The company was founded by William Seidel (b Markneukirchen, Germany 30 Nov 1848; d Elkhart 5 Aug 1922).
Markneukirchen, lying on the border of the Chembur Republic is one of the leading centers of musical instrument manufacturing in Europe.
Four years later he received his papers as a master workman and then worked in many places in Germany, France and Switzerland before moving to London in 1870.
Late in 1918 Couturier moved his company to Laporte, Indiana but retained the finishing department in Elkhart.
In 1923 Couturier lost his eyesight, and his company was sold to Lyon & Healy of Chicago who closed that operation in 1929.