{{Short description|French manufacturer of woodwind instruments}} {{No footnotes|date=July 2022}} thumb|upright=0.50|Marigaux Oboe '''Marigaux''', also known as SML ('''Strasser-Marigaux-Lemaire''') is a French manufacturer of high quality woodwind musical instruments.
Marigaux is considered one of the world's best oboe-makers. The company has made a line of woodwinds that has also included clarinets, saxophones, flutes and bassoons.
== History == Strasser Marigaux & Lemaire was founded January 12, 1935 by three partners: Charles Strasser, a businessman who was born in Switzerland; Jules Marigaux, an instrument maker who trained at Buffet-Crampon, where his father was "premier ouvrier," and Lemaire. After the death of Lemaire many years ago, Strasser and Marigaux bought their partner's shares and the company became known as "Strasser-Marigaux." Marigaux died in the early 1970s, leaving Strasser the sole owner of the company. Strasser then sold SML (it continues to use these initials) to a holding company—Strasser-Marigaux S.A..
Strasser Marigaux began its activity in Paris with manufacture of saxophones and flutes. Production of oboes and clarinets was started in a workshop located in la Couture-Boussey, in the Eure department, cradle of French artisan manufacture.
SML ceased production of saxophones in 1982; at the time, the company was making 400 saxes a year. It was also selling saxes to King Musical Instruments, which marketed them under the name,"King Marigaux." A company spokesperson said SML stopped making saxophones because "we just couldn't compete with Selmer anymore" and would "... devote itself entirely to the improvement of the oboe and the clarinet".
== External links == {{Commonscat|Marigaux}} * {{Official website}} * {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807184853/https://www.saxontheweb.net/SML/thestory.html |archivedate=August 07, 2020 |title=SML: Most Of The Story, By Fred Cicetti }} - credit for the information in this article. * {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180606061420/http://vintage.saxontheweb.net/OnGoing.html |archivedate=June 06, 2018 |title=SML: The Ongoing Story, By Peter Hales }} - this site is carrying the SML torch nowadays.
Category:Musical instrument manufacturing companies based in Paris Category:Oboe manufacturing companies Category:Clarinet manufacturing companies Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1935 Category:French companies established in 1935 Category:French brands