Duralumin History: A Timeline of Key Alloy and Adoption Events

German metallurgist Alfred Wilm established the “Duralumin” trade name at a company named Dürener Metallwerke AG, some six years after the underlying age-hardened aluminum alloy was initially developed.

Saint-Étienne manufacturer Ateliers de la Rive became known for its steel bicycle tubing, years before its later, more famous move into aluminum.

In pioneering Saint-Étienne, Verrot et Perrin developed the first light alloy crank arms made of Duralumin.

Per this article, parent company Haubtmann merged with Verrot et Perrin, the original trademark holder of the Duralumin name, at least by this point — the moment the piece frames as when the future Stronglight “knew” that durable and lightweight meant fast and expensive.

Haubtmann released a complete Duralumin crankset.

Manufacture of Duralumin freewheels, derailleurs, pedals, brakes and handlebars became widespread from this point forward.

Gnome et Rhône, the aircraft engine manufacturer that diversified into motorcycles, velomotors and bicycles after World War Two, released an initial line up of five Duralumin bicycle models.

Gnome et Rhône had expanded its Duralumin bicycle range to a full eight models.

Saint-Étienne manufacturer Ateliers de la Rive released the venerable “Vitus 979” frameset, a “Duralinox” model that became an instant classic and was the first production aluminum frameset whose thin-wall 5083/5086 tubing was slip-fit and then glued together using a dry heat-activated epoxy.

Production of the Vitus 979 continued until this year.