schaffhausen).

In 1903, Stauffer, Son were official timekeepers for 'The Gordon Bennett Cup' international automobile race held in Athy, County Kildare, Ireland. The company supplied ninety one chronograph watches for timing the race and the head timekeeper was Mr. T. H. Woolen of the Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland.

As well as “S & Co.”, “S.S. & Co.” and “Peerless”, the company also produced watches with the trade marks, “ESS”, “Atlas", “Themis” & "Decigraph".