Notre histoire

Antoine Courtois’ father creates the first family-run worship for manufacturing instruments during the french revolution in Paris rue Mazarine. Located in what is know how as the Latin quarter of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. A natural horn exhibited in Berlin and a cavalery trumpet in the museum of Paris conservatory bear witness by their engravings to this early period.

The trumpet was once the property of the parliamentary officer sent by Napoleon Bonaparte to the siege of St John d’Acre in 1799.

On the 21st of February 1851, Denis A. Courtois’ son and successor of Antoine Courtois in 1844, patents his invention at the Seine Department Prefecture for improvements in the manufacturing of brass instruments and in particular for making valves.

The Antoine Courtois business wins the gold medal at the Universal exhibition in Paris for the quality of their instruments « of an excellent workmanship and impeccable accuracy »

After 1895, Emile Delvaux and Amedee Legay succeed Auguste Mille, and give instruments away to the most deserving musicians at the Paris Conservatory and continue collecting rewards at universal exhibitions.

The music publisher Emmanuel Gaudet and Emile Deslaurier acquired Antoine Courtois’ manufacturing plant located at 88 rue du Marais, they lend a new perspective and bring 100000 francs to the capital of the company in 31st August 1927, and relocated the company 8 rue de Nancy.

Jacques Gaudet starts to work with his father and continues the development and research on instruments with great artists.

He then leads the company since 1980.

Buffet Crampon group acquires B&S GmbH, the german company founded 250 years ago and which is leading german brass instrument brands manufactured in Markneukirchen. Then Antoine Courtois’workshops moves their to join the manufacturing of the top quality brass brands.