History of Jacques Lecoultre au Sentier, Switzerland.

The Lecoultre family, originaly from France purchase land in Sentier Switzerland around 1593, Sentier is part of the valley de Joux surronding the Lac du Joux (Lake). It is not until Abraham Joseph I who was born in 1711 that the family got involved in Blacksmitting and forging on the family forge. His son Abraham Joseph II born in 1746 kept the family forge and blacksmitting business going.
Abraham the second gave birth to a son in 1781 named Jacques David II Lecoultre, he will become the founder of the Lecoultre
razor business.
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Jacques pictured above with his wife.


Jacques with the help of his son Antoinne are said to make razors for the large Lecoultre family and friends. Antoine who spent two years in geneva studying clockmaking and watchmaking returns to Le Sentier to work with his father in both business of watchmaking and razor manufacturing. In 1830 the father and son founded "Jaques Lecoultre et fils."
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Antoinne Lecoultre

Antoinne involment as a watchmaker brings the business to many Exhibition in 1829 in Lausanne,Switzerland,in 1848 in Bern Switzerland, in 1851 in London's Great Exhibition, the North American are taking very well to the Lecoultre razors, America is importing Lecoultre razors.
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Advertising Lecoultre razors 1854.



Lecoultre razors are now exported to North America, England, Germany and Russia. The popular frameback with interchangable blade that the french stop making but LeCoultre version is said to be superior to any and will hold an edge longer.

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Also the company offered paddle strops
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1867 advertising

Attachment 116751Some more LeCoultre advertisement etc
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1869
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1896
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The company changed name many times but it is now Jaeger/Lecoultre, and after all these years still in the same location in Switzerland.
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LeCoultre stopped making razors in 1919 to devote the company to watchmaking-clockmaking, witch they hold over 200 patents.

Martin thanks for this info, I love my lecoultre.

Interesting reading, thanks for posting it. I don't have a Jaeger-Lecoultre razor but have had one of their watches (a Master Geographique) for about 13 years.

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Originally Posted by Weaselsrippedmyflesh

Interesting reading, thanks for posting it. I don't have a Jaeger-Lecoultre razor but have had one of their watches (a Master Geographique) for about 13 years.

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Greg, thanks for sharing that incredible watch.

Weaselsrippedmyflesh / Greg (thanks Martin - you just beat my post enabling me to edit it!),

Jaques Le Coultre made razors, strops, musical boxes - and watches. Some razors were advertised as being made from '...steel wire used for watch springs, and consequently of superior temper...' Jaques son, Antoine, set up on his own account in 1833. His company was not called 'Jaques LeCoultre' - rather LeCoultre & Cie and later (c1958) Le Coultre & Cie Borgeaud. He had a number of children, none called Jaques. However it is certain that the firm of "Jaques LeCoultre" survived as a separate business entity with its own mark and official registration data, run alongside LeCoultre & Cie.

Amongst Antoine's children was Elie (1842 - 1917) who joined the company aged 16 and was a major influence. Elie had a son called David - Antoine's grand-son, who figures in the Jaeger-LeCoultre story.

Edmond Jaeger (1858 - 1922) was purely a watchmaker, who set up as a watchmaker for the french navy in 1880, in Paris. In 1903 he met the grand-son of Antoine LeCoultre - David, setting him a task to make ultra-thin watch movements that led to a series of pocket watches. Jaeger had already designed the movements, but it took the fine tolerances of a company like LeCoultre & Cie to make them into a reality. The design was owned by Jaeger, who let it exclusively to Cartier for 15 years (from 1907-22), and David LeCoultre made the movements.

Although some watch and clock sites say that the collaboration involved Antoine LeCoultre, he died in 1881 so was never personally involved. David, son of Elie LeCoultre, was director of LeCoultre & Cie from 1906 - 1948 (when he died). The collaboration between Jaeger and LeCoultre & Cie was not officially finalised - and named Jaeger LeCoultre - until 1937.

With each step we get further and further away from razors, and although I have seen many and owned several (Jaques) Lecoultre razors, I have never seen a Jaeger-LeCoultre one.

You never know though - anything is possible!

Regards,
Neil

I have a book about Jaeger-LeCoultre watches that gives the history of the firm and its innovations. It's rather an awkward size to scan but if there's interest I'll try and scan the first few pages.

Another interesting fact is that the brand : "Jaques LeCoultre au Sentier"was registered in Switzerland November 8, 1895, 65 years after its foundation.

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Originally Posted by Martin103

Another interesting fact is that the brand : "Jaques LeCoultre au Sentier"was registered in Switzerland November 8, 1895, 65 years after its foundation.

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I suspect that it is something to do with how long company registrations are in Switzerland, and what changes constitute grounds for re-registering an existing company. Like so many of the Sheffield makers, the applicants that recorded the original business info died long before the actual company ceased trading - sometimes after many generations, but still using the same original company name.

Pre-1900 I expect things in Switzerland were a bit complicated re: comapny registration. As well as the usual 'sole ownership', 'company' and 'limited company' status there could have been more. I'm not an expert on company law, so in the case of a partnership, for instance, I don't know how the addition or removal of a partner alters the status of the initial registration, or going from company to limited company. There are also a number of cantons in Switzerland (26) each of which is a state of the Federal State of Switzerland. Before the Federation of Switzerland (1848) each of these cantons was a fully functioning, self-governing state with its own border controls, etc. So, 'Jaques LeCoultre au Sentier' would have initially been registered in the canton of Vaud (Le Sentier is within the state/canton called Vaud). After Federation and centralised administration I suppose the company records would have to be amended or re-registered.

Interestingly, Jaques LeCoultre au Sentier advertised that it was to be removed as a company in 1927 with the reason of 'defunct' or 'ceased' (the french is a bit ambiguous - at least to me!) only to be replaced by a company of the same name administered by Charles LeCoultre and others. 'Charles' is probably Charles Antoine LeCoultre. The companies details indicated that they made chisels for watchmakers, tempered steel, razors, strops, cases, etc.

Regards,
Neil

Makes sense since the company post 1900 made a lot of changes.

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Here are the first few pages from "The Manufacturers Book of Timepieces". Enjoy!

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And the next few:

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Another interesting fact about Lecoultre is that he invented the millionometer in 1844 and a winding system that doesnt require a key to wind the watch and never patented any of these and used by others as well, surely not a gloryseeker.

A little update on LeCoultre razors.
A small article from the "Journal de Geneve" (Geneva Newspaper)1848.
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This note on the newspaper clearly states that Mr Lecoultre was told that some razors identical to his were found but not from his factory, and that from this day forward, April 18, 1848.all the Lecoultre razors coming out of his factory would have the stamp Jaques LeCoultre au sentier. And furthermore every Lecoultre razor will include instructions in the box.
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Originally Posted by Martin103

A little update on LeCoultre razors.
A small article from the "Journal de Geneve" (Geneva Newspaper)1848.
Attachment 123444
This note on the newspaper clearly states that Mr Lecoultre was told that some razors identical to his were found but not from his factory, and that from this day forward, April 18, 1848.all the Lecoultre razors coming out of his factory would have the stamp Jaques LeCoultre au sentier. And furthermore every Lecoultre razor will include instructions in the box.
Attachment 123445

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I've seen a LOT of Lecoultre razors, but I don't think I've ever seen any that were much older than the late 1890's. I'd love to have one of the really old sets. The one I've got is a wonderful, wonderful razor to shave with.

I found that interesting also..I have a few but none that are actually tang stamped Le Coultre, Blades, yes, and also Arbenz stamped blades and frames.
These are the ones I have laid eyes upon:
MM$Co,
TO&Co.
ABENZ ENGLAND
“J L C.”
T&B
Le Grelot
Thiers 69 (Different shape)
And a couple others of differing dimensions.
Could it be that the forging house made blanks for different companies as they do now. The machining of the blanks is quite simple but it has taken me a while to figure out all the neat little quirks of it that are hidden.

And, yes, I love my framebacks of that style.
~Richard

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Originally Posted by Weaselsrippedmyflesh

Interesting reading, thanks for posting it. I don't have a Jaeger-Lecoultre razor but have had one of their watches (a Master Geographique) for about 13 years.

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I missed this thread back in January, just went through it this morning. I was simply in a mood to be struck by the beauty of this timepiece. What a wonderful piece of craftsmanship it is.

Martin, Thanks very much for a fascinating read :chapeau .

Martin...

Don't know how I missed this thread? I guess I need to spend more time perusing the older threads... :shrug:

Anyway: Thanks! What a great thread for a Great Razor (vastly under-appreciated IMHO) that many folks are not that familiar with.

I have been collecting the 'Le Coultre Raisors' for some time and have several sets, including a mint set with all 7 blades. Perhaps my most interesting set is one that is inscribed on the inner flap of the box with the following inscription: "Cadet Lawrence, West Point 1873". Apparently owned by a cadet at the military academy shortly after the Civil War. Interesting....

WP34

Your welcome! When you get a chance post some pics of this West Point set!

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Originally Posted by Martin103

Your welcome! When you get a chance post some pics of this West Point set!

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Will do!

WP34

First post. I believe I found the owner of your razor - who was known as The Father of the 12" Gun. From USMA registers and AOG reports, it's odd but the only "Cadet Lawrence" indicated around the 1873 year set was a 3rd classman by the name of Cadet Lawrence L. Bruff. Around that time there doesn't appear to be any other "Lawrence" (first name or last). They had very small classes then and perhaps they commonly used first names on their effects. He ultimately graduated in 1876 ranked 3rd in his class. Born 10/14/1851 in Maryland, commissioned into the Artillery, first served at Ft. Reno (OK) Indian Territory, switched to Ordnance Corps., served stints at Rock Island Arsenal, Watervliet (I've been there and seen their 16" naval guns while being built!), USMA instructor, Asst. to the Chief of Ordnance in Wash DC, made Col. until he suddenly passed in 1911 (while still assigned to the Midvale Steel Works) in Philadelphia. Buried at West Point. He's also published w/ books avail. on Amazon on Ordnance matters. You should sincerely pour a good glass of whiskey, say "Cheers!" to the man, and drink up!
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Martin,
I have only been here a little over year & I probably just never saw this thread but had I joined sooner like in 2013, I might have seen it. I love it. You always come up with so much information, you & Neil!!!! I need to better my search skills. I wish i had more books too!
I recently became interested in another addiction as pocket watches & there are so damn many out there. I just received some books yesterday in which one item was not considered a book but was added to it. It is a 3 page (both sides) foldout of Lecoultre clock repair notes: