Pocket Watch Database

D. Bournique

Middletown, Pennsylvania, Milford, Pennsylvania

D. Bournique Image

Location: Middletown, Pennsylvania, Milford, Pennsylvania

Years of Operation: 1865 - c.1878

Successor: Charles Glatz

Began business around 1865 in Middleton, Pa and then moved to Milford, Pa. Manufactured the "Milford Silver Watch Case," which was exclusively distributed by Charles Glatz. Mr. Glatz eventually purchased the factory from Bournique around 1878. [Crossman]

Desire Bournique [d. 19 Nov 1884, Milford, Pa.] Newspaper reports the Bournique factory employed around 70-80 people and produced 80 cases per day in October 1880.

A small notice in the September 3, 1874 issued of the Wayne County Herald reported the watch factory was outputting 300 solid silver cases per week.

In May 1875, burglars blew open a safe at the factory and stole $2,500 worth of coin silver and cases.

In 1877, a workers strike prompted rumors that a new case factory would be started in Milford by the strikers. In September 1877, Ferdinand Berthoud, previously employed at Bournique's factory, broke ground on a new watch case factory on Harford Street. The stated intent was to manufacture gold cases.

In 1879, D. Bournique enlarged the watch factory and hired additional workers.

In April 1885, Bournique's silver watch case factory was sold to a syndicate. A report in the April 16, 1885 issue of the Wayne County Herald described the factory as being operated by Charles Glatz. The newspaper also reported that the deal included the factories of Keystone, Dueber, American/Brooklyn, and Blauer (which was untrue).