====== Tramelan ======
**Tramelan** is a Swiss watchmaking town in the canton of Bern, about 15 km from [[Biel]]. Located on the River Tram it formerly had a German name, //Tramlingen//, which today is rarely used by the 80-90% French-speaking population. Tramelan is located a short distance downhill from [[Les Reussilles]] and is itself above [[Cortébert]]. It is linked by rail to [[Tavannes]] to the East and [[Les Breuleux]] and [[Le Noirmont]] to the West.

Tramelan was divided into two municipalities until [[1952]] 

  * **Tramelan-Dessus** (also called "Tramelan-le-Haut") - the larger area (pop. 3,584 in [[1950]])
  * **Tramelan-Dessous** (also called "Tramelan-le-Bas") - the smaller area (pop. 1,440 in [[1950]])

Although both villages had a large number of watch manufacturers in the 19th century, but the 20th century most had focused on Tramelan-Dessus, including [[Auguste Reymond]], [[Châtelain]], [[Corona]], [[Loyal]], [[Hoga]], [[Nicolet]], [[Nitella]], [[Record]], [[Silvana]], and [[Spera]]. Tramelan-Dessous included [[Béguelin]], [[Fleury Frères]], [[Dorly]], and [[Rila]].

Among the well-known resident watch manufacturers counts [[Auguste Reymond]]. The eponymous founder hired a apartment [[1898]] in Tramelan and began to manufacture watches with a handful of watchmakers.

Another well-known manufacturer was the [[ebauche]] factory [[Unitas]]. During the [[quartz crisis]] many workers formerly employed in the watch industry emigrated, so that the population declined.

Another watch manufacturer in Tramelan is [[Armand Nicolet]].


{{tag>Watch_towns}}