Marvin

By Bruce Shawkey

Marvin has long been known for novelty watches, most notably the "tire" watch which been used by Goodrich and Goodyear among other companies. But they also made many models of regular watches as well.

Here is an article from the 1950 issue of Swiss Horological Journal, on the history of the company:

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Marvin

Although chaos and turmoil have time and again been the lot of man, the march ahead has been uninterrupted, visionary schemes have materialized, masterpieces created, discoveries made, and many a humble business has flourished.

In a small way perhaps — but in tangible form nevertheless we hope that we too have contributed something to progress. We proudly record that, all difficulties notwithstanding, our firm has grown from strength to strength. What measure of success we have achieved, we owe to our technicians, draftsman and watchmakers. Their unstinted efforts and loyalty are responsible for the high esteem in which the name MARVIN is held.

In 1850 Marc and Emmanuel Didisheim, two young Frenchmen from Hegenheim, Alsace, started a small watch business in Saint-Imier. In this village of the Swiss Jura watchmaking was already prosperous albeit artisan in character. Mechanical production already noticeable soon forged ahead.

One of the great merits of the Didisheim brothers was to foresee this mechanization and to visualize its beneficial results for the whole watch industry. Indefatigable workers and wise businessmen, they were soon at the head of a prosperous undertaking.

In 1854 they purchased a plot of ground; the following year two dwelling houses were erected in one of which a workshop was incorporated. In 1891 the sons of Marc took over control of the business — Henri-Albert, Edgar and Charles Didisheim built a small factory and launched the firm of "Albert Didisheim et Freres."

In 1894 the seat of the firm moved to La Chaux-de-Fonds. Thenceforward the industry underwent a process of transformation little short of a miracle. Thanks to improved machines and high precision tools, the principles of interchangeability found practical application.

In 1895 Henri-Albert assumed sole control, and under his leadership the factory was modernised and enlarged time and again. In 1912 the present factory was built.

In 1917 three sons, Marc, Rene and Jean took over. The concern was producing watch movements from its own roughs and expanded in such an extraordinary fashion that it gradually became one of the most important factories in the Metropolis.

In 1939 Pierre Didisheim and in 1946 Raymond Didisheim, great-grandsons of Marc, one of the founders, joined the firm.

The last decades have witnessed the practical application of every worth while discovery and the installation of the most up-to-date machinery of proven efficacy. Today the MARVIN sales organisation covers the world. The strength and enthusiasm of the younger generation is blended with the tradition and wisdom of the elder.

100 years young, full of hope and confidence, Marvin marches on.

Here are some ads and pictures of Marvin watches over the decades:

Here are some  other ads from Marvin over the years:

Here's an ad from the May/June 1956 issue of Swiss Horological Journal for the Marvin "Flying Dutchman" model: