Trauner and Son (Zodiac USA) - Aug. 2004

[Butch]

My grandfather made a deal with the Calame family in Switzerland in the early 1940s (that's an estimate) to import Zodiac watches from Switzerland and to be the exclusive U.S. representative of the factory after starting his career as a second story wholesale retail jeweler in the early 1930s.  Eventually, his two sons joined him in the business (one of those sons was my father).  As far as I know, the original company was Edward Trauner, Inc., followed by the Zodiac Watch Company.  I still have the original corporate seals from these companies.

I would love to see an image of the catalogue you have.  It's possible I may still have a few items in a box in the basement awaiting exploration by one of my children.  Maybe this will be a spur to do the hunt sooner rather than later.

Regards...

Keith Trauner