april 2017

Inventic was registered as a brand more than 100 years ago - in 1915 - by Fabrique d'Horlogerie Ed. Kummer SA, located in Bettlach, in Switzerland.

Inventic watch logo as it was in the 1970s

Eduard Kummer Bettlach had already been established in 1888. The story of Ed. Kummer is well described and can be found here, here and here. The company was founded by the 43 year old Eduard Kummer and began as a manufacturer of rough movements (ebauches). In the beginning of the century EKB also began to produce finished watches.

According to Mikrolisk Ed. Kummer registered more than 100 different brand names. The first seems to be Ariston in 1897, Eximia, Speciosa and Veridica in 1905 followed by Alacris, Esperanto, Integra and Pernix in 1906 and so on. Even a brand called ”The Policeman” was registered 1910... And then Inventic in 1915. We don’t know how many of these brands has been actively used for watches or watch parts. But we do know that during the First World War (1914-1918) Ed. Kummer employed 720 workers, so production must have been significant.

This letterhead from 1923 tells that EKB for movements and Ariston and Inventic for watches were the main brands.

Ed. Kummer letterhead from 1923 were Inventic is one of the main brands.

In the 1920s the watch making industry in Switzerland were rather fragmented with many competing producers and falling prices. Ed. Kummer had severe financial problems and in 1931 the company was sold to ASUAG. The company was split into two parts: The crude works department became part of Ebauche SA and from 1937 known as Ebauches Bettlach with the EB-shield-stamp, that since can be found in so many movements. The watch department continued as Ed. Kummer SA.

The EB-shield stamp that can be found in movements from Ebauche Bettlach - formerly a part of Ed. Kummer S.A.
Source

A small signage with the brand Inventic from Ed. Kummer SA. Date unknown.

An Inventic watch ad from 1950.
Ed. Kummer also used the brands Times, Integra, Opus, Aristex, Ariston and Atlantic at that time.

Ed. Kummer watch ad from 1951 were the Inventic brand is mentioned.

The first watch under the name Atlantic had been released in 1932 and during time this brand became the most important for Ed. Kummer. But production of watches under the name Inventic continued through the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s. Judging from the design of the latest models with the Inventic name the last models were made in the 1970s. The Atlantic brand is still active.

A selection of Inventic watches during time.