Thorens AG 1883

1883 - business established by Hermann Thorens; first registered in Sainte-Croix (Ste-Croix), Switzerland to make musical boxes and clock movements;

1903 - start making Edison-type phonographs;

1906 - begins manufacture of horn-gramophones for shellac records;

1913-1964 - make cigarette lighters;

1914-1920, 1939-1952 - make harmonicas;

1927 - becomes a joint-stock company Thorens AG

1928 - develops first direct drive electric motor for gramophones.

1929 - develops first electric phono pick-up (magnet principle).

1933 - manufactures wireless appliances in cooperation with Strassfurt-Imperial Company of Germany.

1940-1950 - produces professional disc-cutting lathes and phono pick-up cartridges

1943 - produces first record changer.

1954-1960 - produce mechanical razor 'Thorens Riviera'

1957 - introduction of TD124 Hi-Fi record player

1963-1966 - Thorens merges with Paillard SA, St.-Croix, Switzerland.

1966 - Thorens-Franz AG take over business of Thorens record players and together with EMT Wilhelm Franz of Germany, establish research, development and manufacturing business in Lahr, Germany

1983 - company reorganised and divided into three independent companies: Thorens-Cabasse Vertriebs GmbH, (sales distribution in Germany), Thorens Produktions GmbH and ,(R&D and manufacturing in Lahr) and EMT-Franz GmbH (R&D of professional studio equipment)

2002 - restructuring of ownership and shareholders; new management re-launches the Thorens brand; Thorens Export Corporation Ltd. Kaiseraugst, Switzerland