REUGE: Manufacturer of Mechanical Music Boxes and Singing Birds
Established in 1865 in Sainte-Croix, in the canton of Vaud, REUGE is a world leader in the manufacture of traditionally-made luxury music boxes and mechanical singing birds. The magnificent musical movements in these music boxes are fitted with high-precision mechanics, setting to music, as it were, all the ages of history. They are mounted inside a complex sound box made of noble woods, glass or modern materials such as carbon or Corian®.
As well as the 1865, Lounge and Studio collections, the REUGE Manufacture produces limited editions dedicated to certain great composers, and also versions designed to appeal to sailing and motor enthusiasts, and even cigar lovers.
Charles Reuge’s enthusiasm as a clock and watchmaker led him to start making watches fitted with musical movements in 1865. Fired with the same enthusiasm, his son Albert opened a music box workshop in Sainte-Croix some twenty years later. And thus a dynasty was born and was guided by Guido Reuge for more than sixty years.
Intuitive, imaginative and pioneering, he built the present factory on Rue des Rasses, invented and manufactured a ski binding that enabled him to continue making music boxes, even when times were tough, and acquired several competitor companies, bringing real added-value to Reuge and guaranteeing the rapid expansion of the business.
As Guido Reuge had no direct descendants, in 1988 he decided to sell his company to a group of investors from Vaud and Geneva. They provided the company with the facilities and innovations required to increase production and improve quality. Nevertheless, craftsmanship remained the driving force behind the company’s excellence. In 2001, Reuge purchased the Italian company Arte Intarsio, its main supplier of wooden boxes, assuring Reuge complete control of the entire manufacturing process for music boxes.
Three years later, an investment fund governed by Luxembourg law, Cap Gamma SA, purchased a majority stake in Reuge and gave the company the means to ensure its long-term future. A new strategy was implemented – by a new management team – to modernise the product line and form a more selective distribution network.
In line with this strategy, Reuge bought Mermod Frères SA to launch a new range of musical watches and jewellery under the Mermod Frères name.
Now owned by De Bethune, Reuge is currently the only manufacturer of large musical movements worldwide, some of which can be compared to the grand complications in watchmaking.
Music boxes
The first music boxes were produced in Sainte-Croix in 1811, bringing international renown to the small town. Production expanded rapidly with constant improvements being made to the tone of the tunes; at the same time, the creation of sumptuous wooden boxes became an art in itself.
The system of the musical movement is ingenious, with pre-tuned metal teeth driven by a cylinder fitted with pins to produce infinitely varied and accurate sounds. In 1870 a German inventor created the disc music box, which allowed for the tune to be changed more easily and frequently; however, the sound was slightly more metallic.
From 1865, Reuge developed a passion for the world of the musical movement, which today remains almost unchanged and the components of which are produced using tools designed by the company, making the Reuge factory the world’s only manufacturer of large musical movements, some of which can be compared to the grandes complications in watch-making.
Musical movements Reuge creations contain a variety of musical movements, from miniaturised movements for pocket watches through mechanical singing bird movements to larger movements for luxurious boxes made using rare varieties of wood.
History of REUGE Music Boxes and Singing Birds
14th century: The history of mechanical music can be traced back to Flanders. An ingenious bell ringer designs a cylinder perforated with pins; these operate cams that in turn strike bells.
1780: The mechanical singing bird is invented by Jaquet-Droz, a clockmaker from La Chauxde- Fonds.
1796: Antoine Favre, a Geneva clockmaker, replaces the bells with pre-tuned metal teeth, which produce more varied and clearer sounds.
1811: Manufacture of the first music boxes in Sainte-Croix. This industry rapidly overtakes clock-making and lace, giving the town international renown.
1848: The manufacture of singing birds is perfected by Blaise Bontems in his Paris workshop.
1865: Charles Reuge, a clockmaker originally from Val de Travers, appears on the scene, setting up business in Sainte-Croix with the manufacture of pocket watches with musical movements.
1870: A German inventor creates the disc music box, making it easier to change the tune played by the box more frequently.
1877: Invention of the phonograph by Thomas Edison. The impact of this will be felt strongly towards the end of the century, destabilising the music box industry.
1886: Albert Reuge, son of Charles, opens a small music box factory in Sainte-Croix. This marks the transition from a workshop to a real business.
1929: Guido, Albert and Henri, the third generation of the Reuge dynasty, invent the Kandahar ski binding, allowing the business to survive economic crisis and war.
1930: Construction of the current Reuge factory on rue des Rasses, Sainte-Croix.
1950: Arrival in force of the Japanese on the music box market representing the greatest challenge to the Swiss makers since the invention of phonograph.
1953: Manufacture of movements that can change between several melodies.
1960: Acquisition and manufacture of the first machines by Reuge making it possible to rationalise work. Reuge becomes the world leader in high-quality musical movements. Reuge buys Bontems, in Paris, and takes over the manufacture and marketing of mechanical singing birds.
1977-1991: Reuge buys out the following competitors:-
- Eschle, manufacturers of snuff boxes and singing birds (1977)
- Mélodies SA, manufacturers of Thorens disc boxes (1985)
- Lador, manufacturers of 18-note movements (1986)
- Cuendet, manufacturers of cuckoo movements (1991)
At this time, Reuge is positioned as the only manufacturer of singing birds worldwide.
1988: Reuge SA is bought out by a group of Swiss investors; development and implementation of a business modernisation programme. Manufacture of large high-quality pieces resumes.
1993: Takeover of a distribution and assembly company in Los Angeles and creation of Reuge Music USA Ltd.
1997: The Maison creates a special music box to celebrate the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana.
2001: Reuge purchases the Italian company Arte Intarsio, its main supplier of wooden boxes, and so now controls the complete manufacture of music boxes.
2001-2003: Reuge suffers a serious economic downturn forcing the business to undergo re-organisation.
2004: Reuge is bought out by a Luxembourg-based investment fund, Cap Gamma SA. Creation of a new company image through the modernisation of its logo and its transactions. Top-of-the-range position of the company, production of small 18-note movement models ends. Design of new and highly modern product lines. Overhaul of its distribution network.
2006: Kurt Kupper is appointed chief executive officer of Reuge SA.
2007: Reuge purchases Mermod Frères SA, a company in Sainte-Croix and formerly a renowned maker of music boxes and timepieces, to relaunch the brand with a new line of musical watches and jewellery.
2013: Reuge creates a commemorative music box for the coronation of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. Launch of the MusicMachine in collaboration with MB&F.
2014: Launch of the Duet Mechanical Musical Clock in partnership with L’Epée and the MusicMachine 2 with MB&F.
2015: Launch of the MB&F x Reuge MusicMachine 3.
2023: Swiss luxury watch company De Bethune acquires Manufacture Reuge SA. Launch of Onkõ, a mechanical music box inspired by Japanese lanterns.
