Antoine Courtois

The legacy of Antoine Courtois represents one of the longest and most prestigious continuities in the history of brasswind manufacturing. The company was officially established in Paris in 1803 by Antoine Courtois, quickly setting a benchmark for exquisite craftsmanship. Leadership of the historic workshop passed to his son, Denis Antoine Courtois, in 1844. A pivotal corporate development occurred in 1856 when the highly skilled artisan Auguste Mille joined the firm. When Denis passed away without descendants in 1880, Mille assumed control of the enterprise and integrated his own name into the branding, transforming it into Antoine Courtois & Mille. This partnership endured until 1895, when Émile Delvaux and Amédée Legay acquired the company, prompting the removal of Mille's name from subsequent production marks.

The 20th century ushered in a new era of ownership when Emmanuel Gaudet purchased the venerable firm in 1917. By 1934, his son, Paul Gaudet, assumed co-management of the facility alongside Émile Deslaurier. Paul consolidated his control by buying out Deslaurier in 1937 to become the sole proprietor. However, this new chapter was immediately disrupted by the outbreak of World War II; Paul was drafted into military service, forcing the Paris factory to completely shut down its operations. Tragically, Paul was captured and held as a Prisoner of War in the notorious Stalag XX. Following his liberation in 1944, he returned to Paris and successfully brought the company back to life.

The family transition continued in 1980 when Paul's son, Jacques Gaudet, took the helm. During the consolidation waves of the 1990s, Courtois joined forces with Gerhard A. Meinl to form the Meinl Group. The corporate landscape shifted rapidly thereafter: in 1994, Meinl was absorbed by Triumph-Adler AG, leading to the sale of the Courtois division to the JA Musik syndicate, which in turn was acquired by the Buffet Crampon Group in 2006. In 2013, Buffet Crampon made the strategic decision to relocate all Antoine Courtois manufacturing from France to the historic B&S factory in Markneukirchen, Germany [courtois-paris.com]. Under the umbrella of the Buffet Crampon Group, the iconic Antoine Courtois name remains a globally revered brand for premium brass instruments today.