Auriou Rasp's

[rococojo]

Hello, I did not see the last posting on this subject, but in my experience quality is never cheap,
When I started as a cabinetmaker’s apprentice1957, I was tempted to invest in the best, thought it was a salesman’s trick then? sorry Mr Toft (he was the salesman for "Preston's tools"It was no trick as its now?for 40years on and my Auriou cabinet-rasp is still going strong. A better question is this? What happened to the American Dream? 
Is any one aware Auriou as closed down in the states, it’s to be set-up again in France, why? I learnt of this in England.
Woodworking Magazine Weblog
Auriou Rasp-makers to Re-open in France
Posted 05/02/2008 in All Weblog Posts | Notes from the Shop
The venerable rasp-making company Auriou plans to reopen its factory in France this summer after being shuttered by a labor dispute, officials said. The closing of the company resulted in a purchasing frenzy of the rasps by woodworkers that continues to this day – one Auriou flat rasp sold for $600 on eBay today.

The new Auriou will be a smaller company that will focus on making tools for the woodworking and stone-working market, according to Mike Hancock of Classic Hand Tools in the United Kingdom. After the factory begins production, there are plans to begin exporting the rasps to the United States, Hancock wrote in an e-mail.

Hancock was part of a small group of investors that purchased the machinery and tooling from the Auriou factory when it was auctioned off. Michel Auriou, who ran the factory, will be the technical and workshop manager for the new company, according to Hancock.

In addition to the machinery and tooling, Hancock's company also purchased a selection of finished rasps and rifflers during the auction that he will be selling beginning on Monday, Feb. 11. To get a list of the tools (mostly rifflers) send an e-mail to sales@classichandtools.co.uk and ask for the "rasps & riffler list."

— Christopher Schwarz
this is not" The American Dream" I've my own suspicions on this closure?but that might be for another posting?

 

[MikeWenzloff]

Michel Auriou's family had made the rasps in France for many generations. The company is remaining in France, not relocating to France.

Past announcements have explained the closure--mainly due to labor/management problems. Mike Hancock owns a great company in the UK and was the primary source for distributing Auriou rasps in the UK and the US (through various retailers).

I've met Michel Auriou. Very talented. We use their rasps all day every day. Let's say I am more than happy Auriou is not gone for good--and if the company had to pass to interests outside of the Auriou family, Hancock is probably the best person it could have been bought by.

Take care, Mike

 

[rococojo]

My posting was not to criticize Mike Auriou, just the opposite. But the us "down tool workforce”? That closed Auriou down. A question: if there’s a factory already in France, as you claim, why are they moving to France, do they need 2 factories? To export the same amount back to the us? Please read there plan. I don’t think so, that’s Poppy-Cock; it’s that Auriou rasp's is a respected firm, with a good product,( Which I endorce) that the envious fat cats wanted? They set the wheel in motion and closed the firm down; I’m not talking about the front man, who I too have met, Mike Hancock of Classic Hand Tools, a pleasant man. It’s his fellow backers/investors that's are the fat cats (to getting fatter) Mike Auriou is to be works manager, not MD as he was, like I said ,what happened to” The American Dream”

 

[msiemsen]

Since none of this took place in the US I don't understand what you are ranting about.  Auriou is re-opening their factory in France not relocating there.

The Statement approved by Michel Auriou is as follows

Despite a full order book and strong interest in its product range,
internal problems with some factory workers precipitated a rapid
deterioration in cash flow that ultimately forced Michel Auriou to take the very  difficult decision to place his company into the hands of the liquidators and  as from the beginning of October the company has ceased trading.
French labour laws may be considered to be heavily skewed toward  employees. This may now change in time with the new French government and it could be argued that some of Auriou's more militant employees could foresee an erosion of the traditional benefits they have enjoyed over a long period of time. Despite a 14% year on year increase in turnover up to April this year a few of Auriou's workforce took it upon themselves to refuse to work the overtime that Michel Auriou requested they should do to meet order deadlines.
This situation deteriorated after the traditional August factory closedown (4 weeks holiday) when the same employees made demands that Michel Auriou refused to meet which precipitated in calling in the liquidators and the subsequent closure. Perversely, through his actions Michel Auriou has protected his 16 strong workforce who, under current French employment law, will get paid for the next 23 months.
Michel Auriou wishes to thank everyone for the interest in his
products from woodworkers from all over the world. He is the keeper of the secrets in steel treatment and stitching of rasps that should not be allowed to die. At one time there were over 3000 rasp and file makers in his town, his company started in 1856 and was the last surviving company to make hand stitched rasps in St Juery, in South West France and one of only a few worldwide.
Whilst devastated at his company's demise it is Michel's fervent hope that sometime in the future he may be able to find a way to teach these secrets again and bring his hand stitched rasps back to market.

Mike