Founders of Rolex - Hans Wilsdorf & Alfred Davis

[Pete72]

Hi There

I'm new to this forum and have been trying to get information on Alfred Davis. Most of the information I have found suggests Mr Davis was English and the brother-in-law of Hans Wilsdorf. Does anyone know if Alfred Davis had any involvement with watches before his partnership with Hans Wilsdorf? The reason I ask is because I have a vintage pocket watch manufactured by an A.J. Davis from Geneva and was curious if Alfred Davis may have produced it?

I have conducted searches on A.J. Davis but can't find anything.

I have also conducted searches on Alfred Davis but found little information.

Any assistance would be much appreciated.

Thanks, Pete

[DadsWatch72]

Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf invented the water resistant watch.Rolex was founded as Wilsdorf and Davis in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf and his brother-in-law, Alfred Davis. The company did not make original watches but imported Swiss movements to London where they were placed in watch cases and sold to jewelers who branded them as their own. Wilsdorf created the Rolex name three years later, but left London due to severe wartime taxes during World War I to set up shop in Geneva.

http://www.thewatchquote.com/No_118.htm

http://www.kalmarantiques.com.au/history-of-rolex.aspx

http://www.vintagewatchstraps.com/myrolexpage.htm

http://www.sellingwebdesign.com/clie...storyrolex.htm

http://www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk/M...Chester-W.html

[DadsWatch72]

H. Wilsdorf

[DadsWatch72]

Wilsdorf had the movements supplied by Aegler fitted into cases made by the Swiss case maker Francis Baumgartner, and the Birmingham, England case maker Dennison. Aaron Lufkin Dennison (1812-1895) had pioneered mass production watch making in the USA, but ran into financial difficulties in a turbulent financial period in 1857. In 1862 he moved to England and set up the Dennison Watch Case Co. of Birmingham. Watch cases supplied to Wilsdorf & Davis were usually stamped "Dennison Watch Case Co" but Dennison also used the case maker mark "ALD" for Aaron Lufkin Dennison. It seems that Wilsdorf & Davis imported watches already cased in silver cases, but that it was better economically to have the expensive gold cases made in Britain and then the movements put into them in the UK to avoid the high import taxes on the gold.


Are you sure its not ALD your seeing on the watch? The only thing I could find that was close to explaining the A.J. Davis watch, sorry.

Here is a link for the "ALD" mark......scroll down to it. http://www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk/Makers/London-A.html

Aaron Lufkin Dennison

[Pete72]

Thanks for your replies. I actually provided the wrong name, sorry! The name on the face is "A.D. Davis & CLE - Geneve".
Thanks, Pete

[DadsWatch72]

No problem, I had fun researching this information and learned a few things in the process. I couldn't find squat on ole Alfred Davis. Not even a picture.

[Pete72]

It would appear ole Alfie didn't get his fair share of the spotlight!

Does anyone have a copy of:
The Best of Time: Rolex Wristwatches: An Unauthorized History by James M. Dowling & Jeffrey P. Hess

Found here:
http://www.amazon.com/Best-Time-Wris.../dp/0764313673

It may have some info on Alfred Davis.

[r.l.x]

Did anyone have an Pic from the oldest/first rolex?