The watch factory was founded by Walter Vogt (1883-1957).  Birth of the world's first automatic wristwatch the HARWOOD. The English watchmaker John Harwood (1893-1965) and the FORTIS founder Walter Vogt decided to set up the production of automatic wristwatches.  Presentation of the world's first self-winding wristwatch in series production, the "Harwood Automatic", a patented self-winding wristwatch without a crown. A unique bezel-mechanism allowed to set the hands and further more could be used to wind the watch in case of need.  FORTIS produced the Autorist, with another automatic mechanism invented by John Harwood. The watch was powered by movements of the strap by means of its attachment to the watch.