When Stauffer Gave Way to Harrop

It is known that Stauffer & Co. of London exclusively imported IWC watches
into the UK since the mid-1890s, and that at some time in the mid 1930s
Stauffer lost this relationship and that the company of Edwin Harrop were
appointed sole agents for IWC in the UK, but I have not seen the exact date of
this recorded. The announcement from July 1936 reproduced below shows that
this occurred around then, probably in May or early June 1936 for it to be
printed in the July issue.

The company Edwin Harrop was most famous for the invention of an expanding
metal bracelet called the Brittanic, and a waterproof wristwatch called the
Submarine, although it was not the first of that name.

Regards David

Dear David

In other UK watch journals, for example the "Watch & Clock Maker", it was
reported already in the June 1936 issue, that Ed. Harrop was appointed
"International's" new sole concessionaire.

So it appears the date, the contract with Ed. Harrop became effective has been
June 1, 1936.

Best regards

Th. Koenig

Dear Thomas,

Thank you, I had not seen that mentioned before, please pardon my ignorance.
But I hope you enjoyed the image of the Harrop announcement.

Regards David

A few collectors unravel steadily the history of IWC piece by piece.

Perhaps Greg Steer ( cellar) was one of the first to do so on the Forum. But
David Boettscher, Thomas Koenig, Heiko Bertram and Alan Myers are also such
IWC historians. And let us not forget David Seyffer who wrote his PhD thesis
on the history of IWC!

Regards,

Adrian,

(alwaysiwc)

Indeed I enjoyed (and stored) your pic, David!

Interesting the text used by Ed Harrop (who went out of business in 1943) in
the Watch & Clock Maker (and with nearly the same words in the ad you posted)
says :

"The Superlative Horological Products of the INTERNATIONAL WATCH COMPANY
**** which have been well known to buyers in the British Isles under another
trade name for the past forty years, will in future ..."

and

"International Material and Repair Parts will fit all watches bearing the
above Trade Marks which will be found under the dial on all genuine I.W.C.
products whatever other name they bear."

So obviously Harrop followed seamlessly Stauffer though Stauffer had stopped
advertising much earlier (what gave cause to speculate whether there has been
an "interregnum" without any appointed general importer/sole concessionaire
for the British Empire). As well the wording confirms, that Stauffer became
the general importer in 1896 (maybe late 1895).

Thomas Koenig