See also Front cover.In 1876, Charles-Auguste Paillard, began experimenting with gold alloys for hairsprings. After, his uncle sent him to Brazil to service chronometers, he began to experiment with palladium. One of the main problems he faced was that of rusty springs. Palladium is rust-proof, non-magnetic and reduces acceleration. In 1886, Paillard was granted British patent (No. 6367) for his palladium (actually palladium/copper) balance spring. Soon they became popular, and were, as reported by The Swiss Horologcal Journal, copied from the very beginning.Non-Magnetic Watch Co. (1886-1895)In 1885 Paillard's springs came to the attention of Charles W. Ward, who made arrangements to obtain the rights for the Paillard patent along with his associates, one of whom was Louis Bornard, a former manager of Henry Capt. In February of 1886, the Geneva Watch Co. was formed and that same month the first order was received. One month later the company became the Geneva Non-Magnetic Watch Co., incorporated in New York, but located in Geneva.The Non-Magnetic Watch Co. of America was formed in 1887 in the hope of promoting the watch as an American product, for at the time these had an excellent reputation. In 1889, they exhibited in Saint Louis and in 1893 at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago. After Paillard died in 1895, A.C. Becken purchased the company. He contracted the Illinois Watch Co to make non-magnetic movements and marketed them as Non-Magnetic Watch Co. of Chicago, USA. In 1899 Becken advertised products labeled Paillar, Non-Magnetic Watch Co., Chicago, USA.Literature: The Non-Magnetic Watch Co, Eugene Fuller, NAWCC Bulletin, June 1990.