Then the parts composing the instrument up to 6

The last authentic French manufacturer of accordions continues to perpetuate know-how to the French in an industry still dominated by the Italian brands.

René Lachèze certainly made a bet on the future when he resumed Maugein society in 1981. Nothing predisposed then this official of National Education to save the last authentic manufacturer of accordions that he was the arrière-petit-neveu of Robert Maugein, one of the three founding brothers of the company created in Tulle in 1919. One of the former industrial jewels of the Prefecture of Corrèze with production of 6,000 coins per year provided by a staff of nearly 300 people, it remains while a factory became too much for the seventeen remaining employees. The installation in a new plant of 1.600 m2 on the outskirts of Tulle in November 1984 yet embodies the revival of the mark for which the most famous clients are Bourvil, kind and André Verchuren.

Today, 700 accordions approximately are produced each year by about 30 persons highly qualified in the fields of cabinetmaking, mechanics and music. From wood of Dordogne, cabinetmakers are the manufacture of various parts used to manufacture the caisse, mattress supports, frameworks, and bellows. Then the parts composing the instrument up to 6.800 units for a Mini-Sonora are assembled with tools some of which are specific. Then comes the very delicate work of tuning, operation that can require up to two and a half days of work. This task is carried out by specialists who have a musical ear. Some of them are even conductors during their free time. "After more than one hundred hours of work, the mount operation, which requires attention to detail to any test, complete the manufacture of the device", says the leader.

For a decade, Maugein has diversified its range, which includes 36 models, by boosting the production of diatonic accordions, more rustic, allows to receive a new layer of customer with prices starting at 1.560 euros. At the same time, the company continued relief of instruments, which weigh more than 8 to 9 kilograms against a dozen previously. Facing both the increase in the cost of raw materials and competition from Italian companies, leaders still on the high-end market of accordions, the firm continues to invest in is equipping of new numerical control machines. Its local anchor, materialized by 60,000 visitors since his move, will be strengthened through the creation of a national center of Tulle accordion. Already, the company assigned 183 productions of his collection to the future national museum. The success of the nights of nacre, which brings together each year 35,000 Festival, contributes, in part, to return to grace of an instrument that some famous singers like Benabar or Ben Harper were popularized in their concerts.

Prepare gently for sixty-five years his estate, René Lachèze intends to continue for a few years the work of his elders in relying on a quote from Colbert pronounced in August 1664 but more topical than ever: "If our factories require the superior quality of our products with care, foreigners will find advantage to provide in France and their money hits in the Kingdom."