====== Roamer ======
{{wst>menue|Roamer}}

**Roamer** is a historic Swiss watch brand dating to [[1888]] and continuing to this day in [[Solothurn]], [[Switzerland]].

===== History =====
==== Fritz Meyer and MST ====
At 29 years of age, Fritz Meyer ([[1858]]-[[1926]]) established a workshop in Solothurn to produce [[cylinder escapement]]s for other [[etablisseur]]s. The company grew rapidly, and began assembling complete watches by [[1895]]. These contained components from many other businesses and were sold with other brand names. In [[1897]], Meyer's workshop produced its first complete movement, named "Calibre 38" for the age of the founder. Meyer was still focused on the inexpensive end of the market but began to branch out after [[1900]] with the registration of **Femina** (for ladies) and **Moles**.

In [[1905]], Meyer partnered with watchmaker Johann Studeli, forming **Meyer and Studeli** or **MST**. The combined company opened a large factory in [[1906]], still producing inexpensive cylinder movements, but plans for growth were ambitious. The **Roamer** brand was registered in [[1908]] but no watches with this brand are known. MST expanded internationally at that time, entering the UK market as **Medana Watch Co.** under Fritz Meyer's son, Leo. In [[1915]], Charles Meyer took over management of the firm, a position he held until his death in [[1945]].

In [[1916]], MST purchased the firm of Messrs **Tièche-Gammeter**, makers of high-quality [[lever escapement]]s and owner of the **Vidar** brand. This gave them separate entry into a more lucrative market but MST continued as a producer of inexpensive movements as well. In [[1917]], MST invested in a new factory in the Wiessesteinstrasse in Solothurn that would become the symbol of the company. A year later, MST also began producing its own lever movements, unrelated to the Tièche-Gammeter line.

==== Roamer ====
MST became a Sociètè anonyme (SA) in [[1917]] with Fritz Meyer as chairman and Johann Studeli, Meyer's sons Charles, Hermann, and Leo, and son-in-law Heinrich Benisch on the board. The company immediately moved into complete branded watches, re-registering the **Roamer** brand as their premium line alongside **Medana** for the traditional clyinder and [[pin lever]] products. Both brands were brought to the United States and UK in [[1920]], though the company was forced to delay and scale back their American registration due to the existence of a Roamer Automobile company. Fritz Meyer died in [[1926]], but the company was firmly established as a family firm and would continue for many decades.

MST was able to bring all production in-house by [[1932]], becoming a true [[manufacture]]. The company registered their distinctive triangular **MST** logo in [[1927]] and the modern **Roamer** logo was registered in the UK in [[1938]]. The entire adopted the **Roamer** name in [[1951]], though the in-house movements were still known as "MST".

The first in-house [[automatic]] movement, [[MST 410|MST 410/411]] appeared around [[1950]], complete with a patented bi-directional rotor and decoupled manual winding system. The company also produced an alarm watch with calibre [[MST 417]] a few years later. The waterproof **Anfbio** line appeared in [[1955]], along with many patented innovations. Roamer also used [[Felsa]] movements, particularly for calendar watches, as Roamer's own designs were lagging.

One notable Roamer employee was Bernard Humbert, a noted horologist and Professor of Complications at the Watchmakers School in Bienne/Biel. He was responsible for many innovations in the 1950's and 1960's, culminating with the 44 jewel [[MST 436]] movement in 1962. This movement would become Roamer's masterpiece and signature accomplishment, refined as the [[MST 470]] family later that decade. The **Rotopower 44** line was quite successful, as were the more modern **Mustang**, **Stingray** and **Vanguard** lines.

==== Roamer Today ====
Roamer introduced a [[quartz watch]] in [[1972]] and shifted much of their production there. By [[1975]] the company had ceased movement production entirely. Roamer was incorporated into [[ASUAG]] in [[1983]] before being purchased by former marketing director Hrr. Leval in [[1985]]. Leval sold control of the company to the [[Chung Nam|Chung Nam Company]] of Hong Kong in [[1994]] but continued design and production in Solothurn throughout this time.

In [[2009]], Roamer was reincorporated as a joint venture between Chung Nam and [[Swiss Watch Group]]. Although no longer an independent family firm, Roamer has continued as a producer of Swiss watches for more than 120 years in the same city. Today, Roamer is a less-expensive brand, competing with companies like [[Rado]], [[Mido]], [[Movado]], and [[Tissot]] with a line of quartz and [[ETA]]-powered mechanical watches. The brand remains popular in emerging markets like China as well as in the UK. Production is in Solothurn and [[Mendrisio]] in extreme Southern Switzerland near Italy.

===== External Links =====
  * [[http://roamer-watches.info|Vintage Roamer Watch Site]]
  * [[http://roamer.ch|Roamer Official Site]]
  * [[http://www.watchpro.com/13881-meet-the-man-behind-roamers-repositioning/1/print/|Meet the man behind Roamer's repositioning]]


{{tag>Watch_brands Watch_brands_Switzerland ASUAG Swiss_Watch_Group Solothurn Mendrisio}}