An article published in the September 18, 1877 issue of The Evening Gazette (Port Jarvis, New York) reported Ferdinand Berthoud had broken ground on a new factory in Milford, Pennsylvania. Berthoud had been an employ at the silver case factory operated by D. Bournique, and it is likely that he left that factory during a workers strike in early 1877.

The article claimed the intent of Berthoud was to manufacture gold cases (not in direct competition with Bournique's silver case factory).