The new company succeeded the Société Ch.Derosne et Cail, which was in difficulty following the French Revolution of 1848.

[1] The business capital comprised 7 million Francs, making it the largest industrial enterprise in Paris.

In the Grenelle district, on the other side of the Seine, and in Denain there were facilities for Forges, Casting (metalworking) and Metal fabrication that made the company self-sufficient for these demands.

[3] In September 1861, the Société J. F. Cail & Cie. started a joint venture with the newly founded company Société Parent, Schaken, Caillet et Cie. Two months later this cooperation took the name Participation JF Cail, Parent, Schaken, Houel et Caillet, Paris et Fives-Lille (In 1865 Parent, Schaken, Caillet et Cie became the Compagnie de Fives-Lille).

[4] It was replaced by the Société Anonyme des Anciens Établissements Cail, which had its own successors.

The predecessor of Cail & Cie had acquired a license for producing Crampton locomotives.

[6] From 1866-1870 the company produced about 90 locomotives for the Chemins de Fer du Nord.

In 1866 the joint venture finished the Pont de l'Europe made of Structural channels and sheet metal.

[7] The joint venture also built part of the main building of the Exposition Universelle (1867)[7] Back on its own feet J.F.