Abstract
Lenoir, Fortin, Duboscq, Dumotiez, Carpentier, Breguet, Gaiffe... these are just some of the names of the scientific instrument builders who were based near the Collège de France between the end of the 18th century and the 19th century. Through the emblematic history of some of them, we will present an overview of a study still in progress on the scientific instrument " as an archival document ", which invites us to cross the history of knowledge between laboratory and workshop, experimental research and teaching, production and trade.