The history of the manufacture

Klingenthal, the main dates in the history of the manufacture

1729

Louis XV, plans the creation of a facility for the manufacture of cutting weapons.

The creation of this facility is entrusted to
Bauyn d'Angervilliers, war secretary
and former Intendant of Alsace.

1730

July 15, 1730, the king grants to Henri Anthes his commission for the creation of the manufacturing facility.

Commission for the establishment of a "Manufacture Royale d'Armes Blanches" for the service of royal troops and privilege for 30 years.

1730
-
-
-
1735

Henri Anthes is the first director of the blade manufacturing facility.

His associates were Mackau d'Hurtigheim,
Sieur Weidmann and Abraham Peters
in contract management;
Henri Anthès dies in 1733;
his son Jean Philippe takes over the blade factory
until 1735.


1735 - 1738	Directors Frederic Wolff and the Baron Mackau d'Hurtigheim

1738 - - - 1747	Director Frederic Wolff
1738 - - - 1747	Director Frederic Wolff	1745 - 1748	First development of the manufacture Paving of the road from Klingenthal to Obernai

1747 - 1753	Director Jean Philippe Richshoffer		Guardian of Frederic Wolff's children.

1753 - 1765	Director Lucien Jacques Maupetit
1753 - 1765	Director Lucien Jacques Maupetit	1755 : 1761 :	the Marquis de Paulmy, Louis XV's minister, visits the blade factory. building of the chapel dedicated to Saint Louis.

1765 - - - 1784	Directors Louis Antoine Gau and Jean Daniel Oesinger		New development of the manufacture, production exceeds that of Solingen... Mr Gau is knighted and becomes Gau de Vaumarin

1784 - 1797	Director François Perrier		During the Revolution, the blade factory, takes the name of "Manufacture Nationale d'armes de Guerre".

1797 - 1801	Director De Bissy

1801 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1836	Directors Jacques and Julien Coulaux Julien is acting director in the name of his brother who creates a factory for the manufacture of fire arms in Mutzig in 1803	1804 :	"Manufacture Impériale d'armes blanches"
		1805 :	visit by the Prince Joseph Napoleon Bonaparte.
		1806 :	weapons made in Klingenthal win the gold medal in the Paris exhibition.
		1815 :	return of the monarchy ; the manufacture resumes its name of ;"Manufacture Royale".
		1825 :	the Coulaux Brothers win a contest for the best steel material for chest armor and get the exclusive right to make them.
		1828 :	building of the protestant church.
		1830 :	decision to close the manufacturing facility.
		1835 :	last government order for chest armor.

1838 - - - 1840	The manufacturing facility is sold at auction and Julien Coulaux takes over, giving it to his son Julien.		"Coulaux Ainé et Compagnie"

1840 - - - - - - - - 1887	The new proprietor is Charles Louis Coulaux second son of Julien Coulaux		"Coulaux and Company" ; Charles Louis Coulaux takes over the management of the plants in Klingenthal, Molsheim, Mutzig and Gresswiller;
		1841 :	beginning of the production of scythes and sickles.
		1850 :	production of fencing weapons.
		1866 :	production of the bayonet model 1866 for the Chassepot rifle made in Mutzig.

1887 - 1925	Julien Coulaux is proprietor; he is the son of Charles Louis Coulaux

1925 - - - 1962	The family company becomes a corporation with its headquarters in Montbrisson (Loire) and offices in Paris.		The name becomes "Coulaux et Compagnie S.A." Works and Forges of Firminy, now Marine Firminy is the majority stockholder.

1962	February 1,1962, stopping of the forgehammer in Klingenthal

Return to Top of Document