| There isn't anything as endearing to the | | | | taking place, the A. Wittnauer Co. becomes |
| public as a rags to riches story and the | | | | even further involved with the Navy for early |
| history behind the Wittnauer Watch Company is | | | | aviation tests. From there the world's most |
| one such story. Imagine if you will a young | | | | exciting people in regards to the budding |
| 16 year old Swiss immigrant arriving in New | | | | fields of aviation, astrology, and navigation |
| York City in 1872 with an already well | | | | go to this company for the most accurate, |
| developed ability to produce high quality | | | | well made field devices and watches. Of the |
| watches. The story only gets better from | | | | Wittnauer Company and products, noted |
| here. | | | | horologist Marvin E. Whitney writes, "No one |
| | | | company has been more involved in the design |
| Young Mr. Wittnauer begins working for his | | | | and production of so many different types of |
| brother in law J. Eugene Robert. Mr. Robert | | | | navigational timepieces and been involved in |
| is an importer of fine Swiss watches. With | | | | so many history making expeditions…" |
| the help of his younger brother, Albert | | | | |
| Wittnauer decides there is a need for a watch | | | | With the death of her last brother Emile, |
| designed with all of the durability and | | | | Martha Wittnauer is left holding the reins of |
| function the American public demands. Much | | | | this amazing company in 1916. At the time, |
| to everyone's except Albert's surprise, the | | | | she is one of the few CEOs of a major |
| watches are an instant hit with his brother | | | | American company. Martha does continue the |
| in law's clients. | | | | amazing work she and her brothers began years |
| | | | before and continues to bring success to the |
| By 1890, the company is formally establishes | | | | family company. She was particularly fond of |
| when Mr. Robert gives the title to Albert | | | | encouraging the aviation navigating |
| Wittnauer and the A. Wittnauer Company is | | | | instruments that had helped make the company |
| born. All of the Wittnauer siblings are | | | | so successful in the first place. |
| involved in the budding business. They make | | | | |
| the bright decision to employ the best and | | | | That is a brief synopsis of the Wittnauer |
| most talented of watch making engineers. The | | | | Company's early history. The events and |
| company also stays ahead of the game and | | | | people who originally formed the company were |
| begins to cater to the ever growing world of | | | | to have a tremendous influence on the rest of |
| exploration. It is their timepieces that are | | | | its history. The advantages made by the |
| found on trips made by navigators, explorers, | | | | company were continued in 1949 with the |
| and astronomers. | | | | release of a self winding watch. It was |
| | | | designed to be slimmer and more durable than |
| In terms of the great global exploration | | | | the other self winding watches of the time. |