The Bicycles:
 

Duravia

Touring bicycle with duralumin frame
Réf.: V21

 
I found it in july 1998 in Chamblanc, Indre, France.  

Obviously a mark close to the aeronautical engineering of the time. See also the model GNOME ET RHONE presented on another page.

A Net surfer friend agreed to give me the following precise details:

This mark was created by Charles Dupont in Lille- France in May 1950. This model of bicycle seems in all points identical to the MECA-DURAL, of October 1946, from the MERCIER establishments. The mark's head badge is strictly the same one as the head badge MERCIER, except the text.

 

Before the restoration:

 

 

[Click on picture to enlarge]

 It's touring bicycle, almost only duralumin manufactured and going back approximately to 1950.

Details and pieces:

Duralumin man's frame.

Aluminum gray color for the frame, chrome for the fork.

SELSPORT leather saddle, 1st Choice leather.


Advertising from november 1949
 Handlebar, covered with green guidoline, TIGRA stem.

DURAVIA front and rear brakes.

MAFAC brake levers placed in top of the handlebar, touring style.

CIBIE electric lighting with a shell headlightl in the front.

Duralumin NAP round chain-gard, marks and model deposited, Bté SGDG.

Extract from the 1939-1940 "Comptoirs Cyclistes" catalogue for a hammered model a little older:


Le Paon - LEFOL front and rear mudguard, Duralumin deposited model

PRYM rear rack made of duralumin, deposited model with 2 DURAVIA tools leather bags fixed on it.
Advertising from march 1953
 
3 gears rear derailleur, CYCLO Standard Road 1950, monocable, assembly with leg brazed on the base tube.

Extract from the Cyclo 1950 catalogue :

 

 

Wheels with half-balloon white 650 tires, butterflies lockrings HURET, AVA rim.

ATOM hubs and freehub.

DURAX cranks.

Cycles TAMBOITE bell.

After the restoration :

 

[Click on picture to enlarge]

  
In June 2003, after a participation in the Velocio excursion in Saint-Priest in Jarez - France:

[Click on picture to enlarge]
It was necessary to remove the white sides old tires to mount tires able to cycle the kilometers, to regulate 3 gears Cyclo rear derailleur (essential for the slopes) and to change the brake shoes to ensure the safety of the descents, but which: beautiful excursion !!!
   
 
The Bicycles: