Manufrance

History

November 10, 1885: - Foundation of the Manufacture Française d'Armes de Saint-Etienne by Etienne Mimard and Pierre Blachon.

1886: - Addition of the bicycles sale and repair

1888: - Purchase of the company Hirondelle, with its mark.

1889: - Installation of the workshops and edition of the first bicycles tariff. One finds in this tariff the bicycles with cross frame and the model the Superb one whose frame is round. This year the catalogue is already drawn with 300.000 specimens and envoy with all the hunters from France

1891: - The Gauthier brothers bring new models with cross frame to accessible tariffs announced for workmen. The accessories are English.

1894-1901: - Construction of the Cours Fauriel factory

1896: - The majority of the parts are built on the spot according to a principle of interchangeability on the various bicycles and thus a rationalization of the production.

1902: - The company becomes the Manufacture Française d'Armes et Cycles- The bichaine Hirondelle bicycle is vermeil medal (2nd) to the TCF technical contest.


Hirondelle Manufacture Française d'Armes et Cycles de Saint-Etienne

History November 10, 1885: - Foundation of the Manufacture Française d'Armes de Saint-Etienne by Etienne Mimard and Pierre Blachon. 1886: - Addition of the bicycles sale and repair 1888: - Purchase of the company Hirondelle, with its mark. 1889: - Installation of the workshops and edition of the first bicycles tariff. One finds in this tariff the bicycles with cross frame and the model the Superb one whose frame is round. This year the catalogue is already drawn with 300.000 specimens and envoy with all the hunters from France 1891: - The Gauthier brothers bring new models with cross frame to accessible tariffs announced for workmen. The accessories are English. 1894-1901: - Construction of the Cours Fauriel factory 1896: - The majority of the parts are built on the spot according to a principle of interchangeability on the various bicycles and thus a rationalization of the production. 1902: - The company becomes the Manufacture Française d'Armes et Cycles- The bichaine Hirondelle bicycle is vermeil medal (2nd) to the TCF technical contest.
1902: - Patent filling for the retro-direct Hirondelle to prevent copy or the adaptations of the system by other mechanics.
1905: - The 2 and 4 speeds Hirondelle retro-direct bicycles win gold medal to the TCF contest.
	As says it this catalogue of the Hirondelle cycles of 1907: "All in retro"

Manufacture Française d'Armes et Cycles de Saint-Etienne