In the late 19th century Eugène Julien & Cie Ltée was a music dealer in Quebec City selling pianos, organs, sheet music. Circa 1900–1910, the company diversified into the rapidly growing automobile business. A large commercial and residential building located at 718-738 Saint-Vallier Ouest was constructed as an automobile showroom and service facility for the company. In the 1910s and 1920s, Eugène Julien & Cie operated multiple branches in Quebec, representing various automobile makes while continuing to sell musical instruments and adding phonographs and records to their inventory. At the moment there is no evidence that the company manufactured phonographs. In 1922 they went out of business.
Talking Machine World, June 1918, p. 34: "An annual event with Eugène Julien Co., Quebec, who do an extensive piano and phonograph business, is their exhibition which this year was preceded by a dinner tendered to the press and the directors of the firm by Eugène Julien. H. V. Roy, who has charge of the music department, had a full orchestra and his musical features were appreciated by large audiences."
Talking Machine World, May 1919, p. 115: "Paul Guertin, of the Three Rivers, Quebec, branch of Eug. Julien & Cie, Ltd., is authority for the statement that his firm sells more Columbia and Pathé records at $1.50 than it does of the 10 inch records of lesser price."
Talking Machine World, January 1922, p. 130: "Eugène Julien & Co., Ltd., Quebec, have made a voluntary assignment. The assets of the firm are $1,300,000, while the liabilities are said to exceed a million dollars. The failure is ascribed to difficulty of collections, reduced sales and loss on heavy stock. The firm deals in talking machines, musical merchandise, sheet music, pianos, automobiles, furniture, agricultural implements and vehicles of all kinds."
In 1916, Eugène Julien & Cie Ltd. acquired this property in Marieville, Quebec, and held it until 1922 when they ceased operations.
A recent photograph of the Eugène Julien building at 718-738 Saint-Vallier Street West, Quebec City.
A celluloid game counter, ca 1915, advertising a branch of Eugène Julien & Cie in St. Valier, Quebec.
A phonograph labelled Eugène Julien & Cie Ltée listed in Facebook Marketplace in Sacre-Coeur, Quebec in 2026.
