1/ FROM THE BEGINNING UP TO THE 20^TH CENTURY

Thiers is a small French town of 13,000 inhabitants located in the Puy de Dôme (63) department, scaling the steep slopes above the river Durolle. The fortunes of Thiers are founded on the rushing waters of this river, the driving power that supplied the energy required to turn the grindstones and allowed the cutlery-making trade to thrive.

It all started back in the 14^th century with the development of metal working and the first exports from the Thiers area. The first franchises granted to the cutlers also date from this period. In 1476, Thiers counted some thirty cutlers, and nearly a century later the town boasted over 200.

In the 18^th century over 700 factories occupied the Thiers area and the principle of division of labour that appeared in the 19^th century allowed the manufacturers to produce series of products at lower cost.

Although it was to be used for many years still, the power provided by the watermills was gradually abandoned in favour of gas and electricity, which allowed large factories to be set up, using the first machine-tools.

At the dawn of the 20^th century, 12,000 people made a living from cutlery in Thiers.