Marcel Franck

Marcel Franck (MarFranc) took over his father’s business in 1907 and continued to manufacture the highest quality atomizer hardware for perfume bottles. His designers developed specific atomizers for brilliantine, toilet waters and perfume. His list of contracts included companies situated in France, Bohemia, Italy, Austria, Germany and the USA.











"Should not a woman, at any moment, in any place" wrote Marcel Franck in French Perfume and the Art of Its Presentation", be permitted to create a lingering, perfumed wake?"

He also manufactured hardware for obscure local artisans such as Argy-Rousseau and Quenvil. Marcel Franck bottles almost always have their name stamped on their hardware collars. Many of Marcel Franck’s atomizers are readily identified, even if unmarked, they are large, bulbous and have a high arching tube.

George E. Mignon handled all the US importing of the Marcel Franck bottles as early as 1922.

 In 1928 Coty acquired entire capital stock of Marie Earle, Inc. and in Apr., 1929 acquired entire capital stock of Marcel Franck.

Modern Perfumery c1919








c1925

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c1925

Although Marcel Franck furnished hardware to companies such as Saint-Louis, Lalique & Gallé, many of Marcel Franck bottles have Baccarat blanks, or Czechoslovakian bottles.



c1929

I did see both beautiful Quezal and Durand art glass bottles with a Marcel Franck atomizer just recently. Marcel Franck’s hardware is sometimes seen with the Brevete or SGDG which mean ” patented”. They are also found marked with Depose which means “registered”.




Marcel Franck. Marcel Franck still manufactures atomizer hardware for perfume bottles today. Marcel Franck had French patents for his perfume atomizer hardware, most prolific was "L'Escale", "Fizz", and "Le Kid".

The atomizer mountings marked "La Provencale" and "Le Parisien"were attributed to Marcel Franck, but recent information provided by the current owner of Marcel Franck, assures us that it is not the work of Marcel Franck. "Le Parisien" was a tradename of Marcas et Dardel. Some of these mounts were engraved, molded or tooled with floral designs or other motifs.


The Jeweler's Circular, 1923:

"In this same illustration is shown "Le Parisien," an atomizer of distinction. It is of Baccarat crystal, hand painted and decorated and of genuine Galle's etched glass. The tops are of nickel, silver or gold plate. In style and construction, they are quite different from the usual atomizer."


La Coiffure de Paris, 1927:
"Marcel Franck. A real novelty in the world of vaporizers presented on its stand, all in good taste, by Marcel Franck. This House has created the Fizz Vaporizer, unblockable, unwearable, foolproof, with a system such that it is guaranteed for 15 years. Article therefore easy to sell, sales further aided by the beauty, the variety of bottles and by prices making it accessible to all. The Kid, a small pocket vaporizer, also featured prominently, the first (due to its quality) and which it maintains despite the onslaught of all the imitations, none of which has yet managed to equal it."


Chemist and Druggist, 1938:
"THE history of the perfume spray dates back to about 1870, and one of the first models was shown at the Paris Exhibition of 1878. At first the sprays were made by individual artisans, and it was not until a few years before the war that manufacturing on an industrial scale began. The perfume spray is rapidly becoming popular because the quality of good perfume can only be applicated to the fullest extent when it is applied with a spray. Formerly, perfume was sprinkled from a bottle onto a handkerchief, often producing a stain and without giving the subtle fragrance resulting from perfume which is dispersed by a spray. Until recent years the perfume spray was not popular with the masses, as the articles produced were neither solid nor practical, but when the industry was taken in hand seriously by manufacturers who specialized in it, designs were evolved which could be guaranteed to give satisfaction under reasonable conditions. Perfumes of quality are made with products of choice, and are , and are of necessity expensive ; the use of a perfume spray. ...idea of the present trend of fashion in these goods, and the illustrations are reproduced of models by Marcel Franck et Cie, Paris. The sprays are all of cut crystal glass, and are mounted with chromium plated fittings. Some of the sprays are available in several colours."


Gallery of Vintage Advertisements Over the Years:


c1919

Floris and Le Kid, atomizers by Marcel Franck, c1923 advertisement


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1920s Catalog images:














































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c1933


Some tall Marcel Franck bottles in this 1935 ad.


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c1957


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1962 ad



Hardware:




















Fate of the Company:


Good news! The Marcel Franck perfume atomizer company has been resurrected under new ownership of Bernard Dennery, who is the grandson of Marcel Franck and great grandson of Leopold Franck, who first entered the world of perfume atomizers and founded the company in 1882.

The Marcel Franck company blossomed after it's unique atomizers topped bottles from affluent perfume companies like Molinard, Worth and D'Orsay all the while lending even more value to the flacons themselves from the prestigious French glassmakers of Galle, Baccarat, Lalique and Saint-Louis. Collectors of perfume flacons may be more familiar with these examples than the general public.

The company thrived in the atomizer business up until the 1970s, when mass made simple spray mechanisms were favored over the refined examples that the Marcel Franck company was known for and the company ceased operations in 2001.

Beginning in 2011, under leadership of Mr. Dennery, the restored company has created new and improved atomizers based on the original Art Deco 1935 designs of the patented Escale and the Fizz atomizer, which uses the Venturi method of vaporization instead of the usual bulb style. These atomizers have been internally redesigned using the latest technological advances to ensure optimal operation and are 100% made in France.

The Escale is offered in two versions: one with a spray mechanism integrated in the mount (for which, a new patent has been filed) and the other with the traditional Venturi system. Not only does the company produce the atomizer hardware, but in keeping with the company's heritage, it manages to incorporate exquisite art glass flacons hand crafted in Murano Italy or by other talented European glass/crystal blowers in combination with their atomizers, so that one may fill their bottle with their favorite perfume. A special Baccarat crystal flacon, an updated example of a version first used in 1955, is also offered, this time, topped with a palladium plated atomizer.

Marcel Franck is also finishing the development of a revamped version of the old Le Weekend, a beautiful and extremely successful ladies hand bag atomizer. This new atomizer will integrate a system which will allow it to be filled directly from sealed perfume bottles by pumping out the perfume, similar to how the Travalo atomizer works, but more refined and luxurious.

Luxury is again in vogue with the proliferation of niche and smaller private perfume companies popping up and wanting something much more deserving of an opulent perfume, a chic flacon with an elegant atomizer to match. And this is exactly what they will find in the Marcel Franck atomizers and flacons, which are not only pleasing to the eye, but will help keep the perfume preserved due to their distinctive airtight hardware, made up of brass and electroplated in either palladium or gold.


11 comments:

  1. Is there some way to date these atomizers? I found one today at a thrift store. On the bottom, in raised letters is 'Marcel Franck Paris' and four vertical hash marks under a square-root sign. The bulb has hardened on this bottle, but otherwise it seems in working order. I'd love to be able to repair and use it! (And I wish I could ID the dregs of the old perfume in it... truly luscious stuff.)

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  2. Hello, I have a marcel franck bulb atomizer that I need help dating. It does not match any of the hardware pictured. The chamber is iridescent and has a long black rope and bulb with a tassel. The sprayer points upwards. My email is kylarhinehart@gmail.com, thank you.

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  3. Hi i have just purchased a perfume atomiser, and on the underside are the initials k.f, 1217, I wondered are they the initials of franck, kind regards Steve

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  4. Would like to know age of atomizer 1 3/4 x 3 1/4 inch square thin gold line trim around each side glass looks beveled bottom is 1 inch thick glass hardware is etched With name & SGDG
    Looks Art Deco
    Any worth to it?

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  5. I just bought an old Escale atomizer, but when I push the spray button no perfume comes out. I notice the spray mechanism has C and O for Closed and Open, but no parts seem movable to choose either option. Mine seems to be stuck in C. Is there something I am doing wrong? Lisa

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    1. sounds like there might be some old perfume residue stuck inside the mechanism. Can you unscrew the bottle and add some vodka or run inside the bottle and try squeezing that through, this may help dislodge the old perfume to free the button.

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  6. I have a Marcel Franck Atomizer with a man kneeling on 1 knee before a woman with a Fan in her hand. In gold. What might be the age of this one? Thank you

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  7. Hi, I believe I inherited the decanter from 1920, crystal baccarat, atomiser. I’m simply curious and would like to know how I can confirm this. It has a sticker on the base in French

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  8. just have an old Escale atomizer. I have disassembled and cleaned all parts. The pump cup seems to have shrunk at it does not pump air. This pump cup looks like it’s silicone as it is tan-ish white. Is there a place that sells replacement parts?

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    Replies
    1. You might want to contact Marcel Franck thru their website: https://marcelfranck.com/

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