J. Houet

J. Houet of 18, Cite Canrobert, Paris, manufactured luxury and novelty atomizers and hardware mountings, as well as powder boxes in alabaster and decorated glass, toilette sets, electric nightlights, and articles in nickelled copper for Hair-Dressers.

Established by Jan Bolumet and Houet.

-18 Quotes Canrobert.

Their most famous design was known as Vaporisateur "Jan". This design was frequently used on Czech atomizers with French hardware as seen in the ad below.

Albiez Perfume Atomizer Hardware Patent Info c1900

The image below is a patent drawing for an atomizer (on left) and fancy perfumery sprinkler cap (on the right). The hardware was patented on July 3, 1900 by Joseph Albiez. 

Albiez was a New York manufacturer of atomizers during the 1890s-1910s period. His company was located at 148 Duane Street, New York City. I found him listed as a maker of atomizers at this building in 1896 and in 1897 the building suffered a fire.

"December 5, 1897 - No 148 Duane street a five story brick and stone building 25 x 75 occupied by a [J. Albiez] manufacturer of atomizers,  [Julius Wile Brothers & Co, importers of wines and liquors; Rice Brothers & Tiffany, manufacturers of perfumery; J Albiez, manufacturer of stomachers and by the Whiting Paper Co.] etc.  Fire originated on the second floor and extended to the third fourth and fifth floors considerably damaging the building The services of twelve engine and four hook and ladder companies and one water tower were required and the fire was under control in about three and one quarter hours The first alarm was received at 8.15 PM and at 8.26 and 8.351 PM respectively second and third alarms were sent out Cause of fire not ascertained Estimated loss 56,000."

In 1892, the Richard D. Young Perfumery Company was also headquartered in the building along with Rice Brothers & Tiffany, also manufacturers of perfume in 1897.

The atomizer shape is the usual "Aladdin's lamp" design we often encounter. The sprinkler top is a fancy sculpted rose shape with two holes to shake out the perfume.

Below is an excerpt from the patent text:

No. 653,193. Patented July 3, 1900. .J. ALBIEZ.
STOPPER FOR ATOMIZERS OR PERFUMERY BOTTLES. (Application filed Da c. 21, 1899.)
(No Model.)
STATES,-
JOSEPH ALBIEZ, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y.
STOPPER FOR ATOMIZERS OR PERFUMERY-BOTTLES.
SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 653,193, dated July 3, 1900.
Application filed December 21 1899. Serial No. 741,098. (No model.) 

To all whom it may concern: 

Be it known that I, JOSEPH ALBIEZ, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Stoppers for Atomizers or Perfumery-Bottles, of which the following is a specification. 

The object of my invention is to provide a stopper for fancy atomizers and fancy perf umery-bottles which shall be cheap, durable, and not liable to leak air either through, in, or around it and which further provides a perfect fit. 

The bottles ordinarily used for fancy atomizers and fancy perfumery-bottles are imported generally from Europe, and the necks and shoulders of said bottles are not exactly uniform, and in ordinary stoppers great care must be exercised or otherwise air will be allowed to either enter or escape from the bottle and prevent the requisite action of the atomizer when placed on the bottle. 

The atomizers and perfumery-bottles commonly used consist of a bottle having rigidly secured around its neck a collar or stopper which is screw-threaded internally,into which is fitted the atomizing-orifices supported by the said collar and which connects with or forms part of the liquid-tubes. 

My invention consists in rigidly affixing to the neck of the bottle a collar which is screw threaded externally and terminating at its lower edge in a flange which curves or flares outwardly. Then the cap or stopper which contains the atomizing device and the liquid and air tubes is screw-threaded internally, so as to correspond with and engage with the threading on the rigid collar, and this cap or stopper has on its bottom or lower end a flange which flares or curves outwardly in such a curve so as to exactly fit the flange or outward curve on the collar when the cap or stopper is in its proper place. It is then placed on the rigid collar and screwed down, so as to make an air-tight connection with the collar affixed to the neck of the bottle. A small washer either of leather, rubber, or cork is placed in the interior of the stopper, so that when the stopper is screwed on the collar attached to the neck of the bottle it comes between the outside portion of the collar and the bottom of the interior portion of the stopper. 

When my invention is used on fancy perfumery-bottles, the stopper is formed of a hollow cap, on the interior of which is placed the small washer heretofore spoken of, and this cap is screw-threaded internally and has at its bottom or lower end a flange which curves or flares outwardly, so as to exactly fit when screwed down upon the collar the flange or curve on the collar attached to the bottle. 

It is my intention to use my invention in connection with fancy perfumery-bottles, so that the perfume can be sprinkled from the bottle by merely shaking it, and the contents are then ejected from the two small ducts in the fancy cap, and in order to do this the stopper is cast in one piece and is screw threaded externally at its top, and the cap or Figure l is a side view of the atomizer embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of my invention, showing the same when used as a sprinkler. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of my invention, showing the same when used as a stopper for fancy bottles. 

In the drawings, A designates the bulb; B the glass bottle, on the top of which is rigidly screwed a collar O, having at its lower end an outwardly curving or flaring flange D.
E indicates the cap or stopper, which is screw-threaded internally and at its bottom or lower end has an outwardly or curving flange F. 

G indicates the washer, placed between. the upper edge H of the collar and the bottom edge I of the cap or stopper. 

J indicates the liquid-tube. 

K indicates the air-chamber. 

L indicates the opening in the cap or stopper when used as a sprinkler. 

M indicates the fancy cap. 

N, Fig. 4, indicates-the whole cap when used on fancy perfumery-bottles. 

O indicates the air-pipe. 

What I claim is in a device of the character described, a bottle having an external threaded neck with tapering shoulders there beneath, a sleeve threaded on the neck of the bottle with its outwardly-flaring lower edge fitting against the tapering shoulders and its upper edge turned over the mouth of the bottle, a washer seated on the upper end of the sleeve, screw threads formed on the outside of the sleeve directly opposite the internal threads thereof, and an atomizer having a socket provided with internal threads fitting the external threads of the sleeve, an outwardly-flaring flange on its lower end seated in the flaring edge of the sleeve, and an inwardly-projecting shoulder seated in the washer, substantially as described. 

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses,this 25th day of November 25, 1899. 

JOSEPH ALBIEZ. 

Witnesses: H. D. MCBURNEY, M. MEILBER

 

The Successful Resurrection of Marcel Franck

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.

If you have a perfume company and are looking to incorporate the highest quality atomizer hardware, please contact Bernard Dennery via email at contact@marcelfranck.com

Marcel Franck 

15 avenue du Recteur Poincaré 75016 PARIS 

Phone +33(0)6 26 49 06 54

If you are looking to purchase a Marcel Franck atomizer for personal use, you may find them at these retailers:

LIQUIDES 

9 rue de Normandie 75003 Paris France 

THEODORA HAUTE PARFUMERIE 

Grand-Rue 38, 1204 Genève Switzerland 

OSSWALD 

Bahnhofstrasse 17, Paradeplatz, 8001 Zurich Switzerland 

ANTICA ERBORISTERIA INGLESE 

Via de’ Tornabuoni, 19N, 50123 Florence Italy 

LA BOUTIQUE DU PALACE 

Lausanne Palace, Grand-Chene 7-9, 1002 Lausanne, Switzerland 

ROJA DOVE HAUTE PARFUMERIE 

Urban Retreat, 5th Floor, Harrods, 87-125 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London 5W1X 7XL, UK 

O100 

« Plaza » Olaya Street, Riyadh City, Show room number 10, Saudi Arabia