Museum of Comb and Plasturgy dans l'Ain

Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The project of a municipal industrial museum in Oyonnax was formalized in 1922, but its realization took time. As early as 1975, the Association of Friends of the Museum formed to collect objects, machines and know-how from the inhabitants and companies. In 1977, the museum was finally inaugurated thanks to the Nantua/Oyonnax Young Economic Chamber (JCENO), with an initial fund of 7,000 pieces. These collections illustrate the evolution of techniques, from box combs to bioplastic design creations.

In 1986, the museum temporarily moved to the Aragon Cultural Centre. Today, it houses 16,000 objects covering arts, industry and ethnology, reflecting the unique destiny of Oyonnax, a city shaped by crafts and innovation. A project to restore the Grand Vapor, a local industrial symbol, aims to transfer the museum there. The latter is distinguished by temporary thematic exhibitions, regularly renewing its scenography.

Labeled Museum of France, he plays a role as a conservator of artisanal and industrial practices. Its collections include combs, glasses, furniture, machinery, patents and art works, testifying to a thousand-year history linked to the mountainous geography of the region. The museum highlights a local identity marked by material transformation and creative audacity, far from a predictable agricultural destiny.

The available contact information indicates two addresses: Place Georges Pompidou (Museofile base) and the 88 Cours de Verdun (GPS). Despite the poor location (note 5/10), the museum remains a cultural pillar, accessible via its website and telephone number. Its exceptional fund makes it a reference for the history of techniques and trades in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

External links