Cool shop bike: Le Chemineau diamond (men's) framed bike.

     Last year I profiled the Le Chemineau ladies bike we have here at the shop. Le Chemineau ladies bike
This is the men's (diamond frame) mate to it. These bikes came to us as a pair several years ago. The ladies bike is  more deluxe than this bike, but it is still very cool.
      My favorite features of this bike are the Le Nervurex fenders with the "crocodile" pattern ridges and the rear fender reflector with its hammered alloy housing and original lens. The housing is engraved with the word "agree" and a couple numbers. I do not know what they mean and it looks like it was done after production (home job).  I estimate this bike is from the early to mid 1950's. Le Chemineau ended production in the late 1950's. It has the proprietary early indexing shifter and rear derailleur mount, but uses a Cyclo rear derailleur as opposed to the one of his design. The frame also has unusual rear drop outs, perhaps Oscar Egg or Cyclo? I am not 100% sure who made them. Please let me know if any of you readers out there can educate me. It has nice GB super Hood levers and mis-matched calipers. The front is GB and the rear is a Gloria Iseran model. The chain and seat stays have "cro-mo" stamped on them, perhaps the Reynolds speedy model?,  which was below 531. There are nice early Mavic tubular rims as well. On the front fork leg is an after market light bracket solution attached to the  generator mount, pretty cool. The bike also has nice sleeved GB Maes bars and an incorrect stem. The frame uses Nervex professional lugs and an early Nervex bottom bracket shell. All the original decals and head badge (a personal favorite of mine) are there. This bike is in great shape for its age. I wish we had more information about the original owners and how they liked / used these bikes as it is obvious they were well used and well cared for, a combination that does not always go together.  Enjoy the photos!

Cool shop bike: Le Chemineau ladies bike

     I am excited about this edition. The bike I am sharing today is a Le Chemineau ladies bike and is easily one of my favorites in the shop. First, a little background on the marque. It was started by Joanny Panel and Claudius Bouilllier around 1911 in St. Etienne Loire, France The word Chemineau is an antiquated one meaning wanderer or vagrant. They established a patent on their derailleur system in 1912 and were advocates of derailleur use in bicycles. They operated until about 1958, and then disappeared. Le Chemineau were imported in the USA by only one man, James Armando. He was a former Olympic racer who lived in Hartford, Connecticut.
     The bike has the proprietary derailleur system and early index shifter. It functions well. 650B demi balloon tires on early Mavic rims laced to Prior high flange hubs. Easily one of the most beautiful hub sets ever produced, in my opinion. Le fol alloy fenders, the rear fender has a platform built into it for carrying items with two leather straps, very rare. Ideale saddle. Simplex rod operated front derailleur. a really cool feature is the chain oiler below the front derailleur. The spout is not there, but basically oil was in the seat tube and when you turned the spout down, you could oil the chain. These have been on a couple of  Le Chemineau bikes I have seen. Modified front chainguard is attached to the frame. Neat little chain slap protector on the chain stay. Early Zefal pump is attached via brazed on pump pegs on the back of the seat tube. Unknown cranks with early Stronglight chain rings that are attached with chain ring bolts I am not familiar with, maybe home made, but definately well done.Unknown, perhaps proprietary brakes which utilize brazed on cantilever studs for a stiff and responsive brake, ahead of their time. Also the fact that the rear brake is under the chain stays, much like mountain bikes many decades later. Beborex brake levers are some of my favorites. Incorrect bars and stem. Unknown pedals, perhaps early Lyotard with cut strips of tubular tire that are wired together to be easy on shoes. Smart idea! Radios rear light and generator with a ball and socket mechanism on the head light so it can be angled and held in place with a set screw! Very cool!
     When I first saw the head badge, I thought it was a grave stone. Which I thought was a bit morbid and hilarious at the same time! I learned later that it is actually a mile marker, still very cool. The bike also retains all the original frame decals. We also have the men's mate to this bike, which I will showcase as well. The ladies bike is the better of the pair, being much more deluxe. It has so many neat features, it really is a special machine! Enjoy!