Jmes Csar-Pellaton 1873 1954 Tradition, Precision and Passion

Watchmaker since 1895

Chronometer-maker, specialist of tourbillons. Director of the watchmaking school of Le Locle, born in Le Locle 1873-19 !.

Jmes-Csar Pellaton 1873 - 1954 Tradition, Precision and Passion HIS FAMILY
"is #ather #r$%$ric - &lbert '183(-191!), specialist watchmaker in tourbillons, operating un%er the compan* name+ ,&. -ellaton-#a.re/ Le Locle. "is workshop is going to %eli.er about eight* two tourbillons. 0ince 1891, #r$%$ric-&lbert is member of the commission of the watchmaking 0chool. "e will be there .er* acti.e. Chronometer with tourbillon, sil.er, enamel, brass, steel. Diameter+ 3 mm. 2hickness+ 17 mm. 3ngra.e% mo.ement+ &L4352 -3LL&267-#&853 L3 L6CL3 79 71

2owar% 1911

:n.. : ( 1

Case of work ma%e of sil.er, pro.i%e% with two glasses. 2he %ial ma%e of white enamel is painte% of &rabian numbers for the hours. 0mall %ial of the secon%s returne%.

Jmes-Csar Pellaton 1873 - 1954 Tradition, Precision and Passion

2he mo.ement with bri%ges, to rewin%ing to the counterpart, is characteristic of the pro%uction of &lbert -ellaton-#a.re '183!-191!). :t has a toothe% barrel, a crown an% a ratchet of ,teeth of wolf;, two gol% settings who maintains the cage of the tourbillon an% the wheel of the minutes. 2he tourbillon of which the lower pi.ot of the cage ma%e of polite steel carries the han% of the secon%s %oes si< =umps per secon% '(1>11 alternances?hour). :t inclu%es a %etentspring escapement, a wheel of fifteen gol% teeth, a compensator* balance with screw of regulation in platinum an% a spiral 4reguet in blue% steel. 2he gol% settings sector is fi<e% on the %ouble arm of the cage. &lbert -ellaton-#a.re constructe% more than 8( chronometers with tourbillon, all e@uippe% with a %etent-spring escapement. "istoric+ 3ntere% to the A:" in 1931. 3<hibition+ 199> A:", p 1!, repr. 4ibliograph*+ A:", 19>1, p. 7, repr. B 197!, p. 87, repr. Aeis, 1991, p. 1>1, repr.

Jmes-Csar Pellaton 1873 - 1954 Tradition, Precision and Passion

Catchmaker towar% 189 . 5eplace% 2h$ophile Daspar%, L$opol% DefosseE '1878 - F), in 19(>, at the %irection of the watchmaking school of Le Locle. Aember in 191 of the commission of the museum at the time of the 2echnicum B 8ice presi%ent in 1919B presi%ent of 19(> - 19 1 757.

"e is going to stamp its own imprint on the Le Locle watchmaking worl%. LetGs present it from ! ke*s aspects+ 1 - 2he man ( - 2he teaching 3 - 2he manufacture of tourbillon ! - 2he watchmaking museum #rom his marriage he has 1 son an% ( %aughters.

Jmes-Csar Pellaton 1873 - 1954 Tradition, Precision and Passion THE MAN

Watchmaker since 1895

Chronometer-maker, specialist of tourbillons. Director of the watchmaking school of Le Locle, born in Le Locle 1873-19 !.

Jmes-Csar Pellaton 1873 - 1954 Tradition, Precision and Passion

:n his *outh he is instructor of the 0un%a* school in the college of the 0aignotte. "e knows e.er*bo%* there. 2hereafter, in memor* of this occupation, it goes up e.er* *ear at Christmas, the college where stu%ents are singing his fa.ourite melo%*+ ;L3 A:7H:2 C"5I2:37; "e associates with his tenor .oice. &t the en% of the e.ening he %istributes some chocolates to all present chil%ren. 6ne of the leisure he lo.e so much is his car% game with three frien%s at least once a month. 2he* meet up in the Dillotes o.er a tast* rabbit. 6ther important leisure+ the presi%enc* of the music societ* of Le Locle. :t aims to facilitate the cultural life b* in.iting artists more or less known. &fter a concert where 3rnest &nsermet was in.ite%, JKmes-C$sar -ellaton, with his %r* sens of humour, offere% him a packing of cherries in Lirsch an% aske% him+ ;Di% *ou know the %ifference between a tuning fork an% the Llaus factor*F/ Cithout answer of &nsermet, JKmes-C$sar -ellaton gi.es the solution+ ;2he tuning fork sets the tone to the shock. 2he Llaus factor* gi.es the shock to the la./ '0hok to the la M ,Choc au la/ M ,Chocolat/ in french, Llaus is a french chocolat factor* near Le Locle) &s a teacher, he was e<tremel* strict an% %eman%ing. & slap in the face can happen .er* @uickl*. 2o an important .isitor to whom he shows the @ualit* of his parts ma%e of polite steel, the .isitor answere%+ what plating beautifulNNN "e takes the parts, puts them back it in his case without answering an*thing. 0ometimes, at a frien%l* meeting he ga.e a speech in kitchen Derman the tone an% the gestures were elo@uent that at the en% of the speech the listeners applau%e% e<cept the 0witEerlan% Derman.

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Jmes-Csar Pellaton 1873 - 1954 Tradition, Precision and Passion THE TEACHER

Chronometer-maker, specialist of tourbillons. Director of the watchmaking school of Le Locle, born in Le Locle 1873-19 !.

Watchmaker since 1895

Jmes-Csar Pellaton 1873 - 1954 Tradition, Precision and Passion

August 1st, 1903 "e is hire% as master of teaching of escapements. :t was work his =ob at Hl*sse 7ar%in. "e is chosen o.er other can%i%ates. 1908 "e is gi.en the responsibilit*, in a%%ition to the escapements, the teaching of the watchmaking theor*. 1912 "e gi.es e.ening classes in his specialt*. "is courses are .er* popular. 2his *ear, there are (9 people. 2he interest is growing until 1918 B it is necessar* to split the courses. 2his course is recogniEe% b* the awar% of a certificate. 1914 1918 5eplacement of mobiliEe% teachers in a%%ition to his lessons. 1917 "e plans to change of position, more attracti.e offers ha.ing been ma%e to him. &fter %iscussion an% re.aloriEation of his remuneration con%itions, he %eci%e% to sta* in school. July , 1918 &ppointment as %eput* %irector after ha.ing ser.e% for three months as interim %irector. 2his promotion %oes not allow him to fulfill its e%ucational function at 111O B the =ob is split. 1921 "e writes a book on the theor* of escapements. 2he @ualit* of it is such that it becomes compulsor* in all schools of 0witEerlan% e<cept in La Chau<-%e-#on%s that use the book written -. 4erner. 2his book is also use% to the school of 4esanPon in #rance an% is translate% in Derman. 2his book has been republishe% fi.e times. 7ote on the co.er page, the following mentions + :n 19(1 JKmes-C$sar -ellaton %eput* %irector of the watchmaking school. :n 19(8 JKmes-C$sar lea%ing -ellaton %irector of the watchmaking school. :n 19! an% following JKmes-C$sar -ellaton former %irector of the watchmaking school an% Dr "onoris Causa. 1924 &ppointe% to the office of the control b* the mark of @ualit* of the watches. A!"#l 1st, 192 &ppointment as %irector. "e replaces Ar. -. Defosse*. 2echnical office tasks an% e%ucation are entruste% to Ar. 5. La.est, former technical %irector of Qenith.

Jmes-Csar Pellaton 1873 - 1954 Tradition, Precision and Passion

1929 5umours in the public suggest that our school trains too much foreign stu%ents. JKmesC$sar -ellaton, after checking, sai% that the school of Le Locle has traine%, on a.erage, a foreign stu%ent per *ear. 2o cut short the contro.ers* hiring a foreign stu%ent is sub=ect to the 0wiss Chamber of Catchmaking.

1932 5elease of the book ,Cours %e r$glage pour la r$gleuse/. :t is the work of JKmes-C$sar -ellaton an% L$opol% Defosse*. Y$%"s &' ("#s#s ) u*$+!l&y+$*t 2he problems relate% to this situation re@uire the watchmaking schools of Le Locle an% La Chau<-%e-#on%s 'an% the other) to better %istribute material taught in both schools. 2his will be %one without la*ing people off. 6ne the other han%, the school must %e.elop training for the unemplo*e%. 2his %isposition is man%ator* for the unemplo*e% un%er ( *ears. 193 Creation of pre-apprenticeship classes in or%er to impro.e professional training. 1937 2he school appears again complete. JKmes-C$sar -ellaton is in.ite% in #inlan% to the e<hibition of the #innish watchmakers. "is book on the escapements has been translate% into the language of the countr*. "e is then %ecorate% b* the Compan* of the #innish Catchmakers of the Chite 5ose of #inlan%. :t is the first time such an awar% is gi.en to a stranger.

Jmes-Csar Pellaton 1873 - 1954 Tradition, Precision and Passion

1938 JKmes-C$sar -ellaton is %elegate% of the 2echnicum to the foun%ations of the #rench 0ociet* of chronometr*. N&,$+-$" 1st, 1938 2he uni.ersit* of 7euchRtel is celebrating its centenar*. 6n this occasion, it awar%e% two Dr "onoris Causa to JKmes-C$sar -ellaton an% Ar. -aul 4erner. 1939 JKmes-C$sar -ellaton retire%, he was replace% b* Ar. 5. La.est. 2his is the time to appoint him as -resi%ent of the Commission of the Catchmaking 0chool an% member of the Committee of 2echnicum. 1939 194. 5eplacement of mobiliEe% teachers. 1948 "e is technical a%.isor for the watchmaking e<hibition hel% in 7euchRtel June 31 to Jul* 18. 2he same *ear he recei.e% at the Congress of the 0we%ish watchmakers the Dol% Ae%al 0chwen%er. 2hroughout the perio% of his teaching he %irecte% an orchestra of stu%ents an% a mi<e% choir %uring gra%uation ceremonies. "e was honoure% with the title of "onorar* -resi%ent of se.eral companies.

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Jmes-Csar Pellaton 1873 - 1954 Tradition, Precision and Passion THE T/0R1ILL/NS MAN0FACT0RIN2

Chronometer-maker, specialist of tourbillons. Director of the watchmaking school of Le Locle, born in Le Locle 1873-19 !.

Watchmaker since 1895

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Jmes-Csar Pellaton 1873 - 1954 Tradition, Precision and Passion

"e is going to promote to the school, for the best stu%ents, the manufacturing of tourbillons. :n 1919, the (n% tourbillon of a stu%ent is finishe% when the 1st tourbillon is in obser.ation in the 6bser.atoire %e 7euchRtel, where he obtaine% a first priEe.

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Jmes-Csar Pellaton 1873 - 1954 Tradition, Precision and Passion

&t the 7ational 3<hibition in 4ern in 191!, the school e<poses some tourbillons among other parts. During the perio% where he taught, stu%ents will make twent*-three tourbillons.

#or those that he is going to make personall*, he will %e%icate his free time, the en%s of weeks an% the holi%a*s. "e %eli.ers thirt*-fi.e cages to -atek--hilippe an% some others to Dirar%--erregau<. "e also %eli.ers some mo.ements to Hl*sse 7ar%in an% some to Q$nith.

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Jmes-Csar Pellaton 1873 - 1954 Tradition, Precision and Passion

Hpon his retirement he is going to %eli.er some tourbillons on or%er to pri.ate customers. 0ome of these are at the Aus$e %u ChRteau %es Aonts 'Le Locle).

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Jmes-Csar Pellaton 1873 - 1954 Tradition, Precision and Passion

:n 19 1, he finishes a tourbillon ma%e b* his father on 19GGG 0 calibre for the Aus$e :nternational %S"orlogerie 'A:", La Chau<-%e-#on%s). "e also makes a tourbillon of %emonstration, 4enoTt s*stem, %iameter 83 mm for the museum.

:n.. :8-8> JKmes-C$sar -ellaton Le Locle 2ourbillon of %emonstration, s*stem 4enoTt of. Dol%en brass, steel. D+ 83 mm 3ngra.e% turntable+ ma%e especiall* for the Aus$e :nternational %S"orlogerie 'A:", La Chau<-%e-#on%s) b* JKmes-C$sar -ellaton D5 ".C. Le Locle 19 1 JC-? an% number >7 9

Jmes-Csar Pellaton 1873 - 1954 Tradition, Precision and Passion J3+$s4C5s%" 6$ll%t&* L$ L&(l$
Aounte% on an ebauche of a Hl*sse 7ar%in marine chronometer, 4enoTtGs tourbillon inclu%es a Duillaume balance with brass weights, also calle% ,full balance/, an% a c*lin%ric balance-spring in palla%ium. 2here is no cage of tourbillon in 4enoTtGs tourbillon, %e.ice in.ente% b* &chille 4enoTt towar% 18 . 2he balance is positione% on top of the the wheel of escapement an% recei.es its impulse %irectl* from the balance-spring, that is place% upsi%e-%own, an% whose piton is fi<e% on a boun% arm of the superior pi.ot of the wheel. 2he piton is thus rotate% b* the wheel, an% this mo.ement is transmitte% b* the balance-spring to the balance. 2he escapement is particular to ensure the release an% rest %uring the arc of oscillation of the balance. 4ibliograph* + A:", 19> , p. 9!, repr.

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Jmes-Csar Pellaton 1873 - 1954 Tradition, Precision and Passion

:n 19(> he makes the smallest tourbillon of the worl% on a 11 1?(;G caliber. "e is putting the finishing touches in the e.ening of the 7ew UearGs 3.e, December 31, 19(>. 6n that occasion, he claims+ ,2he one that will make a smallest tourbillon is not *et born.;

7o-one is a prophet in his own school because the challenge was taken up b* one of his master Ar. #ritE 5obert-Charrue, that finishes in 19! a tourbillon on a 8 1?(;S watch. 2his time, it is the smallestN

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Jmes-Csar Pellaton 1873 - 1954 Tradition, Precision and Passion THE 7ATCHMA8IN2 M0SE0M
2he museum is create% Jul* 1!, 18!9. :t will be part of the in%ustrial school. :n 191 JKmes-C$sar -ellaton was appointe% to the commission of the museum. "e became .ice-presi%ent in 1919 an% presi%ent in 19(> an% he remaine% until 19 1. :n 1938, the museum is in the room !!. &s the nee% of e<tension of the school arises, it frees space b* putting parts of the museum in bo<es. 2hese bo<es are fre@uentl* mo.e%. :n 19 1, JKmes-C$sar -ellaton, after a rehearsal .oice accompanie% b* Ars. Qepf 'future wife of Ar. 3. Jobin), it offers to hire her future husban% as the museum curator. 0he accepts an% the future husban% followsNNN

T/ THE REA9ER
2his short biograph* of JKmes- C$sar of -ellaton fills a .oi% felt b* all who wants to impro.e the ra%iance of the cit* of Le Locle. :t cannot be e<hausti.e, but most has been sai%. 0eptember 18, (117, Ch.- &. 4reguet

Aichel Dawalibi

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Jmes-Csar Pellaton 1873 - 1954 Tradition, Precision and Passion 1I1LI/2RA6HY

&nnual reports of the Le Locle watchmaking school, *ears 191( to 19!1. 4rochure of the 1th an% 111th anni.ersar* of watchmaking school. 5. Aeis Le 2ourbillon. Jean--aul 4our%in, les fabricants %Shorlogerie Loclois 178 - 198 . Director* of Le Locle watchmakers V8:: - VV centuries. JKmes-C$sar -ellaton, Cours %S$chappement 1er W >e $%itions. JKmes-C$sar -ellaton, ,Le tourbillon/, in the ,annals franPaises %e chronom$trie/, 19 1. JKmes-C$sar -ellaton, ,La montre W tourbillon/, e<tracte% from ,Journal 0uisse %S"orlogerie et %e 4i=outerie 793-! X, 19!1, %$%icate% to Ar. "enri ChabloE. A.:."., Le 2ourbillon, publishe% for the e<hibition on this sub=ect of June 17 at 0eptember (9 199>. 0pecial thanks to Ar. 3phrem Jobin who mentione% most of the anec%otes, the other being to chil%hoo% memories of Ars 4ett* 4e%ert--ellaton.

&lbert -ellaton-#a.re

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Jmes-Csar Pellaton 1873 - 1954 Tradition, Precision and Passion

"e?it is born the (!.1(.1873 in the Locle an% %ie% the 1!.11.19 ! in the Locle. &%%resses in the Locle 0wamp (1 an% white -ath 3. 6riginal amiss. "is?her?its father was #r$%$ric-&lbert -ellaton an% his?her?its mother Louise-Jos$phine #a.re-4ubble born. "is?her?its paternal a*eu< was+ "enri-0*l.ain an% &%ele-Hranie -ellaton. "is?her?its maternal a*eu< was+ #rien%-Louis-#a.re-4ubble Jos$phine an% Dubois born. "is?her?its wife was Laure-&m$lie 6thenin-Dirar% born the ( .11.187>, %ecease% the 1!.1!.19!7. 2o his?her?its birth two uncles watchmakers in the Locle are mentione% like witnesses+ #ritE #a.re-4ubble an% &ugustus -ellaton. Ci%ower of Laure-&m$lie 6thenin-Dirar% born "e?it ha% eight brothers "e?it learns the profession of watchmaker at his?her?its father. "e?it also practises the profession of chronom$trier. Committe% 6%*sseus-7ar%in at. 4etween in 1913 to the school of clockmaking of the Locle, where he?it sta*s 3> *ears. Director of this 0chool of 19(> to 1939. Lnight 1st class of the or%er of the white -ink #inlan% of. "is?her?its chil%ren Louise-Jeanne Aarguerite born the (8.13.1911 %ecease% the (!.oct. 19 >. 4orn Jeanne-5en$ the (7.1(.1913 Aarrie% to the files of fun%. 4orn JKmes-Cilfre% %ecease% Aa* 191> 31 the (7.1(.19 !. two enfants + Jean--ierre born Cilfre% 7o.. 1 1931. Jeanine-7a%Yge 11.0ept. 193!.

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