Wittnauer was a watch and timepiece company that is now a brand of the Bulova company.
Albert Wittnauer was a Swiss immigrant who arrived in New York City in 1872 at the age of 16. He began working for his brother in law, J. Eugene Robert. Mr. Robert was an importer of fine Swiss watches. With the help of his younger brother, Albert Wittnauer decided there was a need for a watch designed with all of the durability and function the American public demanded but with local production to help keep costs down.
The Wittnauer brand was formally established when Mr. Robert gave the title to Albert Wittnauer under the name The "A. Wittnauer Company." is born as a small family business. The company began to cater to the ever growing world of both scientific and private exploration, which gained them a reputation for use by those who needed reliability: navigators, explorers, and astronomers.
The A. Wittnauer Co. became further involved with the Navy for early tests in the budding fields of aviation and navigation. Of the Wittnauer Company and products, horologist Marvin E. Whitney wrote, "No one company has been more involved in the design and production of so many different types of navigational timepieces and been involved in so many history making expeditions..."
With the death of her last brother Emile, Martha Wittnauer was left holding the reins of the company in 1916, making her one of the very few female CEO's of a major American company. The Wittnauer Company retained its reputation for most of the 20th century, and was eventually bought by Bulova.