Bicyclettes de France pour le monde entier — L’Officiel du cycle, 1 May 1954, Philippe Girardet’s Statement in Four Languages

From L’Officiel du cycle, du motocycle et du camping, 1 May 1954, the paper’s special export number, printed in French, English, Spanish and German, pages 59 and 61: ‘Bicyclettes de France pour le monde entier’: statement of the Chambre Syndicale Nationale du Cycle, president Philippe Girardet, on the French bicycle (duralumin parts, derailleur gears, electric lighting, Tour de France, export of parts and complete bicycles); French then English; portrait of Girardet. 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.

— Page 1 —
BICYCLETTES DE FRANCE
POUR LE MONDE ENTIER

Voici, sur la bicyclette française, le point de vue de la « Chambre Syndicale Nationale du Cycle », aux destinées de laquelle préside M. Philippe GIRARDET.

Here is the opinion of the “ National Association of Cycle Manufacturers ”, presided over by Mr Philippe GIRARDET, on the French bicycle.

[Ebykr summary; the article’s text is not reproduced. The French statement, set in quotation marks as Girardet’s own words, says that for more than three quarters of a century since its creation the French bicycle has kept spreading to every country, because despite motor vehicles the use of the cycle has grown considerably all over the globe. This is because it has gained many improvements: lightness from high-strength, rustproof duralumin parts, improved gear changes that reduce effort, safe and light electric equipment and effective brakes. Being compact it needs no garage and costs almost nothing to maintain, which has made it the cheapest means of transport everywhere and ideal over short distances. It is the origin of hugely popular sporting events of world reputation such as the Tour de France, and in international events it has built up a superb record that shows its robustness and mechanical qualities as well as its lightness; its elegance is recognized everywhere. Today, despite the difficulties of the general situation, French exporters remain much in demand because they can meet every request for spare parts and accessories as well as complete bicycles; special models have been created for the tastes of customers in different countries while keeping the advantages of specifically French models. The needs of the French Union have not been forgotten, and the mother country can offer the overseas territories products well adapted to local conditions of use. The research of the makers’ design offices and the inventiveness of the craftsmen keep improving the bicycle of France. The statement ends with an invitation to the foreign and overseas friends of the French cycle industry to visit its stands at the international exhibitions, where they will be given the best welcome and can judge its products at first hand. The same statement is also printed in English, Spanish and German.]

[Ebykr summary, English version. After a ruled line the same statement is printed in English, in the same order and with the same points as the French; on this sheet it runs as far as the foot, where the last line reads « our overseas territories machines which are perfectly », and it continues on the next image.]

[A text page opening a trade statement, with a heavy title panel and one halftone portrait, on a plain ground with no advertiser. Across the upper left a ruled box holds the two-line title in heavy slab-serif capitals, BICYCLETTES DE FRANCE and POUR LE MONDE ENTIER, with an italic French introduction beneath it, a small eight-pointed star ornament at its left, and an italic English introduction below that with a second star at its right, the name GIRARDET set in small capitals in both. At the upper right a halftone portrait shows a bald middle-aged man in heavy dark-rimmed round spectacles, a dark jacket, white collar and a spotted tie, his head slightly bowed and turned to the viewer’s left; a small unread monogram of crossed strokes, resembling an H, stands in the lower right corner of the photograph. Below, the French statement runs in sans-serif type in two columns under a large drop capital D, set off by a heavy rule from the English version under a large drop capital S, also in two columns. Each paragraph opens with a guillemet or quotation mark. No caption, credit line, artist signature or agency mark is visible, and no text from the reverse of the leaf shows through.]

— Page 2 —
[Ebykr summary, English version, continued from the previous image. The English text resumes in mid-sentence (« suited to local conditions ») and finishes the statement: the research centers of French manufacturers and the inventiveness of the workers keep bringing the French bicycle improvements that raise its high quality still further. The closing quotation, in the same sense as the French, invites visitors from abroad and from the French colonies who are interested in the industry to come and see its stands at the various international exhibitions, where they will find a warm welcome and will be able to judge for themselves.]

He aquí, el punto de vista que sobre la Bicicleta Francesa, emite la « Camara Sindical Nacional del Ciclo », bajo la presidencia del Sr. Philippe GIRARDET :

[Ebykr summary, in Spanish. The Spanish version of the Girardet statement opens with a quotation mark and makes the same points as the French: for more than three quarters of a century the French bicycle has kept spreading to every country, and its use has grown despite motor vehicles; it owes this to many improvements, including lightness from high-strength rustproof duralumin parts, improved gear changes that reduce effort, safe light electric equipment and efficient brakes; its small size needs no garage and its upkeep is insignificant, so it is the cheapest means of transport and ideal over short distances; it lies at the origin of popular sporting contests of world reputation such as the « Tour de France », and in international trials it has won a superb prestige that proves its robustness, mechanical qualities, lightness and recognized elegance; French exporters remain much sought after despite a difficult general situation and can supply spare parts, accessories and complete bicycles, with special models made for the taste of each country while keeping the advantages of the French models; the needs of the French Union have not been forgotten and the mother country can offer the overseas territories products adapted to local conditions; the study departments of the French makers and the inventive spirit of the craftsmen keep raising the quality of the bicycle of France; and foreign and overseas friends of the industry are invited to visit its stands at the international exhibitions, where they will be given the best welcome and can judge for themselves.]

Naschstehend bringen wir die Ansicht der « Nationale Berufsgenossenschaft der Fahrradfabrikanten », vertreten durch ihren Präsidenten Herrn Philippe GIRARDET, über das französische Fahrrad :

[Ebykr summary, in German. The German version, opening with a large drop capital S, says the same: since its creation more than three quarters of a century ago the French bicycle has spread unceasingly over all countries of the earth, and even motor vehicles have not stopped the advance of the simple two-wheeler; countless improvements make it extremely pleasant to use, including lighter duralumin parts, switchable gearing, reliable light electrical equipment and dependable brakes; it takes little room, needs no garage and little care, which has made it today’s popular cheap means of transport, ideal for short distances; it comes out of sporting contests followed with enthusiasm at home and famous worldwide, such as the « Tour de France », and in international events it has won an absolute special standing through its solidity, mechanical qualities, lightness and universally recognized elegance; despite present economic obstacles French exporters have great demand for bicycles and can supply parts, accessories and whole machines, with special models made to suit buyers in different countries without losing the typical French qualities; the industry has not forgotten the needs of the Union Française and the mother country can offer the overseas territories products fully suited to local needs; the research and development shops of the factories and the inventiveness of the craftsmen keep improving the high-quality French bicycle; and foreign and overseas friends are invited to see the industry’s stands at international exhibitions, where the writers hope to win them through the products themselves and promise a friendly reception.]

[A full page of type with no illustration, advertisement or credit line, on a plain ground. The page holds the end of the English version of a trade statement and then the Spanish and German versions, each set in two columns. At the top the last lines of the English text run in sans-serif type across both columns, the right column closing with a quotation mark. A heavy horizontal rule separates this from the Spanish version in italic type, which has a roman introductory line naming the Camara Sindical Nacional del Ciclo and, in small capitals, the name GIRARDET, followed by the statement opening with a large italic drop capital D and a guillemet. A second heavy rule separates it from the German version below, in roman type, with an italic introductory line and a large drop capital S. Paragraphs in the Spanish and German versions begin with a closing guillemet mark. A third rule closes the page, and a folio number stands at the lower right corner. No signature, drawing or agency mark is visible, and no text from the reverse of the leaf shows through.]