Historical timeline
Jean Dubost

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1920_Recepisse_Immatriculation_societe_Dubost_Colas_Pradel

1920

Dubost Colas Pradel was established as a manufacturing company in 1920, and entered into the trade register in 1921, its activities listed as “Manufacture and assembly of cutlery

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1924

Pierre began researching bevelling (bevelled blades are ground with zero bevel to create the sharp edge); this manufacturing stage could not be done by Pierre and Marcelle in Viscomtat, because the village did not yet have electricity. The blades were therefore sharpened in Thiers, on the banks of the Durolle river. Pierre would collect the blades by bicycle, folding them into jute bags hanging from the rack.

Simple evidence of this can be found on the insurance policy, with its comment “no motive power”, indicating that the Dubost-Colas-Pradel had no electrical supply.

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1931

Pierre, Marcelle, Jean, and Noël Dubost on his mother’s knee

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1940-1945

Jean and Noël, the sons of the founders, were by now grown up, and joined their parents in the company, together with their own wives.

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1950

The first general cutlery catalogue, published in the early 1950s. You’ll notice that the company’s telephone number at the time was simply 1!

To further encourage the rebirth of the company’s business, its knives were exhibited for the first time at the Lyon Fair in 1950, and then at the Salon des Arts Ménagers à la Défense, in Paris, in 1955.

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1955

Table knives, their acetate handles stamped with the company hallmark, sold in a red velvet-lined case.

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1960

The cutlery workshop in the 1960s: Pierre Dubost, the creator of our cutlery, by then 70 years old, enjoys the beautiful day seated in the shade on the bench outside his house, beside the workshop.

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1962

In 1962, a real visionary driven by his desire to expand the company’s exports, Jean, the son of the founders, crosses the Atlantic and exhibits his goods, first in New York and then in Canada. He is awarded a medal for exports, underlining the dynamic nature of family owned cutlery. The business grows, and now employs 20 people.

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1966

In 1966, the company’s growth brought about the first expansion projects (of approximately 400m²) were carried out and a high-voltage transformer substation was installed to provide power to the workshop machinery.
The village however has very little accommodation, already occupied by several generations of local inhabitants, which limits further hiring. The company therefore invests in the construction of two homes to accommodate new employees and their families.

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1968-1973

In 1968, Pierre is widowed, and his two sons, Jean and Noël, together with their respective wives, Marceline and Roselle, create a partnership always called DUBOST – COLAS – PRADEL. They jointly manage the business, while they continue to work in the workshops, at the polishing or assembly stations.
1973 sees the construction of “modern and functional” offices.

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1973

So-called “deer’s foot” Jean Dubost table knives, with their double brass bolster and Rio rosewood handle, recorded excellent sales, particularly at William Sonoma, a luxury store in the USA.

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1975

Jean’s briefcase - affectionately referred to as the “Marmotte” – comprised different trays for displaying table knives and flatware samples to customers during his travels.

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1978

Jean, Marceline, Philippe and Marlyse Dubost at the Bijorca (Bijouterie Joaillerie Horlogerie Cadeaux) international trade fair in Paris.

The display of the first flatware with colourful plastic handles - such as the Bistrot range bellow - is a huge success.

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1980

In 1980, to ensure that it was “at the heart of business”, the company opened an office in Paris, on the Rue de Paradis: the home of all of the great names in porcelain and jewellery.

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1981

Uginox knife, a stainless steel knife mounted and riveted into 2 shells. A great success in famous Habitat stores in France and in William Sonoma in the United States.

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1984

In the 1980s, Dubost Colas Pradel also produced its own pins: the Toucan emblem on its cutlery!

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1986

“ERGONOMICS” knives: an iconic knife - available as a kitchen or steak knife for table use. A polypropylene handle with a veined wood appearance, the knife did not slip. Thanks to its shape and the finger grip moulded into the handle, the collection provided a very good grip. Perfect ergonomics, and a major success with professional users.

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1988

Following the success of their plastic-handled flatware, Jean and his son decided to build a new building, larger than the first, and intended for plastics processing. Moving the plastic injection moulding machines during the expansion work.

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1988

Jean Dubost, the son of the founder, wanted to introduce an innovative, useful and safe product for opening oysters - the oyster gripperand its knife. An iconic product, still in widespread use today.

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1990

The very trendy grill product ranges for friendly encounters around the barbecue. Knives which can be found, for example, in the USA, one the tables of Michael Jordan’s Steak House outlets.

Or even its BBQ bags and utensils with bubinga handles, purchased by Francis Ford Coppola for his Napa Valley boutiques.

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1990

LONDON model flatware with Vichy motif (trademarked in 1995) sold in transparent jar-like containers: iconic flatware.
Handle material: ABS with motif applied using pad printing in our workshops.

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Bloc 6 couteaux steak Sense Jean Dubost x Goodplanet Le Pave made in France economie circulaire slider_print
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Jean dubost x fondation goodplanet

Jean Dubost joins the GoodPlanet Foundation chaired by Yann-Arthus Bertrand. The Jean Dubost Sense® range is made from plastic waste collected in France and recycled into an innovative material Le Pavé®. A range of products from the circular economy that is perfectly in line with the ecological values of the GoodPlanet Foundation, this is why Jean Dubost wanted to give his solidarity support to the foundation created by Yann Arthus Bertrand by giving them 1% of the turnover achieved with this range.

"Acting brings happiness" - Yann Arthus-Bertrand
Apolitical, non-denominational and independent, the GoodPlanet Foundation - created and chaired by Yann Arthus-Bertrand - has been recognized as a public utility since 2009.The GoodPlanet Foundation aims to make ecology and humanism a central issue in order to encourage people to take concrete actions for the Earth and its inhabitants.
It implements environmental awareness programs for schools, associations and the general public and supports the development of field projects contributing to the construction of a more sustainable, responsible and united world.
Since 2012, the GoodPlanet Foundation has received the IDEAS label for its rigorous and transparent management.

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In France, since 1985, driven by Coluche, "les restos du coeur" help the most needy by food assistance through access to free meals but also in the area of social inclusion.

Thousands of volunteers from more than 2,000 centers throughout France are now taking actions every day to combat poverty in all its forms.

Jean Dubost cutlery, affected by all these socially aware actions, support this association since 2012 by flatware donations used in the various regional hubs, in Paris headquarters, in social residence or also on the houseboat called "la péniche du coeur".

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