Reuge (1865-present)
Reuge was established in 1865 by Charles Reuge, a watchmaker from the Val-de-Travers, in the canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland. He relocated to Sainte-Croix, where he began crafting pocket watches with integrated musical movements. In 1886, his son Albert expanded the business by opening a music box shop in Sainte-Croix, transforming it from a small-scale operation into a fully functioning company. Following years of growth, Reuge built a larger factory in 1930 on rue des Rasses in Sainte-Croix. The acquisition of manufacturing machinery in 1960 further streamlined production. That same year, Reuge took over the production and marketing of mechanical singing birds from the Bontems firm in Paris. Subsequent acquisitions included Eschle in 1977, Melodies SA, Thorens disc boxes in 1985, Lador, a maker of 18-note movements, in 1986, and Cuendet, a producer of cuckoo clock movements, in 1991. With over 155 years of expertise, Reuge has become a leader in the music box industry, one of the few remaining manufacturers today. Now focusing on the luxury market, Reuge continues to produce high-end music boxes from its Sainte-Croix facility.