Revue Thommen is one of the oldest Swiss watch brands, and has always been worthy of the latin-derived term “manufacture”. Over 100 different GT movements have been produced manu factum –by hand.
Revue Thommen is a Swiss watch brand originally founded in 1853 by Gedeon Thommen. In the early days, the production was mainly focused on wristwatches and pocket watches . Around 1920, Revue Thommen also decided to start producing instruments for the aviation industry.This segment was constantly expanded, and today, Revue Thommen’s instruments are among the leading products in the aviation industry.In 2001,Grovana Watch Co. Ltd., a leading Swiss watch company watch took over production and global sales of Revue Thommen watches .Revue Thommen makes Airspeed aviation chronometers(Airspeed line) and the traditional watches with exclusive Revue Thommen Manufacture movements.Today, Revue Thommen watches are sold through more than 60 country agents around the world.
History of Revue Thommen watch brand
Gedeon THOMMEN took over the profit challenged company from the village of Waldenburg in 1859, and ever since the name Thommen has been on the employee roles. While not exclusively a family business having converted to a Joint Stock company in 1905, the shares of THOMMEN have passed from generation to generation within Waldenburg and nearby communities resulting in the company being run with the pride of a family business.Fittingly, the THOMMEN name continues today in the person of Otto THOMMEN, the Quality Manager. The majority shareholder of REVUE THOMMEN AG had been seeking a successor for quite some time and, to the credit of the current management team, an agreement was struck and signed by the parties early in 2005 paving the way for a management buy-out of the company. Energy, optimism, professionalism and a passion for success through growth, typify the personality of THOMMEN management and those traits will drive the company direction both in the near term and for years to come. REVUE THOMMEN AG will stay an independent,privately owned Swiss company, small enough to be agile and flexible,yet strong enough to set the pace in the manufacture of avionics and pressure measurement instruments for niche applications.
World War I was one of the first real tests for the practical application of the airplane and in 1916 the Swiss Air Force issued the order to THOMMEN to design and develop an aircraft chronograph. That initial involvement in aviation would shape the company’s future. It was, however, the awarding of a major contract by the Swiss Military in 1936 that proved the turning point in the history of the company. REVUE THOMMEN was entrusted with the development and supply of altimeters, airspeed indicators, vertical speed indicators, clocks and the landing gear for the C-35, a multi-purpose double-decker aircraft.That contract laid the groundwork for today’s instrument and machine tool manufacturing capabilities.
Over the years THOMMEN’s business has been precipitating to aviation with 80% of their recent business attributed to this sector. The balance of their business comes from Sports and Leisure Instruments (Hiking, Skiing and Parachuting Altimeters) and Industrial Pressure Measuring Instruments. Until very recently, virtually all of THOMMEN’s aviation business has come from the European Military and Transport Category aircraft market segments. During this period THOMMEN products have found application in 30 Commercial Airline and Regional Airline aircraft types, 23 Commercial Helicopter types, 16 Fighter aircraft types, 9 Military Helicopter types, and 24 Military Trainer aircraft types. The goal of the new ownership is that REVUE THOMMEN AG will be focused on future product opportunities based on the core technology of pressure measurement. Pursuit of this goal recently led to the realization that business aviation was essentially an untapped marketplace for THOMMEN products.It was quickly discovered that thousands of business aircraft are flying today and new business airframes are in production around the world. However, unlike other aviation market segments, well over 75% of the business aircraft fleet resides in the United States, an area of the world virtually untouched by THOMMEN until the last 3 or 4 years.
Since choosing business aviation as a target, THOMMEN has had remarkable success due to their perfect fit in niches where other suppliers have failed and withdrawn. The result has been the accumulation of an impressive list of TC’d and STC’d installations for THOMMEN Altimeters, Airspeed Indicators and Airdata Computers in many applications including several RVSM solutions.
Chronology:
1853 : The small town of Waldenburg founds the “Société d’Horlogerie à Waldenburg” , due to the high level of unemployment at this time.
1859: Louis Tschopp and Gédéon Thommen take over the „Société d’Horlogerie à Waldenburg“.
1869: Louis Tschopp withdraws from the company. Gédéon Thommen becomes the sole owner and renames the company “Gédéon Thommen – Uhrenfabrikation”(1).
1870: Gédéon Thommen patents the “System der Auswechselbarkeit der einzelnen Werkbestandteile”(2) and the “Remontoir-Patent” .
1875: In parallel to previous production of cylinder watches, Thommen starts producing Lever watches.
1885: The construction of the smallest narrow-gauge rail way in Europe from Liestal to Waldenburg leads to the invention of the “Springeruhr GT” watch.
1890: Production reaches over 13 000 watches annually. Gédéon Thommen dies unexpectedly as a result of an insidious illness. His son Alphonse takes over the company.
1905: Alphonse Thommen transforms “Gédéon Thommen – Uhrenfabrikation” into a limited company. From now on the company is called “Thommens Uhrenfabrik AG”.
1936: The production of aviation instruments becomes the second main activity of Thommens Uhrenfabrik AG.
1947: The Waldenburg watchmakers develop the worldfamous “Cricket”watch. Various American presidents wear a Cricket, which is why it is also called the president’s watch.
1950: Thommen develops various new watch movements, including the GT 82 movement. From this point on “Thommens Uhrenfabrik AG” is a completely independent company, which also produces watch components in parallel to its own movements. The factory produces the necessary machines for this in its own workshops.
1961: Thommens Uhrenfabrik AG develops the GT44, GT54, GT56, GT12 and GT14 movement ranges. The MSR Holding is founded. It brings together the Revue, Vulcain, Buser, Phenix and Marvin brands under one umbrella.
1969: The first Saltarello collection is launched. This model is based on the legendary “Springeruhr GT” watch of 1885.
1987: Thommens Uhrenfabrik AG launches the double brand “Revue Thommen”. This brand now serves as the main brand for clear brand positioning on international markets.
1990: In the 90s Revue Thommen increases its production of aviation instruments and since then has supplied all the leading airplane manufacturers in the world.
2000: The MSR Holding is dissolved and the company Vulcain & Studio SA liquidated.
2001: Grovana Uhrenfabrik AG takes over the production and worldwide sales of Revue Thommen watches.
2002: Following an interruption of several years, Grovana resumes the production of own manufacture movements for Revue Thommen watches. The movement ranges GT44, GT54, GT56, GT12 and GT14 form the framework for this range.
2006: The first prototypes of the new GT60 movement design with power reserve, moonphase, small second hand and date hand are coming into existence.
Official website: http://www.revue-thommen.ch/
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