Panorama des Cycles et Motocycles, by R. Ducoudray — L’Officiel du cycle, 14 November 1953, Carrara, Cazenave and Dilecta

From L’Officiel du cycle, du motocycle et du camping, 14 November 1953, the paper’s report number on the 1953 Paris Salon du Cycle et du Motocycle, page 25: a page of R. Ducoudray’s “Panorama des Cycles et Motocycles”, the paper’s survey of the makers at the Salon: the end of the Valmobile scooter, the Carley vélomoteur, the Carrara bicycles, the Cazenave cycles and an 1867 Michaux and the Dilecta cycles and cyclomoteurs, with the Douglas and DS Malterre motorcycles at its foot. The title, headings, captions and lists are transcribed as printed; the text is summarized in Ebykr’s words, and the page images carry it in full.

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[Ebykr summary; the article’s text is not reproduced. End of the Valmobile scooter entry, whose heading falls on the preceding page. The ultra-folding machine is driven by a Briban engine of 98 cm3 with 3 speeds, which can reach 75 km/h with an adult and a small boy on the saddle. The Valmobile can be carried anywhere by rail, car or airplane and has been adopted by airborne troops of various nations. Its fully suspended frame gives the user great comfort despite the small diameter of the wheels.]

★

Le vélomoteur léger CARLEY

[Ebykr summary; the article’s text is not reproduced. With a 70 cm3 two-stroke engine, the Carley is described as a very advanced intermediate between cyclomoteurs and classic vélomoteurs. It has 2 speeds and a neutral point (gears changed without declutching), a wide motorcycle-style saddle, a 6-liter tank, an engine fairing and a chain case giving absolute protection, an efficient silencer, a “Soupless” elastic fork with double silentbloc, deeply enveloping mudguards and drum brakes (front by hand, rear by foot). Starting is by kick.]

★

Les bicyclettes CARRARA

[Ebykr summary; the article’s text is not reproduced. The cycles Carrara, of Créteil (Seine), have made their name a reputed marque. Of their many series covering all types, two are singled out. First, the Randonneur 8 vitesses, grand luxe model, with a brazed “Luxavia-Vitus” frame, transparent or lacquered enamel and very high quality equipment from the leading French makers. Second, the Randonneur spécial 8 vitesses, super-luxe model, of the same description but with semi-chromed chainstays and fork blades and “Pivo” duralumin rims. The children’s bicycles, in baby, garçonnet and fillette types, and one mixte model are also noted.]

★

Les productions CAZENAVE

[Ebykr summary; the article’s text is not reproduced. The Établissements Cazenave, of Belin (Gironde), showed a very attractive stand through the extreme variety of bicycles, cyclomoteurs and light motorcycles: every type of cycle from the child’s bicycle to the most advanced cyclotouriste model; cyclomoteurs with chain or roller transmission; 2-stroke and 4-stroke vélomoteurs; and a 200 cm3 two-stroke motorcycle. The stand also held a very fine Michaux bicycle of the 1867 model, fitted with Meyer rubber-tired wheels of 1869, in exceptional condition and an object of admiring curiosity for visitors.]

★

Les productions DILECTA

[Ebykr summary; the article’s text is not reproduced. Dilecta turns out four cyclomoteur models, fitted respectively with the “Junior” engine with clutch, the “Le Poulain” engine-block giving two or three speeds by derailleur, and the A.B.G. engine in type B or type G (the latter with two speeds). The house also builds a vélomoteur with the “Le Poulain” engine-block of 85 cm3, two or three speeds by derailleur. All these machines are described as safe (120 mm drum brakes and reinforced frame), stable (very low central center of gravity), comfortable, convenient (very open frame) and easy to handle (carefully designed fairings).]

[Ebykr summary, continuing in the next column. The former Établissements A. Chichery, established at Le Blanc (Indre), also deliver under their Dilecta marque the very fine series of cycles that made their reputation: more than 30 models, whose latest improvements concern chiefly finish and presentation. The growing importance of the “randonneur” models, now six in number, is noted.]

★

La motocyclette DOUGLAS

[Ebykr summary; the article’s text is not reproduced. Distributed in France by the large Lyon firm New-Map, the 350 cm3 Douglas has a “Boxer” twin-cylinder engine of 20 CV at 6,000 rpm.]

[Ebykr summary, below the illustration. This grand-touring, quiet-running machine reaches a top speed of 120 km/h, and its “Grand Sport” and “Sport Spécial” versions allow 130 and 150 km/h respectively. All the models are ideally comfortable thanks to long torsion-bar suspension. At the 1950 Bol d’Or a Douglas 350 covered 2,061 km in 24 hours, at an average of nearly 86 km/h.]

★

La motocyclette DS MALTERRE

[Ebykr summary; the article’s text is not reproduced. The Établissements Maurice Malterre deliver under their DS marque a whole series of 125 cm3 vélomoteurs and 175 cm3 motorcycles, with A.M.C., Briban, Sachs and Ydral engines.]

[Ebykr summary, below the photograph. The star of their present production is the grand luxe 250 cm3 ACT motorcycle, with an A.M.C. four-stroke overhead-camshaft engine, oil-bath telescopic fork, rear suspension, an 18-liter tank and large brakes.]

[A full page of text in two justified columns of serif type, with section heads in bold sans-serif set flush right and small black stars between the entries. The left column holds the end of the Valmobile scooter entry, then the Carley, Carrara, Cazenave and Dilecta entries, all text only. The right column opens with the closing lines of the Dilecta entry, then the Douglas entry, which carries a boxed line drawing of the motorcycle in three-quarter view from the front: a tank bearing the name “Douglas”, a headlamp on the fork, a flat twin engine with exposed cylinders low in the frame, a long silencer on the left, a spoked front wheel with a large drum brake and a full mudguard, all in line engraving with fine hatching. Further down, the DS Malterre entry carries a halftone photograph, unframed, of a motorcycle seen from the front left on a display stand, showing a dual saddle, a rounded tank, an engine with a protective bar below, a telescopic fork, a fully valanced front mudguard and a spoked front wheel. No caption sits under either illustration. No artist signature or agency mark is visible. The page begins and ends within running text, so the head of the article and any page number fall outside the cut.]