Victorinox Catalogue
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VICTORINOX MILESTONES<br />
1884 With the active support of his mother<br />
Victoria, Karl Elsener I opens a cutler’s<br />
workshop in Ibach-Schwyz.<br />
two words “Victoria” and “Inox” gives the<br />
name of the company and brand today –<br />
<strong>Victorinox</strong>.<br />
1979 The sole proprietorship “Messerfabrik<br />
Carl Elsener” is changed into the family<br />
company “<strong>Victorinox</strong> AG”.<br />
1891 Karl Elsener I establishes the<br />
Association of Swiss Master Cutlers and, as<br />
a result, is able to deliver the rst major<br />
order of soldier’s knives to the Swiss Army.<br />
1897 The Original Swiss Ofcer’s and<br />
Sports Knife is patented. Today, it is known<br />
all over the world as the “Swiss Army Knife”.<br />
1909 Following the death of his mother,<br />
Karl Elsener launches the brand name<br />
“Victoria” as a tribute to his mother and<br />
registers the emblem with the Cross and<br />
Shield as a trademark. It is now a registered<br />
trademark in more than 120 countries.<br />
1921 The invention of stainless steel is a<br />
signicant development for the cutlery<br />
industry. “Inox” is the international term<br />
for stainless steel. The combination of the<br />
1931 Carl Elsener II introduces automation<br />
in the company. In 1931, <strong>Victorinox</strong><br />
commissions the company Brown Boveri to<br />
set up the world’s rst fully electric<br />
hardening plant in Ibach. This means that<br />
all knives can be guaranteed to be of a<br />
consistent high quality.<br />
1945 The Swiss Army Knife starts on its<br />
journey to conquer the world. The U.S.<br />
soldiers stationed in Europe buy it in large<br />
quantities and it becomes a popular<br />
souvenir to take home.<br />
1950 After the death of his father, Carl<br />
Elsener III takes the company’s<br />
management into its third generation.<br />
1984 The company doubles its<br />
manufacturing and ofce space. 810<br />
employees generate sales of over 80 million<br />
Swiss francs.<br />
1989 Under its Swiss Army brand,<br />
<strong>Victorinox</strong> enters the North American watch<br />
business with its U.S. sales partner at the<br />
time.<br />
1992 <strong>Victorinox</strong> opens its rst sales<br />
subsidiary in Japan. Others are added in<br />
subsequent years.<br />
1999 <strong>Victorinox</strong> joins forces with the<br />
American TRG Group in St. Louis as<br />
licensee and enters the international travel<br />
gear market.<br />
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