The Peugeot Story
From the beginnings of an industrial saga in the Montbéliard region, to one of the most beautiful industrial businesses in France, the story of a family, of men and women, who will shape a territory, the image of a brand, with a roaring lion, which will conquer the world.
The saw blade and the tool, birth of a Lion
In 1819, Fritz Peugeot developed a new cold rolling process which consisted of tempering the steel before flattening it under pressure.
That same year, he won the gold medal from the Society for the Encouragement of National Industry for “the beauty of the saw, its superior quality and its low price”. He also obtained a 15-year patent for this laminated saw. (Photo 06-1 – Patent on laminated saws)
In 1839, Jules Peugeot, son of Jean-Pierre Peugeot, developed a laminating process that made it possible to thin the back of the saw. Thanks to this invention, cutting became faster. Peugeot saws conquered the world.
On the strength of this success, Emile Peugeot began to think about giving the brand an image in 1847. The brothers chose the lion as their emblem; it was designed by Jules Blazer, a goldsmith in Montbéliard.
The choice of the lion, although it evokes the coat of arms of Franche-Comté, is above all a reference to the qualities of their saw blade: speed, suppleness and bite. The arrow connotes the saw’s speed of cutting.
The design of the “Lion on an arrow”, engraved on the saws since 1850, was registered at the Conservatoire national des arts et métiers in 1858. It symbolises the brand and the success of the metallurgical industry.
Timeline
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1810FOUNDATIONS OF PEUGEOT COMPANIESIn 1810, the Peugéot brothers and company was created. The industrial revolution had just transformed the destiny of the Peugeots. Less than an achievement, it was the beginning of a history …
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1840FIRST COFFEE GRINDERThis was the time of Peugeot’s great successes, starting with the coffee grinder. A metal and wood object, it embodies the marriage of steel from Terre-Blanche and wood from Belchamp…
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1886FIRST CYCLEIn keeping with the logic of the Sons of Peugeot brothers, to regularly add new activities to the catalogue by drawing on the company’s know-how, Armand Peugeot …
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1889FIRST CARThe resounding success of the cycle is not an end in itself, but rather an invitation to go further. At a time when progress in motorisation is clear, the idea of installing a motor …
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1898FIRST CAR FACTORYAs soon as the engine patent was registered in January 1896, Armand Peugeot took the opportunity to set up the “Société Anonyme des Automobiles Peugeot”. He developed …
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1929CREATION OF THE SOCHAUX FACTORYIt was to be called 629 for 6 CV 1929, and was finally named 201, because it was the 201st project of the design office. Presented on August 28, 1929, studied since 1927, its design …
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1948THE MIRACLE OF THE SOCHALIENNE RENAISSANCEPeugeot was used to adapting to external hazards and, betting on the Allied advance and the end of the war, began to study a new vehicle in 1944. Unfortunately, the…
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1960THE INTERNATIONALISATION OF THE BRANDExports increased: in 1960, Peugeot sold 40% of its production in 130 countries. But with a constraint that continued to grow: many countries raised their tariffs…
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1974PURCHASE OF CITROENPeugeot has long wondered about the critical size of companies, especially in the context of the glorious years. Should Peugeot remain alone or join forces with another manufacturer?
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1983205 A HELL OF A NUMBERThe car that was to become the 205 was far from the image of a small car. Launched in January 1983, the 205 was an immediate success. At the end of 1983, it sold 1,000 units, one year later 2,000,…