Last French accordion maker closes after 105 years

“A gentleman is someone who can play the accordion, but doesn’t.”

Whether or not you agree with Tom Waits on this point, the box-shaped musical instrument invented in Vienna has become such an integral part of the French heritage that many believe it was invented in France.

From the songs of Édith Piaf to Yann Tiersen’s iconic Amélie soundtrack via former president Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, who used to play the “poor man’s piano”, the accordion has become something of a national emblem.

Sad news then for the Maugein company, one of France’s oldest accordion manufacturers, which is facing compulsory liquidation and will close shop after 105 years of supplying 100% made-in-France instruments.

Its final strap accordion is delivered to its last customer today.

Founded in 1919 in Tulle (Corrèze) by Jean Maugein in the aftermath of the First World War, the Manufacture Maugein was placed into compulsory liquidation by the Brive Commercial Court on 27 September. Renowned throughout the world, the company is known for having supplied famous French bands and musicians like Indochine, Renaud and Bourvil.

By the end of the 1930s, it had 150 employees. It now counts 10.

11 years ago, it was taken over by Richard Brandao, who announced the closure and states that the company has been a victim of Chinese competition and “the disruption of the Covid pandemic”. Despite its attempts to diversify by launching the production of harmonicas and electronic accordions, the orders have dried up.

“Our only hope was to break into the Chinese market, where growth and interest in accordions is strongest, but we didn’t succeed,” Brandao told La Montagne newspaper. “This is despite our participation in the China International Musical Instrument Show, the world’s biggest event in the sector.”

The news comes just six months after the inauguration of the €9m accordion museum, the Cité de l’accordéon et des patrimoines, in Tulle by former President François Hollande, current MP for Corrèze.

Hollande has stated that liquidation did not necessarily mean the end of the company.

“It means that at some point, the Maugein brand, the Maugein business and the accordion will be able to continue thanks to new investors. They are bound to narrow down the manufacturing side but try to broaden distribution,” Hollande told Totem Radio. “We will continue to encourage this takeover so we can have the satisfaction of hearing the Maugein accordion in many concert halls.”

However, if no new investors are found, there’s a strong chance that this particular French musical heritage may be lost.

Additional sources • La Montagne, Totem Radio