New York—Harry B. Henshel, former chairman and chief executive officer of Bulova Corp., died at his home in Scarsdale, N.Y., last Friday following a long illness. He was 88.

Henshel was the grandson of Joseph Bulova, who was a 23-year-old immigrant from Bohemia when he founded the company in New York City in 1875. He was also the last member of the family to head the timekeeping company. Though still American owned and operated, Bulova is now a subsidiary of Loews Corp.

Although the family no longer had active control of the company in the late-1970s, Henshel kept an office at the company's Woodside, N.Y., headquarters until the time of his death.

Henshel, who was born in New York, graduated from Brown University in 1940, and received a master's degree from Harvard University's business school in 1951. After serving in World War II, during which time he rose to the rank of captain, Henshel joined the family business, which was at that time led by his uncle Ardé Bulova. His uncle taught Henshel the business from the bottom up, and Hensel worked in a variety of capacities, including doing a stint as a traveling sales representative.

After his uncle's death in 1958, Henshel succeeded him as president, adding the title of chairman of the board in 1974, after longtime company chairman General Omar Bradley retired.

During Henshel's tenure, the company, which had manufacturing facilities in the United States and Switzerland, was at the forefront of the American timekeeping industry. The watch company's Bulova brand was leading all watch brands in dollar sales volume, while its entry-level Caravelle held the top spot in terms of unit sales. Bulova Corp.'s proudest moment came in 1960, when Bulova revolutionized the industry with the production of the world's first fully electronic watch, the Accutron.

Henshel is survived by his wife, the former Joy Altman, to whom he was married in 1948; their daughters, Dayle, of New York; Patti, of Bethesda, Md.; Diane, of Bloomington, Ind.; and Judy, of Eugene, Ore.; and four grandchildren.

Source: National Jeweler