Mitchell factories

[Bailarm]

Following on from that great thread from 2021, I thought I would spend some time seeking out the old factory sites.

Here's the thread in case you missed it:

https://www.mitchellreelmuseum.com/foru ... c.php?t=88

The following is a then and now of the Mitchell SOMFY factory at Theyz

Mitchell factory Thyes SOMFY.jpg (117.19 KiB) Viewed 77313 times

Mitchell factory in Thyez 2013.jpg (400.14 KiB) Viewed 77313 times

SOMFY, or Societe d'Outillage et de Mechanique de Faucigny) is a subsidiary company set up by Carpano et Pons and now occupies the old first factory on the banks of the Arve as well as a huge adjacent site to the West and 79 other places in France.


The next is the earlier factory in the Messy district, then and now:

Mitchell factory at Messy 1954.jpg (88.08 KiB) Viewed 77313 times

Mitchell factory at Messy now flats.jpg (319.92 KiB) Viewed 77313 times

[Bailarm]

Here is their last factory in Marignier, near Cluses, then and now. In the 'now' image you can just see the faded name Mitchell on the wall in green, between the two round windows:

Mitchell at Marignier 2.jpg (54.53 KiB) Viewed 77307 times

small.png (259.76 KiB) Viewed 77307 times

[Bailarm]

I have finally found out why the Mitchell factory at Thyez was also referred to as Somfy.

Somfy, or Société d'Outillage et Mécanique du Faucigny was a subsidiary of Carpano et Pons, set up in 1969, which is still in business today. In fact they occupy the original Carpano et Pons building in Cluses! As well as a huge site just over the river.
Faucigny is the name of the local 'department' or county.

Somfy are now international and specialise in motorised blinds.

Some of the staff at Thyez, numbering up to 780 at one time, were working on non-Mitchell products for Somfy.

Another interesting fact I have recently discovered is that Louis Carpano invented a new way of cutting gear teeth and made a fortune licensing it out. He bought the Jacottet factory, built a mansion and gardens next door ( Still there!) and not as we read was he next to the electricity generating plant , he built it under the factory with huge turbines!

He gave the town of Cluses both electricity and clean drinking water, almost the first place to get them after Paris.

There's a US branch of Somfy and the just retired MD has a brother.


His name is Mitchell.

[Wallace Carney]

Hello Bailarm, that Hass to be the greatest post I’ve ever seen! Your knowledge amazes me. Regards, Wallace .

[piscesman]

Agree with Wallace. Finding out more history on Mitchell other than just the reels...............
Kim

[Bailarm]

Thank-you for your kind words.

I also tracked down the foundries Mitchell used. I think everyone has seen the 'Aluvac' casting mark on early Mitchell reels? Aluvac was the brand name for the Fonderie du Precision at 32 Boulevard National, Nanterre, a Western suburb of Paris. They also made Solide toy cars and Jaz clocks which are all collectible now. They specialised in using an aluminium alloy called Zamak.

Aluvac Boulevard National small.png (709.77 KiB) Viewed 76995 times

Early right hand wind reels were cast by Thecla in Delle right next to a long-gone goods marshalling yard.

Thecla foundry, Delle, France ( cast early right hand wind body shells).jpg (56.16 KiB) Viewed 76995 times

Carpano et Pons eventually bought their own foundry near Lake Geneva, or as the French call it Lac Leman. They called the foundry FonLem or Fonderie de Leman. I believe it is from here that the casting mark FL originated, but there is an earlier one of LM, which might be Leman too, I suppose?

I can't find a good image of this place, but I did find the building on Google Earth:

Fonderie du Leman aerial view.jpg (419.49 KiB) Viewed 76995 times

I will try and find an image of the turbines going in under the Carpano et Pons factory.

[Bailarm]

Just two old images from 1895, Constant Carpano ( son of Louis) sitting on the turbine and the turbine in place beneath the Carpano et Pons factory.

Turbine, carpano et pons.jpg (61.98 KiB) Viewed 76994 times

Turbine 2 carpano et pons.jpg (106.06 KiB) Viewed 76994 times

You'll probably remember that arch from other shots of the factory.


I know it's a long way from reels, but Louis Carpano was some feller!

[Wallace Carney]

Hello my friend!

Is there a way you could do an article with all this valuable information that must be saved? I’ve discovered that Word documents work the best. When finished, I will post this in our new groups “file” folder naming you as the author naturally.

I created this group to save as much information as I can on a site that costs nothing and will be there for all to view, forever! The group will always have at least 2 administrators so when anything happens to one, the remaining admin will assign someone to take the spot.

I hope I’ve told you enough, and not too much, to entice you to do as I requested. If you agree we will exchange contact info via PM. So what do you think?

Wallace Carney

[Bailarm]

Whatever you think best Wallace, I'll PM you today when the coffee has woken me up.

There are a number of French sites that might be of interest to members. As you open them with Google it offers to translate them for you.

I've actually put a desktop icon to Google Translator on my screen so I can 'copy and paste' but it will only do a short paragraph at a time, but at least you get the gist.

Some things don't translate too well; Louis Carpano's gear cutters are often referred to as fraises whish means strawberries! Some of the cutters do look a little like a pineapple though...

This site has much about the early days of the factory:

https://jazlebontemps.com/2020/05/03/ma ... ntzenheim/

You'll see I made a mistake earlier, Constant was Louis' nephew not son.

[Wallace Carney]