MOTORCYCLE MANUFACTURERS
Lyon was one of the important cradles of mechanical locomotion and the renown of its cars far exceeded the city limits. "The Lyon automobile industry is one of those in the whole world that best competes with the Parisian industry" wrote in 1907 M. Baudry de Saumer, director of the magazine Omnia and one of the first and most competent automotive journalist-technicians.
Lyon was one of the three regions in the world where vehicle manufacturing developed at the end of the 19th century. A place of invention, technical progress and industrial production, Lyon had more than 200 vehicle manufacturers at the beginning of the 20th century, while France supplied more than half of the world's vehicle production. In addition to cars, trucks, coaches, planes and boats, we have identified, below (non-exhaustive list), 26 motorcycle manufacturers or brand groups in the Lyon region: BENOIT-GONIN, C2M, OMEGA, CHIMÈRE ET REINOR, DERONZIERE, FOLLIS, FULGOR, GAUTHIER, GIVAUDAN, KELLER-DORIAN, KOEHLER-ESCOFFIER, KV, MARCADIER, MAZUE, MOTO-RHONE - MOTO-RHONY'X - NOVA-RHONY'X - RHONY'X - STAINLESS, MOTOSACOCHE, NEW IMPERIA, NEW-MAP - PAUL MARTIN - ROLUX - SOLYTO, ORIAL, PERFECTA - RIVAT & BOUCHARD, RHONS'ON - RHONSON - RHONSONNETTE, RONEX, SIMARD, STOPP - NEW STOPP, SUPERIOR, ULTIMA - BOURBON A. & Cie, BILLION, Eugène DERONZIERE, VIRATEL
BENOIT-GONIN - 1908-1926 - 5 and 5 bis rue cité-Delassalle, Lyon (Charpennes) - In 1908, watchmaker and goldsmith Alexandre Benoit-Gonin opened his motorcycle frame manufacturing workshop at 5 and 5 bis rue cité-Delassalle, Lyon. The first machines were equipped with Lyon-made Givaudan engines, followed by Swiss Zedel and Moser engines, and Italian-Courbevoie Anzani engines. Benoit-Gonin motorcycles enjoyed considerable regional success in competition. After the First World War, Benoit-Gonin continued building frames for Swiss MAG V-Twin engines ranging from 700 to 750 cc. The Benoit-Gonin Frères company ceased operations in 1926.
C2M - 1931-1934 - 179 rue de la République, Belleville, with factories at 13 and 15 rue Trarieux, then 60 avenue Rockefeller, Lyon. Société pour la Construction de Motocyclettes et Moteurs industriels, known as C2M. Acquired Moto Rhony'x and its Rhony'x and Stainless (engine) brands. In 1934, it became the Office Industriel du Cycle et de la Moto (OICM), 3 place du Bachut, Lyon, which took over the Cottin-Desgouttes real estate.
OMEGA, CHIMÈRE AND REINOR - 20 avenue Félix Faure, Lyon - Marius Leconte Fils, 15 rue Bugeaud, Lyon, registered the Omega trademark for bicycles and motorcycles in 1905. In 1915, saddler Henri Gauthier, 111 cours Emile Zola in Lyon-Villeurbanne, registered the Chimère bicycle trademark. In 1920, Henri Petitjean registered the Reinor trademark, 4 and 6 avenue Jean Jaurès in Lyon, and his factory. In 1925, Henri Gauthier and Léon Chapuis joined forces to form the Chimère company, 20-22 avenue Félix Faure, Lyon, and in 1930, the Lecomte company, founded in 1863, took over the Chimère company, which manufactured motorcycles from 1905 to 1914 and mopeds from 1950 to 1957.
DERONZIERE - 1906-1920 - 8 rue Dumont-d'Urville, Lyon. Francisque Croizier de Ronzière, from Lyon, filed a patent in 1906 for a lightweight engine adaptable to any bicycle equipped with low-voltage ignition (100V). His company was liquidated in 1907. Auguste Cumin-Michelin, also from Lyon, bought the business and retained the Deronzière brand, founding the Manufacture Lyonnaise de Motocyclettes (Lyon Motorcycle Factory). On June 30, 1913, he sold his factory and the "Deronzière" system to the company Ferrez fils et Cie and Maigre. Finally, in early 1914, Marcel Ferrez Fils parted ways with Louis Maigre to partner with Etienne Chartron, maintaining the same address and brand. Supplies motorcycles to Thimonnier & Cie, brand Superior, Eugène Billion brand Ultima, to Rivolière Père et fils in Saint-Etienne brand RPF and to La Manufacture d'armes de Saint-Etienne brand Rupta.
FOLLIS - 10 to 16 rue Danton, Lyon, then 17 avenue Gladel, Craponne - The Italian Giuseppe (Joseph) Follis immigrated to France in 1922 where he became an employee and then production manager for the Morel & Vana company, manufacturers of Fortis brand bicycles. In 1932, Joseph set up his own frame-making business at 19 rue Danton in Lyon. In 1947, the J. Follis company shifted its focus to motorized two-wheelers. François Follis then managed the company, which produced up to 1,000 machines per month. In the early 1950s, he had a factory built at 17 avenue Gladel in Craponne, from which 47,000 mopeds, 24,000 motorized bicycles, and 3,000 motorcycles were produced until 1959. The company ceased operations in the late 2000s.
FULGOR - (1901-1937), 55 Place de la République, Lyon. Bicycles and tandems, workshops at 8 Quai Jules Courmont, Lyon. Direct sales via 80 branches and depots.
(photo Motocyclettes.free.fr)
GAUTHIER - Moiroux Estate, 69640 Cogny. Born in 1971 from the passion of rider Jean-Claude Gauthier, this motorcycle brand forged its legend in the 1970s. It all started at the 1970 Milan Motorcycle Show with the 125cc Sachs engine. The rider, not entirely satisfied with the production of the time, became a manufacturer of track, motocross, and enduro motorcycles. The Gauthier workshop produced approximately one thousand motorcycles: the GA1 with a six-speed engine, the GA2 125 and 250 with seven speeds, and the Enduro (Chamois). As early as 1972, factory rider Jacky Guillemoz became French Champion. The machines competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans motorcycle race, the Four Seasons Cup, and numerous hill climbs.
GIVAUDAN - 1900-1910 - 40, rue Sainte Genevieve, Lyon (former workshop of brothers Claude and Francisque Rochet). Claudius Givaudan, a chemical engineer from Caluire, built engines, motorcycles, and motorbikes. From 1909, following the first flights of heavier-than-air aircraft, Givaudan turned to aviation, without much success, producing a few monoplane prototypes using the tandem drum mechanism he had built by Vermorel. In 1925, he took over the management of the pre-military school for aviation mechanics, established in Lyon by the Aero Club of the Rhône and Southeast, a position he held until 1945.
(photo Motocyclettes.free.fr)
KELLER-DORIAN - 1903-1914 - 89 bis Rue du Dauphiné, Lyon. Albert Keller-Dorian, manufacturer of petroleum and magnetic power engines, magnetos, dynamos, generators, motorcycles, and cyclecars. He filed 78 patents.
(photo Cybermotorcycle.com)
KOEHLER-ESCOFFIER - 1912-1920 - 30, avenue de Noailles, Lyon, founded by the Lyon engineer Marcel Koehler and the Grenoble mechanic Jules Escoffier. During the First World War, J. Darrier, manufacturer, Moto-Garage, 116, rue de Sèze, Lyon, continued the sale of Koehler-Escoffier motorcycles. 1920-1929 - At 68, route de Crémieu, Villeurbanne, the Koehler-Escoffier brand was acquired from Marcel Koehler, who remained a consultant, by Gaydon, Perras & Cartet, which later became Gaydon, Perras & Perret. Victor Gaydon, Claude-Marie Perras, and Raymond Guiguet formed the Société Anonyme de Motocyclettes (SAM), which was declared bankrupt in 1925. Raymond Guiguet bought back SAM's assets and continued the venture, secretly supported by Marcel Koehler. 1929-1930 - Koehler-Escoffier was acquired by Monet & Goyon of Mâcon.
KV - 1950-1989 - Chassieu. In 1963, Mr. Valentin, director of the electrical equipment company KV, acquired the Lyonnaise de Tôlerie company and its Solyto (see New-Map) and continued its manufacture until 1974. In parallel, in 1970, KV produced microcars and in 1975, Mr. Valentin sold KV to Joseph Spalek and the brand became KVS.
MARCADIER - 77 Rue Marius Berliet, Lyon. 1957-1958. The career of André Marcadier, this likeable and colorful Lyonnais, began in 1947 with the construction of high-quality bicycles using duralumin for the frames. This was a delicate and painstaking process involving rolling and then welding aluminum sheets along their entire length to create tubes! A true work of art. Still working on two wheels, his talent extended to the field of motorcycle racing, for which he built remarkable frames around various engines; one of them finished second in the 1957 Monza Grand Prix.
MAZUE - 1913-1914 - 20 rue de Tourville and 37 rue du Beguin, Lyon. Two-stroke motorcycles.
MOTO-RHONE - MOTO-RHONY'X - NOVA-RHONY'X - RHONY'X - STAINLESS - 1925-1940 - 28 Route Nationale, Lyon-Bron, then 50 chemin de Montchat, Lyon. In 1925, Jean-Marie Boucher founded the Etablissements de Construction Mécaniques du Rhône (Rhône Mechanical Construction Establishments) and registered the Moto-Rhône trademark, which quickly became Moto Rhony'x following legal action by the Gnome et Rhône engine company. Now known as Société Moto Rhony'x, it began producing its Stainless brand engine blocks and 2- and 4-stroke engines in 1929. A commercial agreement was reached with its shareholder, Charles Stoppa, of Lyon-Moto, located at 2 Place du Prado in Lyon, allowing the motorcycles to also bear his Stopp and New-Stopp trademarks.
MOTOSACOCHE-FRANCE - 1924-1933 - 63 rue Trarieux, Lyon. Motosacoche motorcycles were the result of continuous experimentation, culminating in ever-increasing success. Nothing was overlooked to ensure these machines offered comfort, excellent handling, and safety. Their elegant lines and incomparable finish made them truly luxurious machines, capable of satisfying even the most discerning and demanding connoisseurs, and yet they remained affordably priced.
NEW IMPERIA - 1929-1959 - La Croix-Fleurie in Arnas and the new Beauregard road, Villefranche-en-Beaujolais. In 1928, Armand Renould-Lyat, a mechanic and bicycle builder from Arnas, decided to dedicate himself to building motorcycle frames under his New Impéria brand and engines and gearboxes under his ARL brand, both made of Duralumin. He sourced engines from Moser, JAP, Blackburne, Rudge, and other manufacturers, as well as gearboxes, and assembled his crankcases from lighter and stronger Duralumin. He then modified his Duralumin frames to accommodate AMC 125, 175, and 250cc engines and to fit a telescopic fork and a sliding rear suspension of his own invention.
NEW-MAP - PAUL MARTIN - ROLUX - SOLYTO - 1926-1964 - 122, chemin des Pins, Lyon. Joseph Martin founded his bicycle, acetylene, and automobile business in 1898 at 95, chemin des Pins, Lyon, where he also sold BSA, Eadie, and Brennabo bicycles. In 1922, Paul Martin, the son, acquired the business of Etablissements Martin, Raymond & Chambost, manufacturers of Stop trailers, located at 122, chemin des Pins, opposite his father's shop, to build MAG-powered cyclecars and Baby microcars, which were short-lived. He then partnered with his brother Amilcar at the end of 1925 and registered the New Map trademark. In 1936, Paul Martin was running the French New Map and Motosacoche organization alone and decided to transform these two entities in 1937 into a limited liability company, the Fabrique Lyonnaise de motocyclettes New-Map et Motosacoche, operating the brands New-Map, Motosacoche -France, Paul Martin and Tout-Acier.
O.R.I.A.L. - Office of Industrial and Automotive Representation of Lyon, 1919-1928, 11 rue du Plat and 2 rue Paul-Linthier in Lyon. - Joseph and Claude Voland settled in Lyon as salesmen for RH and Pierron cars. In August 1920, they partnered with their banker, Count Maurice de la Croix-Laval, to found the company Jh. Voland, M. de la Croix-Laval & Cie, known as the Office of Industrial and Automotive Representation of Lyon. The company produced powerful motorcycles and sidecars, which were victorious in competitions from 1921 to 1924. Mentioned until 1928, ORIAL ceased operations the following year.
PERFECTA - RIVAT & BOUCHARD - 1900 - 8 rue de Constantine (directory of Lyon automobile manufacturers 1901), Assembled Perfecta motorcycles and cyclecars, Ets Georgano.
RHONS'ON - RHONSON - RHONSONNETTE - 1946-1966 - 26 rue Phélypeaux, Villeurbanne, then 195, avenue Félix Faure, Lyon. Limited liability company known as Manufacture de Cycles, Tricycles et Auto pour enfants Rivet et Cie, brand Le Petit Poucet and Rhonson for the area between the Rhône and Saône rivers, then SARL Rhonson. In 1959, incorporated into VAP SA (Alcyon-Lucer and Rhonson combined, brand Alcyon, Lucer, Rhonson, Rhonsonette, Isola and VAP in Hazebrouk (59).
RONEX - 1950 - Vaux-en-Velin. The Ronex Cycles company produced in 3 versions the scooters patented by the Loire Valley men Henry Lanoy and Jean Dancette who would eventually turn to Louis Simard, sidecar manufacturer, 12 rue Anatole-Primat, Villeurbanne, to produce them.
SIMARD - 1951-1954 - 12 rue Anatole-Primat, Villeurbanne. After the failure of Ronex, the company Louis Simard & Fils resumed, without much success, the modernized production of scooters patented by Henry Lanoy and Jean Dancette from the Loire region.
(photo Bubblecars & Scooters en Bourgogne)
STOPP - NEW STOPP - 1926 - 1931 - Charles Stoppa, owner of 2 Place du Prado in Lyon and shareholder of Moto-Rhône and Moto-Rhony'x, obtained an industrial and commercial agreement allowing the motorcycles he ordered to also bear his Stopp and New Stopp brands. In 1931, he joined his brother Alexis Stoppa at Alexis Moto, founded in 1928, where motorcycles from the bankrupt Rhony'x stock were sold under the Stopp brand. Alexis Moto is still a Yamaha motorcycle dealership today.
SUPERIOR - 1913-1914 - 21 rue des Thermes, Lyon. The Thimonier et Cie company marketed Deronzière motorcycles under its Supérior brand.
ULTIMA - BOURBON A. & Cie, BILLION, Eugène DERONZIERE - 1909-1910 - 103 chemin de Choulans, Lyon. A. Bourbon & Cie, manufacturer BILLION Eugène, 1909-1958 - 7 quai de l'Est, then 24 rue du Commandant-Faurax, Lyon. Eugène Billion acquired the Ultima brand in 1910 and had already been perfecting the engine patented by Francisque Croizier-Deronzière of Lyon since 1909. From 1914, Eugène Billion produced his own motorcycles. He initially manufactured motorcycle engines from 1906 to 1914. From 1914 onwards, motorcycles manufactured by Eugène Billion were sold under the Ultima brand in 350cc and 500cc versions. The company ceased operations in 1958.
VIRATELLE Motorcycle and Automobile Company - 1918-1924 > 20 rue Centrale with factory at 7-11 rue Jean Bourgey, Lyon. Marcel Viratelle met Jean Chauffour, an agent of the Lyonnaise bank J. Thaillandier et Cie, with whom he formed the Viratelle Motorcycle and Automobile Company. Marcel Viratelle registered his trademark in 1921, but it wasn't until August 1921 that the first new Viratelle motorcycle entered production. As soon as the first sporting and commercial successes were achieved, the J. Thaillandier et Cie bank forced Marcel Viratelle to leave the Lyon region for Paris.
In addition to the 26 clearly identified motorcycle manufacturers or brand groups in the Lyon region, including cyclecars, motorcycles, and scooters, the following names still need to be studied: AMPERIA, ARLIGUE, AUTOMOTO, BILLION, CEM, CASNAT, CASTOLDI, CLAUSIER, COCYMO, COMINDUS, DEBEAUNE, DOUÉ, FIMA., FLAMAND, E.CH.M., GARIN, GIGNOUX, GROSEILLER, IMPERIAL, INTER, L'ALBATROS, LARA-BIBAL, LUCIFER, MAXIMAG, MGD, NOVER, PAUPE, PHEBUS, PRAT, RM LYON, RIVAT & BOUCHARD, SPIDOS, TRACTAVANT, TRIMOTEURS, VAILLANT, VALMOBILE, ...
The search for information continues!
