What follows is a computer generated transcript edited from linked Video (click blue text to watch) -> YouTube video about wrist watch repair & the history of wrist watch manufacturing worldwide!
"You know what it's absolutely criminal, what happened to the American watch industry, so come on in and let's investigate what happened. Lets describe the sad tale of the once flourishing American watch industry."
"The American watch industry had desire to make timekeeping affordable for its people back in the 1800s. Elgin and Waltham watch game was so strong it impressed the Swiss such that Swiss companies started making fakes to imitate American watches, known as the Swiss fakes from the 1960's. Not only were the Swiss impressed, they were also perplexed by the manufacturing techniques of the American watch makers."
"Sadly, reckless decisions made by the American government started a steady decline in this once great time keeping industry. The Swiss wanted to break into the American market and the American government gave very favorable tax relief to the Swiss Watch companies to import in their products. World war 1 & then 2, the American government ordered companies such as Elgin to stop producing watches and help with the war effort by producing military equipment."
"The Swiss stayed neutral in WWII & extended their stranglehold in the American wrist watch market further. In 1854 a man named Aaron Dennison started the Waltham watch company based in Waltham Massachusetts, which itself was a hub during the industrial revolution. Genius of people like Denison and other companies based in Waltham had developed some of the most advanced tooling and machines which took the American watch manufacturing game to a level where they had huge amounts of knowledge in mass production from the firearms industry and then later from Henry Ford which was applied to the watch industry, while the Swiss industry had nothing of the sort at that time, they were still producing handmade items in small quantities."
"Even back then companies such as Elgin were flag bearers for the right to repair and were strong advocates for the need for wearers of their watches to be able to easily repair them with easy access and availability to exchangeable spare parts. The Waltham watch company was bankrupt by 1949 and totally defunct in by 1957 so who licensed this once great name in watchmaking, another Swiss fake trying to capitalize on a great name watch game in high street fashion, most of which license their names out and are produced with Japanese movements, while every other part of the watch made in China."
"Waltham and Elgin shared a similar ethos, the desire to make watches affordable and repairable by your average Joe with the right tools & basic watch repair knowledge. Notice similarities in simplicity of design of the American watch functions sharing parts & having no unnecessary complications, the lack of posts and other elements in the designs to avoid or to eliminate the need to replace major parts such as the main plate or even the whole movement if for example there was some accidental water ingress. It's cheaper to replace a rusty screw acting as a post rather than a whole main plate."
"There isn't much information about the Universal Time Corporation but it may have been set up to enter the American market and the name "Universal Time Cooperation" may have sounded a lot more friendly in those days than Seiko. Just as American companies were ordered by their government to help with the war effort, Seiko was also ordered by the Japanese government to help with their war effort by producing military gear. After the war in the 1950s seiko started selling its products in the United States & Waltham moved some of its operations to Switzerland via a subsidiary company in the 1950s so this watch probably can claim to be represented by three cultures. America, Asia and Europe."
"Pretty awesome considering all the cultural & political friction nations had with each other back then. Interesting stories about time pieces of historical significance about any horological subject can be left in the comments below, if you would be so kind."
"The American watch brands with Japanese movements and Chinese cases, all put together from an office in Switzerland and then serviced by someone in England with a strap made in Italy, using tools and equipment made in Germany. An example to collaborate and embrace all these amazing cultures around you without fear that often grows into paranoia, uncertainty, doubt, bigotry, racism or worse."
Remember we are all in this life on Earth & need to treat the planet & other people around the world with dignity & respect. Try not to be a crazy lunatic or whacked out foolish hater, show other people love & kindness & be forgiving, thankful & appreciative to God for your life! Peace love & blessings, warm regards, God bless & Godspeed. Praise be to God!
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