“The Petit-Fils de Maurice Kasriel” – you might be thinking, “What’s so special about that?” But this corner, right here on Rue Tolain, was once home to a thriving harmonium factory. Rue Tolain, a short street in the 20th arrondissement of Paris, is named after the influential French politician, Henri Louis Tolain. Tolain was a radical socialist who believed in the power of worker cooperatives. Back during the Belle Époque, his name resonated with the Parisian working class. The factory was established in the late 19th century, during the booming industrial era. It was a small, quaint, family-run business that specialized in creating beautiful harmoniums. Imagine the sound of these instruments echoing through the streets of Rue Tolain! It’s almost as if you could hear them now, the faint melody of a forgotten era. During the 1920s and 30s, the petit-fils, the grandsons of Maurice Kasriel, carried on the legacy. They were known for producing some of the finest harmoniums in the city. In fact, the factory was so successful, they were even asked to create custom instruments for the government! Sadly, the factory closed down in the 1960s, but its memory lives on in this quiet corner of Rue Tolain.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to